What breaks most · 2003 to 2019 model years
Cadillac Escalade ESV problems by year
Owners have filed 148 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Cadillac Escalade ESV across model years 2003 to 2019. Three years stand out: 2007 for air bags complaints, 2004 for electrical system complaints and 2008 for air bags complaints. The quietest years are 2013, 2012 and 2009.
- Years to check closely: 2007, 2004, 2008
- Fewest complaints: 2013, 2012, 2009
- Complaints on file
- 1482003 to 2019, all trims
- Worst year
- 200738 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 115 fires · 16 injuries · 1 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 69kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 43Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1 | 1 | Air bags (2) | |
| 21 | 3 | 1 | Electrical system (6) | |
| 13 | 0 | 1 | Electrical system (4) | |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | Brakes (1) | |
| 38 | 1 | 4 | Air bags (13) | |
| 17 | 1 | 4 | Air bags (12) | |
| 4 | 1 | 5 | Fuel system (2) | |
| 4 | 0 | 3 | Air bags (4) | |
| 11 | 0 | 5 | Air bags (5) | |
| 2 | 0 | 3 | Electrical system (2) | |
| 1 | 0 | 4 | Electrical system (1) | |
| 6 | 1 | 6 | Electrical system (2) | |
| 9 | 0 | 3 | Powertrain and transmission (4) | |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | Brakes (2) | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | Exterior lighting (1) |
What fails on the 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 34% |
13 | 1 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Stability controlABS and wheel speed sensors | 24% |
9 | 0 | Shop stability control parts for the 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 21% |
8 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 16% |
6 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 16% |
6 | 0 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 13% |
5 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Latches and locksDoor latches and actuators | 11% |
4 | 0 | Shop latches and locks parts for the 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 5% |
2 | 0 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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Airbags have been recalled and we have been unable to get it fixed at the dealership as they continue to tell us that there is no fix. We can not sell the vehicle as their is an active recall on it currently and we can not drive it as it doesn't feel safe.
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Radio sound goes in and out. Also door chime does or doesn't work right along with it. It could be a short or the bcm from what i can see. Also sometimes the sunroof leaks
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Service stabilitrak that proceed into reduced engine power. Normally while steering the problem will drop up. I have gone twice into GM/cadillac dealers and they incapable of fixing it.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Cadillac Escalade ESV years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2007, 2004, 2008 carry the most filings on the Cadillac Escalade ESV. The 2007 alone has 38 complaints, led by air bags.
What is the most common Cadillac Escalade ESV problem?
On the 2007 model year, the most-reported component is air bags with 13 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Cadillac Escalade ESV problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Cadillac Escalade ESV complaints that include mileage is about 69,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.