What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2008 Cadillac Escalade

Typical pattern

3.3% of complaints about the 2008 Cadillac Escalade came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (74 complaints), typically at 8.9 yr or about 93,000 miles.

Complaints
180
Median age at failure
8.8 yr
Median mileage
100,000 n=96
Crash / fire / tow
11.1% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
74 reports · 93,000 mi
8.9 yr
5.4%
Electrical system
23 reports · 100,000 mi
8.3 yr
21.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V050000 2021-02-05
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-200

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

21V052000 2021-02-05
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

10V240000 2010-06-04
Electrical system

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN N

IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

08V441000 2008-08-28
Electrical system

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 6,500 mi 1.3 yr in service
THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTABLE PEDALS RESET AND MOVED INTO THERE START POSITION, WHICH MY WIFE CANT REACH. SHE COULD NOT REACH THE PEDALS AND I TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. *TR
Electrical system 9,500 mi 1.8 yr in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE RADIO BEGAN TO TURN ON AND OFF. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,500.
Electrical system mileage not reported 3.3 yr in service
2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEASED AND THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC OR BURNING WIRES AND TURNED THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL FOR HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. *KB
Air bags 56,000 mi 6.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHE UNEXPECTEDLY CRASHED INTO A SNOW MOUND. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE WITHOUT ANY DAMAGES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Other Escalade model years

2026202420232022202120172016201520112010200920082007200420032002

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