The 2005 Cadillac Escalade Esv has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 7,194 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN05V0550002005-02-147,194 affected
Defect
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION…
Consequence
THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
3
AIR BAGS
1
ENGINE
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
POWER TRAIN
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
SEAT BELTS
1
1injuries
SEATS
1
Total complaints19
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2005 cadillac escalade esv. The contact stated that each time the doors were manually locked or unlocked, the vehicle started and turned off. The alarm alert warning light and the tire pressure monitor warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent…”
“The vehicle was parked in my driveway, where it had been since the day before. It was not powered on in anyway, nor was anything plugged in inside. In the early morning we were made aware by a neighbor that the truck was on fire. The fire was in the passenger side dashboard area and the center…”
“The vehicle was parked in my driveway, where it had been since the day before. It was not powered on in anyway, nor was anything plugged in inside. In the early morning we were made aware by a neighbor that the truck was on fire. The fire was in the passenger side dashboard area and the center…”
“February 14, 2016 I was driving to work going about 50 miles per hour upon approaching 60 the vehicle begin to lose power so I steered over to the side of the highway and hit the onstar button to tell them that I was losing power and that would they run a diagnostic they stated that would. They…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac escalade esv. While driving approximately 65 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would not stop and the brake pedal extended to the floor. The contact drove onto the shoulder to avoid crashing into oncoming vehicles. During the incident, the brake…”
“The drivers heated seat button turns off and on when pushed but this time it stayed on, it over heated and it burnt a small hole in the seat as I was driving... The passenger heated seat does the same but did not burn hole ... *tr”
“The drivers heated seat button turns off and on when pushed but this time it stayed on, it over heated and it burnt a small hole in the seat as I was driving... The passenger heated seat does the same but did not burn hole ... *tr”
“Brakes completely went out while driving my children to school. Brake line rust busted the brake lines. This was out of no where and could have killed someone. *tr”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade Esv as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.