The 2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,731,086 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STRUCTURE04V1290002004-03-173,662,211 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.
Consequence
ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES…
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463,…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC04V0450002004-02-0468,875 affected
Defect
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.
Consequence
CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.
Remedy
DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
2fires
SERVICE BRAKES
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
1
ENGINE
1
EQUIPMENT
1
POWER TRAIN
1
Total complaints24
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Brake peddle went to the floor. Dealer diagnosed rusted brake lines. *tr”
“I had just left my home and at the first stop sign the brakes failed, the pedal went to the floor, used emergency brake to stop. Returned home and found brake fluid coming from the left front frame area under the master cylinder. Pulled wheel off and the steel brake line had ruptured. All brake…”
“While driving the vehicle it appears the vehicle speed is not responding to the accelerator. You push down on the accelerator to increase speed while in traffic and nothing happens. This has occurred at least 3 times since we purchased the vehicle on june 17 of this year. Dealer states there are…”
“While driving the vehicle it appears the vehicle speed is not responding to the accelerator. You push down on the accelerator to increase speed while in traffic and nothing happens. This has occurred at least 3 times since we purchased the vehicle on june 17 of this year. Dealer states there are…”
“Brake pedal went to the floor and subsequently lost all brake fluid. Cause was a corroded rear, steel (hard) brake line along the frame. *tr”
“2003 cadillac escalade ext metal brake line problem. I noticed a leak and I took my truck in to be checked out. The service tech advised that the metal brake line was corroded and needed to be replaced. I questioned how can that happen? Why wasn't it noticed during previous service? What caused…”
“2003 cadillac escalade ext metal brake line problem. I noticed a leak and I took my truck in to be checked out. The service tech advised that the metal brake line was corroded and needed to be replaced. I questioned how can that happen? Why wasn't it noticed during previous service? What caused…”
“2003 cadillac escalade ext. Consumer writes in regards to brake system failure in vehicle. *smd the consumer stated on two occasions, he experienced brake system failure which was related to oxidation and rust damage to the brake lines (metal tubing) and subsequent loss of brake fluid. The first…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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