The 2004 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 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes. 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
SERVICE BRAKES
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2
AIR BAGS
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1
ENGINE
1
EQUIPMENT
1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
1crashes
Total complaints14
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The brake "lines from the proportioning valve to modulator, lines from master cyl to proportioning valve" had to be replaced. The quoted description is from the dealers service invoice. One or more of these lines corroded thru and failed while I was (luckily) in my driveway. I had filed a…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 cadillac escalade ext. The contact stated that the instrument panel failed intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.”
“The driver side front brake line corroded thru. This is a little over a year since the rear brake line corroded thru. *tr”
“I discovered broken/missing exhaust manifold bolts at 107k miles although I suspect they have been missing for quite some time. I was made aware of the problem by other cadillac, chevy, and gmc owners with the 6.0l engine. Upon hearing about this issue I inspected my vehicle to find that I have…”
“I discovered broken/missing exhaust manifold bolts at 107k miles although I suspect they have been missing for quite some time. I was made aware of the problem by other cadillac, chevy, and gmc owners with the 6.0l engine. Upon hearing about this issue I inspected my vehicle to find that I have…”
“I have a 2004 escalade ext and approx. 1 year ago the speedometer stopped working. I contacted cadillac and was told it was my problem as the warranty was up. I just read in a car magazine that my year of escalade is listed as a bad vehicle to purchase due to speedometer breakdowns. Cadillac wants…”
“I have a 2004 escalade ext and approx. 1 year ago the speedometer stopped working. I contacted cadillac and was told it was my problem as the warranty was up. I just read in a car magazine that my year of escalade is listed as a bad vehicle to purchase due to speedometer breakdowns. Cadillac wants…”
“Left rear brake lines rusted through at the wheel area. Significant fluid leakage. Lines for both rear brakes had to be replaced. *js”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Cadillac Escalade Ext as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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