RecallRepo

2002 Cadillac Escalade Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Cadillac Escalade has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 558,904 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 164 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEATS 02V253000 2002-09-17 558,904 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REARWARD FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE SECOND ROW SEATS, TWO POTENTIAL PINCH POINTS EXIST ON EACH OF THE FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS WHEN THE RESTRAINTS ARE FOLDED REARWARD AS THE SEATBACK IS FOLDED DOWN.

Consequence

IF A PERSON WERE TO INSERT THEIR FINGER(S) INTO THE PINCH POINT WHEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT FOLDS, IT COULD TRAP AND PINCH THE FINGER(S) CAUSING INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS OVER THE PINCH POINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT…

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
2crashes3fires1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
10
2crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
9
SUSPENSION
7
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
2crashes
PARKING BRAKE
4
POWER TRAIN
4
1crashes
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
4
1fires
Total complaints164

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 2002 cadillac escalade. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the fuel pump…”

WHEELS:HUB · reported 2025-08-01

“The contact owns a 2002 cadillac escalade. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the fuel pump…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2025-08-01

“The contact owns a 2002 cadillac escalade. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the fuel pump…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2025-08-01

“Purchased this vehicle from a friend who was inherited from his father’s estate. He hadn’t driven the vehicle for sometime. When meeting up at the dmv to transfer ownership he noticed that the brakes were spongy. And purchased some brake fluid in case the fluid was low. Neither my friend or…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2025-01-06

“The problem is in the anti-lock braking system. When the vehicle slows to under 15 mph. And you apply the brakes the brake pedal" kick back" occurs with loss of braking . Making the vehicle a hazard to drive. Now with repeated depression of the brake pedal the vehicle does stop. But, if you are…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2024-11-16

“Driving carefully out of [xxx] here in walker minnesota using the newly opened east side of the parking lot exit and 50 feet later as I accelerated the heavy full size spare tire fell from under the rear of the truck and my 2002 cadillac ext left the ground as the tire bounced back up against the…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2024-07-13

“Driving carefully out of [xxx] here in walker minnesota using the newly opened east side of the parking lot exit and 50 feet later as I accelerated the heavy full size spare tire fell from under the rear of the truck and my 2002 cadillac ext left the ground as the tire bounced back up against the…”

WHEELS · reported 2024-07-13

“Service ride control and stability control system lights have been flashing the instrument panel cluster on my dash will cut off and not illuminate once it's time to turn the head lights on there is a ticking /clicking noise when first cranked up and as the gas is pushed and when accelerated and…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2021-06-03

Defect investigations

Investigation EA02015 Opened 2002-08-01 · closed 2004-01-12

THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED

THIS INVESTIGATION INVOLVES THE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM)THROTTLE BODY (TB) UTILIZED IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 SILVERADO, SIERRA, TAHOE, SUBURBAN, AVALANCHE AND YUKON (SUBJECT VEHICLE(S)) WITH 4.8L, 5.3L, AND 6.0L ENGINES. THE TB VALVE MAY INTERMITTENTLY STICK IN A CLOSED POSITION.IN SUCH A SITUATION, AN…

Investigation EA11001 Opened 2011-01-05 · closed 2015-04-08

Brake line corrosion failure

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states…

Investigation EA11001 Opened 2011-01-05 · closed 2015-04-08

Brake line corrosion failure

On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states…

Investigation PE05020 Opened 2005-04-28 · closed 2005-09-13

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES…

Investigation PE05020 Opened 2005-04-28 · closed 2005-09-13

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 29, 2005, GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CORROSION THAT MAY RESULT IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.