2003 Cadillac Escalade Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2003 Cadillac Escalade has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,429,455 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEAT BELTS 05V163000 2005-04-22 1,359,824 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT,…

Consequence

A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 04V045000 2004-02-04 68,875 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.

STRUCTURE 03V037000 2003-02-06 107 affected
Defect

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH FOUR WELDS ON THE REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, ONE OR TWO OF THE WELDS MAY NOT BE TO SPECIFICATION.

Consequence

AS A RESULT, THE DOOR STRENGTH MAY BE DEGRADED DURING A SIDE IMPACT VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS ON THE LEFT REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. IF A WELD IS FOUND OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, A BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED TO SECURE THE HINGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 17, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 02V224000 2002-08-12 649 affected
Defect

CERTAIN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITHOUT A POWER STEERING BRACKET TO SECURE THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE STEERING SHAFT.

Consequence

THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE A WEAR-THROUGH OF THE CABLE INSULATION, EXPOSING THE WIRE CORE AND RESULT IN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORTING. IF ENOUGH CURRENT IS DISCHARGED AT THE POINT OF CONTACT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING AND RE-ROUTE, IF NECESSARY. NO OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL TAKE PLACE SINCE ALL VEHICLES WERE CAPTURED AT THE DEALERS.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
3fires
SERVICE BRAKES
9
1crashes
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
6
AIR BAGS
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5
ENGINE
4
STEERING
4
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
3
Total complaints111

What owners report

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

“All of a sudden 3rd and 4th gears became useless causing a rapid deacceleration of the vehicle and posing the possibility of being rear ended with end result of massive damage to vehicle and serious injury to occupants”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2024-02-03

“The sunroof on my vehicle flew off on the highway while it was in the "closed" position. There was no personal injury nor damage to any persons or vehicles. I returned to the area where the glass flew off only to find it shattered all over the shoulder of the road, completely destroyed. I've…”

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY · reported 2023-04-14

“The contact owns a 2003 cadillac escalade ext. The contact stated that the air bag light was illuminated. The contact contacted an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the air bag needed replacement but did not diagnose the failure cause. The vehicle was not repaired. The…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2021-06-16

“Air bag light is on .want go off..its cadillac (est truck )not the suv”

AIR BAGS · reported 2021-06-14

“Breaks went to the floor and car went down embankment.”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2020-08-27

“Some body take my truck like a robbery. Im have a police report bit they don't find it. *tr”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2020-04-22

“Continously light comes on service airbag, especially when driver seat is moved and when hit a bump in the road”

AIR BAGS · reported 2019-12-14

“While driving I lost all use of brakes immediately after the brake system light came on driving 45mph on a city street. While driving the stability control light came on and car shut off 60mph on the highway. On another occasion stability control light came on and steering column locked up while…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2019-12-10

Defect investigations

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…

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 2003 Cadillac Escalade as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.