There are 5 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2002 Cadillac Escaladein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF THE UNDER-CARRIAGE AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY HOME DRIVEWAY THIS IS A FULL SIZE TIRE AND RIM APPROX 50# IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY OR MAJOR TRAFFIC ROUTE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED THEY NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE AND HAD KNOW IDEA HOW TO REPAIR IT. THIS SPARE IS HUNG BY A BOLT AND TWISTED CABLE BOTH WHICH RUSTED THRU THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. MY CAR IS MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER AND HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT FYI. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HINGE WAS WORN AND HANGING ONE HALF INCH TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH FROM ITS HOUSING. WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE TOP OF THE DOOR. THE BUSHINGS AND PINS WERE REPLACED IN 2010 BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WOULD BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
WHILE CONSUMER WAS OPENING THE TAILGATE AND THE CABLES BROKE. THE CONSUMERS SON SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES . *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING THROUGH THE TAILGATE, AND FOUND THE STRAP ASSEMBLY BROKE ON BOTH SIDES. DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED. *AK *NM
THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSTALLED WITH AN ALARM THAT SOUNDS IF ANY OF THE DOORS ARE AJAR. THE ONLY DOOR THAT HAS AN ALARM IS THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *NLM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026