There are 24 stored owner reports matching the electrical system leading-label group for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 24 of 24 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)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 TURNING. T/C LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET AND IMMEDIATELY LOST RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. DASH LIGHTING SYSTEM FLASHES DIFFERENT INDICATOR LIGHTS, DISPLAY RANDOMLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, ALL THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SUDDENLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD FAILED BUT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CUP HOLDER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PART BENEATH THE CUP HOLDER HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FIVE SECONDS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESPONDING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ *CN
MY BLOWER MOTOR IS STAYING ON CONTINUOUSLY AND THE SMELL OF PLASTIC BURNING IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC IT IS A BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL MODULE SHORTAGE FROM THE FACTORY. I HAVE FOUND THIS AS A RECALL ON SOME 2003-2006 CADILLAC ESCALADES BUT MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL THEY SAY IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. I WAS THINKING THAT MINE SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE RECALL LIST.MAYBE THEY MISSED MINE FOR SOME REASON. *TR
IN STARTING TO ACCELERATE, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR LOOSES POWER SIGNIFICANTLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL, AND THE OIL GAGES DISPLAYED INACCURATE READING LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED FAILING TO DISPLAY ANY READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
ON JULY 28TH 2011, MY 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE AWD WOULD NOT START. IT HAD POWER TO THE SEATS, HORN, LIGHTS, BUT NO POWER TO THE LOCKS, WINDOWS OR RADIO. THEREFORE, I KNEW I DIDN'T NEED A BATTERY JUMP. I CHECK THE INSIDE FUSE PANEL AND NO BLOWN FUSES WERE FOUND. I WENT TO THE FUSE BOX UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND DISCOVER THE 40AMP IGNITION-B FUSE WAS BLOWN. I INSTALLED ANOTHER 40AMP FUSE AND IT IMMEDIATELY BLEW OUT. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, INSTALLED ANOTHER FUSE AND THE FUSE BLEW OUT WHEN I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY. I REMOVED THE STARTER, DISCONNECTED THE ALTERNATOR, CRANK SENSOR, OIL LEVEL SENSOR AND BOTH IGNITION COIL PACKS. THE FUSE STILL BLEW OUT WHEN I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY. I RECONNECTED ALL ITEMS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED AND WENT UNDERNEATH DASH-BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND CHECK ALL THE WIRING HARNESSING AND WIRES. I WENT BACK TO THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD, FLIPPED THE FUSE BOX UP TO SEE THE UNDERSIDE. LOCATED THE WIRE THAT'S CONNECTING TO THE BLOWN FUSE, TRACE WIRE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD TO THE HARNESS NEAR THE STEERING SHAFT. THE CONNECTING WIRING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HARNESS (RED WIRE WITH A WHITE STRIP) WAS SHORTED ON AN EIGHTH INCH METAL BRACKET BOLTED TO THE FIREWALL WITH FOUR NUTS. THIS SAME METAL BRACKET IS UP AGAINST AND POSSIBLY CUTTING INTO THE WIRES ATTACH TO THE WIRE HARNESS NEXT TO THE STEERING SHAFT. I APPLIED ELECTRICAL TAPE TO THE WIRE THAT SHORTED ON THE METAL BRACKET TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I INSTALLED ANOTHER FUSE AND THE TRUCK STARTED UP. *KB
THE BATTERY IN MY ESCALADE HAD BEEN DYING ON ME FOR A WHILE. ONE DAY, MY GAUGES ALL STAYED STUCK AS IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I DROVE IT FOR A WHILE UNTIL I WAS TIRED OF JUMP-STARTING IT ALMOST EVERYDAY AND I FINALLY REPLACED THE BATTERY.THE GAUGES ALL STAYED THE SAME. A FEW DAYS WENT BY AND THE BATTERY STARTED TO DIE AGAIN. I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST A BATTERY PROBLEM. I DROVE IT 5 MILES AWAY FROM MY PLACE ON THE FREEWAY AND AS I WAS COMING BACK HOME IT STARTED TO DECELERATE ALL ON IT'S OWN. IT MARKED "SYSTEM STABILITY DISABLED" AND WOULD NOT LET ME GO OVER 25 MPH. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE NOVEMBER AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS. I READ ABOUT A RECALL BUT THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED SINCE 2002 WHEN THE RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT OUT. AS I HAVE READ THE DESCRIPTIONS ON WHAT PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE WAS, I NOTICE THAT IT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE. (BCM RECALL 2002 #02066) . *TR
SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE CUP HOLDER AREA. WHEN WE OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM, THE FUSE BOX WAS ON FIRE AND SEVERAL FUSES WERE BURNED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE IT STARTED BUT IT APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS, WHICH PREVENTED HER FROM DETERMINING HOW FAST SHE WAS DRIVING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. ONE YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 80,000 MILES. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE CADILLAC DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT WOULD COST $100 TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND $500 TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS COMPONENT, HOWEVER, GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAS HAD NEAR CRASHES AND RECEIVED SPEEDING TICKETS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 105,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07.
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE DEPT RULED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS ELECTRICAL FIRE. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT CADILLAC IS REFUSING TO ACCEPT LIABILITY. *MC *JB
12/24/06 I HAD A CAR FIRE AT MY HOUSE, GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN JERKING ME AROUND FOR OVER A MONTH NOW REGARDING THERE LIABILITY FOR THE FIRE. 2/13/07 THEY ACCEPTED LIABILITY OF THE FIRE OVER THE PHONE TO ME. I FAXED TO THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTS THEY ASKED FOR. NOW TODAY 2/14/07 THEY ARE DENYING LIABILITY AS WELL AS THE SUPERVISOR DENYING IT WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS MATTER. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BIG COMPANY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE WORKING PUBLIC. *NM
MY 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WAS PARKED AT 10:30 DECEMBER 23. 2006 IN MY DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 9-9:15 ON DECEMBER 24, 2006 THE TRUCK IGNITED ITSELF ON FIRE. THE TRUCK IS SEVERELY BURNED AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S 2006 MERCEDES BENZ AS WELL AS MY PROPERTY. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, LIGHTNING STRUCK THE EXTERIOR ANTENNA FOR THE ON-STAR SYSTEM DISRUPTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
CADILLAC MOTOR DIVISION BLEW OFF MY INQUIRY. 05/26/2006 22:06:32CIDENT DESCRIPTION: WHEN TURNING OFF IGNITION WITH 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE, AND TOUCHING EXTERIOR MIRROR BUTTON TO FOLD MIRRORS IN OR OUT, POWER SEAT AUTOMATICALLY MOVES DRIVER INTO STEERING WHEEL CRUSHING SAID VICTIM INTO STEERING WHEEL. REMOVING KEY DID NOT STOP. ONLY WAY TO RELEASE THIS A SECOND INCIDENT WAS TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR TO KILL THE POWER. CORRESPONDENCE FROM GENERAL MOTORS RESPONSE IS NO FURTHER ACTION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS A THIRD TIME, I WILL DELIVER SAID AUTOMOBILE TO THE CLOSEST CADILLAC DEALER AND REMOVE MY LICENSE PLATES. DEAR [XXX], THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE ME IN REGARDS TO YOUR SERVICE REQUEST. THIS OFFICE GATHERS INFORMATION AND BASED ON THAT INFORMATION WE ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE BEST METHOD OF HANDING YOUR REQUEST. WE ARE CONTINUALLY MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN WAYS TO ASSIST THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS. AGAIN, I HAVE REVIEWED YOUR REQUEST 1-410654614 WITH THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. I APOLOGIZE THAT THE DECISION WAS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WISHES, HOWEVER; THIS IS THE FINAL DECISION OF GENERAL MOTORS AND WE WILL NO LONGER ADDRESS ADDITIONAL MESSAGES ON THIS SUBJECT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AGAIN WITH ANY OTHER CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE OUTSIDE OF THIS ISSUE. IF YOU SHOULD NEED TO CONTACT US IN THE FUTURE, SIMPLY REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE OR CALL OUR CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-458-8006. CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. SINCERELY, [XXX], CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER : [XXX] POWER SEAT CRUSHING THE DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED OFF AND THE MIRROR RETRACTION BUTTON IS PUSHED... THE PAINT DAMAGE WITHOUT ADVISING OWNERS THIS IS FILLED WITH A LIQUID WHICH INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WOULD NOT START. *TC THE BATTERY SEEM TO BE WORKING BUT THE IGNITION CIRCUIT WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONSUME ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE JUMP STARTED WITH NO SUCCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOT HE DEALER WHERE THEY RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *NM
Showing 1-20 of 24 loaded complaints
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.
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Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.