There are 8 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2005 Cadillac Escaladein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SWITCHES INTO THE NEXT GEAR. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS EMPTY. FILLED IT UP AND THE NEXT DAY IT STILL HAS THE SAME ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE DURING THE DAYTIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING, THE GEAR SHIFTER LIGHT OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V055000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SIMILAR VEHICLES WERE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V055000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. CADILLAC OF NEW ORLEANS LOCATED AT (3100 LIME ST, METAIRIE, LA 70006) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I PURCHASED MY CAR USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN 2009 AND I NOW HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH IT. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO OUT, THE ERROR STATES THE FUEL CAP IS NOT TIGHT AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TIGHTENED IT NEVER GOES AWAY. WHEN FUELING THE CAR FUEL WILL OVERFLOW IF NOT PAYING ATTENTION. ALSO THE THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION IS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED SO I AM NOT SURE WHICH POSITION THE CAR IS IN MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO LISTEN AND GAUGE IT BEFORE TRYING TO PUT IT IN GEAR. I NEVER RECEIVED AN COMMUNICATIONS THAT THE CAR WAS UNDER RECALL BUT FROM WHAT I AM SEEING FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM NOW HAVING.
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR NOT ILLUMINATED. GM RECALL # 05023. I CALLED GM # 866-982-2339. THEY STATED MY VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND HAVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER REPROGRAMED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. I CAN'T TELL WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN AND THIS IS NOT SAFE.
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BEGAN TO COAST. THE TRANSMISSION ACTIVE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
THE HID HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN BLINKING TOGETHER ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. STARTED, STOPPED, MOVING, SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER SHUT OFF WAITING FOR DELAY LIGHTING TO TURN OFF. THE LOSS IS MOMENTARY. IT IS MORE CRITICAL ON UNLIT HIGHWAYS AND SIDE STREETS. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF TOGETHER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IN A 4 MONTH WINDOW. ON DRY ROADS, FROM A STOP, STARTING OUT AT 5-20 MPH ACTIVE TRACTION CONTROL TURNS ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLS. AS MOST STOPS OCCUR DIRECTLY PRIOR TO INTERSECTION THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION TO PLACE THE DRIVER WITH A GAS PEDDLE THAT IS BASICALLY INOPERATIVE BECAUSE THE CAR IS IN ACTIVE TRACTION MODE AND TAKING OVER THE DRIVE TRAIN. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR OVER A 4 MONTH PERIOD. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN RELATED TO SPEED SENSORS IN FRONT WHEELS BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO REPLACE THEM. THEY MADE ME DRIVE FOR 2 WEEKS WITH A CODE RECORDER IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO DO ANY SERVICE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD SPEAK TO A DEALER REGARDING THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT MADE A DECISION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,800.
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