2008 Cadillac Escalade Electrical System Problems

Well driving, fuel indications went out and car started to do rough idling with poorer fuel economy. Upon inspection, wiring harness by driveshaft on the driver side got caught in the driveshaft and destroyed wiring.

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS TREMBLING FOR A MONTH PRIOR TO THE LIGHT. THEN PEPBOYS COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. RESET ELECTRICAL PANEL. A WEEK LATER BRAKE STABILIZER LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO OCEAN CADILLAC IN MIAMI. THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING, KNOCKING AND ABOUT TO GO ON FIRE. IT LOST PRESSURE AND I CALLED INSURANCE FLATBED.. AFTER FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND $1200 LATER.. PICKED UP AND DROVE OFF. 15 MINUTES LATER ENGINE VIBRATING & SMOKING AS SERVICE DEPT CLOSED. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR, AND SAID FUEL PUMP BLOWN OUT FROM ENGINE MALFUCTION.. OTHER OWNERS, SAME MODEL, TOLD ,ME A COMMON PROBLEM THAT GM REPAIRS FOR FREE SINCE ON RECALL. THE DELEARSHIP NOW SAYS 4,000 BILL TO FIX THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM WHO DOES NOT ANSWER THE PHONE. TWO MONTHS GOING BACK AND FORTH THE DELEARSHIP AND NO MORE MONEY TO GIVE 4,000 TO THE ENGINE WHICH IS ON RECALL & RESPONSIBILITY OF GM MOTORS.

HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL AND GO OUT DUE TO LACK OF PROPER DESIGN. CONSTANTLY GETTING MOISTURE INSIDE OF THEM. *TR

INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES IN & OUT. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING, WHAT GEAR YOU'RE IN, WHETHER YOU'RE IN PARK REVERSE DRIVE. WAS TOLD PREVIOUS RECALL 08V441000 WAS ISSUED 8/28/2008 ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING. DEALER CAN'T GET NEW PART TO REPLACE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WILL GO OUT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG OR PARKED.

HEATED SEAT CONTROL MODULE CONNECTION OVERHEATED FROM POOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AND STARTED FIRE.

HEATED SEAT CONTROL MODULE CONNECTION OVERHEATED AND COMPLETELY MELTED ON DRIVERS SIDE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THIS HAD TAKEN PLACE NOR HAVE I EVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF WARNING FROM GM THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A GREAT NUMBER OF OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THIS SAME POOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT MOST ENDED UP STARTING A FIRE. I WAS HAVING MY OIL CHANGED AT THE GM DEALERSHIP, AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK AS TO WHY MY HEATED SEATS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS PARTIALLY MELTED, SO IT COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE AS WELL. THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND I WASN'T ABOUT TO PAY JUST FOR THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN AGAIN OR CONSTANTLY WORRY IF REPAIRED, WAS IT GONNA CAUSE A FIRE NEXT TIME. I STILL ENDED UP PAYING TO HAVE THEM SEARCH THE PROBLEM AND PAY TO DISCONNECT THE MODULE COMPLETELY. $800 PLUS DOLLARS TO REPAIR , MOSTLY LABOR DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE SEAT TO REPLACE THE MODULE. HA!, THEY DISCONNECT THE BURNT UP MODULES WITHOUT TAKING MY SEAT OUT, SERIOUSLY??? SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT THE HEATED STEERING AS WELL?!?!. AFTER REVIEWING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE , CADILLAC SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. YOU CAN BET THAT I'M VERY FURIOUS ABOUT THIS AND I EXPECT AN ANSWER BACK WITH AN EXPLANATION. SINCERELY, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

MOISTURE GETTING INTO HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY CAUSING BALLAST TO SHORT, AND HID FAILURE

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. TWICE WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AS I WAS TRYING TO SAFELY GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME BACK ON, THE RADIO COMES ON AT TOP VOLUME, THE POWER COMES BACK ON. I HAVE HAD IT INTO AN AUTHORIZED CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK AND COULD NEVER REPLICATE IT OR FIND THE ISSUE. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED ON A SIDE STREET, NOT AS BAD AS THE HIGHWAY, BUT STILL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING. THE ONE I READ WAS IN 2008 WHICH IS THE MODEL YEAR OF THIS CAR. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS APPX LATE NOV 2015,, THEN AGAIN IN MARCH 2016, AND THIS LAST TIME ON JULY 17, 2016.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SHUTS ITSELF OFF AND BACK ON. DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK, AIR CONDITIONER TURNS ITSELF ON AND OFF ALONG WITH HEATED SEATS TURNING ON. RADIO INCREASES IN VOLUME AND VEHICLE ENGINE INCREASE RPMS. WITH HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WITH OTHER TRAFFIC INVOLVED.

WHEN I TURN ON THE A/C THIS SMELLS LIKE OIL BURNING, AND I HAVE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AS WELL. THIS IS BECAUSE OIL IS LEAKING IN TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I READ THAT THIS IS A TYPICAL ISSUE IN THESE CARS. I THOUGHT THIS IS A PARTICULAR CAR'S DEFECT, BUT I READ THAT IS VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THE 2008 ESCALADES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLATCH. THE CONTACT SHATTERED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IN ORDER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED COMPLETELY OFF, WHEN AN ALARM TYPE OF SOUND STARTED RINGING. I LOOKED AT MY CAR AND I SEE SMOKE INSIDE BY THE DASH BOARD, I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE RUSHES OUTSIDE AND GRABBED A TOOL. HE OPENED UP THE HOOD AND ALOT MORE SMOKE CAME OUT, HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY WITH THE TOOL AND MY UNCLE GRABBED THE HOSE AND WATER DOWN THE ENGINE PART OF THE CAR. THE FIRE WENT OUT AND I RIGHT AWAY CONTACT ME INSURNACE.THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL FUSE BOX IS BURN AND IM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE IS DAMAGE IN THE DASH BOARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SPEED REDUCED TO 25 MPH AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO INCREASE SPEED. UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V240000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 08V441000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED.THAT BEING SAID YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY A PERSON WOULD BE FRUSTRATED WHEN THEY DISH OUT AN ESTIMATED 700 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS ONLY TO BE FACING THE SAME ISSUE NO MORE THAN A YEAR LATER.THE PROBLEM IS WITH GM'S HEATED SEAT DESIGN. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE; DOING A QUICK SEARCH WILL BRING SEVERAL FORUM THREADS WITH USERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUES.WITH THE CURRENT STATUS OF GM IN REGARDS TO FAILURE TO ACT ON POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THEY ARE TURNING A BLIND EYE HERE. THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WILL NOT TAKE THE TIME TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. SEVERAL USERS HAVE REPORTED RECURRING ISSUES EVEN AFTER THE "FIRE HAZARD" HAS BEEN FIXED/REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN I USE THE AUTO START FEATURE IN COLD WHETHER.I LIVE IN MINNESOTA AND THE TEMPERATURES GET RATHER COLD, IT'S REALLY NICE TO USE THIS FEATURE WHENEVER POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, WHEN USING THE AUTO START IN COLD WEATHER, SEVERAL USERS AS WELL AS MYSELF HAVE REPORTED THAT THIS IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE MELTING WIRES DUE TO RESISTANCE ISSUES RELATING TO THE COLD WEATHER. THE WIRES UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT GET SO HOT THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SMELL IT BURNING AS WELL AS VISUALLY SEE THE BURN DAMAGE UPON INSPECTING THE CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SCARIEST PART OF IT ALL IS THAT NO FUSE WILL TRIP DURING THIS HAZARDOUS PROCESS. THE WIRE WILL SIMPLE MELT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL NO LONGER MAKE A GOOD CONTACT AND THEN "HOPEFULLY" QUIT WORKING WITHOUT CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A REPORT COMES IN OF A VEHICLE BURNING TO THE GROUND, HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL BE HURT BECAUSE OF GM'S FAILURE TO ACT "AGAIN". EITHER WAY, IF IT DOES, I WILL BE CONTACTING THE NEWS AND SUPPLYING THEM THIS SUBMISSION AS PROOF THAT A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. *TR

I WILL BE DRIVING AND LOSE ALL POWER! IT DOES IT AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. ITS LIKE SOMEONE TURNS THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE WEIRD THING IS IT WILL DO IT ALOT ONE DAY AND THEN IT DOESNT DO IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. IT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON BUT IN TRAFFIC IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE HAD IT PUT ON COMPUTERS AND IT NEVER HAS SHOWED ANYTHING. AND I WAS READING ON RECALLS ON THE IGNITIONS AND THOUGHT IT COULD BE A PART OIF THE RECALL

THE FRONT SEAT HEATERS FAILED. PRIOR TO FAILURE I NOTED A MEDIUM-STRONG BURNING SMELL, BUT COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY REPORTED THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL SEAT MODULE (CCSM) HAD MELTED DUE TO TOO MUCH CURRENT PASSING THROUGH IT. THEY QUOTED ME $1092.00 TO REPLACE THE PART, WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

IM WRITING BECAUSE THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND ALL OTHER LIGHTINGS ON THE TRUCK JUST GOING OUT WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUES WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND UNWANTED TICKETS. PLEASE HANDLE THIS ASAP. *TR

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) BEYOND A THREE YEAR PERIOD. THE DEALER (CAPITAL CADILLAC OF ATLANTA, 2210 COBB PKWY SE, SMYRNA, GA 30080, (770) 884-7397) CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR KEPT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING. IN PREVIOUS REPAIRS, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED A CABLE FOR THE SERVICE CHARGING SYSTEM DUE TO A CONSTANT LOSS OF POWER. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE READER THAT PRODUCED A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED TO LOCK/UNLOCK DOOR FROM REMOTE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE REAR DRIVER DOOR USING THE REMOTE, THE ELECTRONIC LOCK FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE ELECTRONIC LOCK NO LONGER RESPONDS TO SIGNALS FROM THE REMOTE OR THE DOOR BUTTON AND MUST BE MANUALLY LOCKED/UNLOCKED. *TR