2008 Cadillac Escalade problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (69) · Engine (8) · Exterior Lighting (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Cadillac Escalade model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
67 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V050000 · 2,641,272 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. G
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V052000 · 557,023 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylv
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-878
Electrical System 2010-06-04 · campaign 10V240000 · 1,365,070 vehicles
Defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE P
Risk: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT
Service bulletins (1,219)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · 13598 · Other
new vehicle monitoring programs section in ivh
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-07 · PIC5650M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. technician may find diagnostic trouble codes b3055, b3060, b3935, c0750, c0755, c0760, c0765, and/o
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,219 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-01-23 · Power Train“truck goes into limp mode, reduced power, stuck in second gear, stabilitrak and engine lights. took it to the cadillac dealership and after 3100 dollars in repairs the truck is still doing it. if the high level techs can’t figure it out after 2000 in labor it’s should be a recall item.…”
2024-11-23 · Unknown Or Other“oil pump car shuts off while idling …”
2023-03-14 · Tires“tire size 285/45r22 got into freeway this morning and the outer sidewall just separated on the lr tire no warning, tires looked good 7/32 tread left even wear and tire pressure was correct. the other tires look good on the outside but so did the one that came apart the car has tpms and the tires were never run low or had any repairs. the outside tr…”
2022-03-31 · Fuel/Propulsion System“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.…”
2021-09-14 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“side impact air bags did not deployed on side impact. available for inspection. got hit from the side and air bags did not deployed. driver did not received protection from the crash. the problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. vehicle was seen by the police at the crash site. the component has not been inspected. …”
2021-08-05 · Suspension · 165,286 mi“the contact owns a 2008 cadillac escalade. the contact stated that since purchasing the vehicle, the "service traction control" and "service stabili-trak" message appeared on the instrument panel. the contact was informed by the auction that the failure was due to the low air pressure on the driver’s side rear tire. the contact stated while exiting…”
2021-01-29 · Engine · 180,000 mi“i started my vehicle one afternoon to a tapping sound dining from under the hood. i checked my oil, which was good then schedule to have my truck looked at by a mechanic. he started that the lifters and bearings needed to be replaced. i have always had the oil and other fluids changed regularly so i don't understand the expensive repair. the mechan…”
2021-01-21 · Air Bags“remedy for the passenger airbag has taken way too long because of gm fighting it. it is very unsettling and unsafe feeling everytime i drive my affected vehicle. please remedy soon!…”
2020-12-03 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 95,000 mi · 🔥 fire“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 an…”
2020-11-24 · Air Bags“waiting on followup to this recall since 2016 but the manufacturer doesn't have a remedy yet for this airbags that pose a safety risk of bursting overtime. my vehicle is my daily driver so i am concerned about this. i saw in the news about this today so am following up on the recalls.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.