There are 24 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Escaladein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
BREAKS WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WENT DOWN EMBANKMENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT, ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS SEIZED AND FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN NEEDED. THE FAILURE PRESENTED THE RISK OF A POTENTIAL CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 02V224000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); ALTHOUGH, THE FAILURES WERE SIMILAR TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE LEAK DUE TO INFERIOR BRAKE LINES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. THE ABS AND TRACTION ACTIVITY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRO-BOOST FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALER DIAGNOSED RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WHEN I BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, I HAD NO BRAKES WHAT SO EVER, LUCKY ME I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, IT LOOKS LIKE THE BRAKE LINES IS BROKE, I HAVE A POOL OF BRAKE FLUID IN MY DRIVE WAY. *TR
I WAS ON I 75 PASSING UNDER MILLER RD IN FLINT, MI WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO BACK UP AND SLOW DOWN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STATED TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDDLE THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT TO 1ST GEAR AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO WHERE I COULD GET IT INTO REVERSE TO STOP IT. WE WHERE SO LUCKY! I GOT IT TO A CADILLAC DEALER IN DEARBORN, MI AND FOUND OUT THAT THE MAIN BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. I HAD ALL THE BRAKE LINE REPLACE. I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF GM VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM STILL ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT GM HAD A BRAKE LINE MATERIAL PROBLEM DURING THE EARLY 2000 THAT LEAD TO RUSTING OUT OF THE LINES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. THE DEALER WAS LES STANFORD CADILLAC UPDATED 10/9/15 *LN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE IN REVERSE AND ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN
I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOME AND AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN THE BRAKES FAILED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. RETURNED HOME AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT FRAME AREA UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. PULLED WHEEL OFF AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. ALL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE FOUR OTHER CARS AND NONE HAVE BRAKE LINES RUSTED LIKE THESE. SUSPECT MATERIAL USED TO MAKE BRAKE LINES NOT TO SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN SEVER CORROSION.. *TR
BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY THREE TIMES BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF HYDRAULIC LINES/COMPONENTS. LAST TIME WHEN BRAKE FAILED I WAS ON A FREEWAY AND I HIT THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR TO TAKE AN EXIT AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THANKS GOD NO DAMAGE TOOK PLACE. I AM HAVING LOT OF RUST/CORROSION/CHROME FAILURE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A SLIGHTLY ICY ROAD, THE CAR AHEAD OF ME WAS COMING TO A STOP. I HIT MY BRAKES, BUT THE GROUND WAS A LITTLE SLICK SO THE ABS KICKED ON. I PUSHED THE PEDAL HARDER, THERE WAS A POP NOISE, AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE WARNING CHIME CAME ON, ALONG WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAID "SERVICE BRAKING SYSTEM" IN THE DIC ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MY BRAKES WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL, AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD A DASH CAM RUNNING AT THE TIME, AND CAPTURED A VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT, WHICH I HAVE PUT ON YOUTUBE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=VE6GQFIWQ_A I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT UP THE ROAD, AT WHICH POINT I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID DIRECTLY UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER. WHEN A FRIEND ARRIVED TO GIVE ME A RIDE HOME, I HAD HIM PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL SO I COULD SEE WHERE THE FLUID WAS ESCAPING. IT WAS COMING FROM A SPLIT IN ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE MASTER CYLINDER (ALSO ON YOUTUBE): HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MUDTDMZLA2U I NOTED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES THAT I COULD SEE LOOKED EXTREMELY CORRODED, AND DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ONCE I SAW THAT IT WASN'T A FREAK INCIDENT AND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GM TRUCKS / SUVS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID A VEHICLE PULLING INTO HER LANE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND THEN SKIDDED. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AND THE STABILITY SYSTEM DISABLED AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND ONCE PARKED, SHE NOTICED THERE WAS PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES SUFFERED FROM SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,337.
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND SUBSEQUENTLY LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID. CAUSE WAS A CORRODED REAR, STEEL (HARD) BRAKE LINE ALONG THE FRAME. *TR
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT METAL BRAKE LINE PROBLEM. I NOTICED A LEAK AND I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THE METAL BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I QUESTIONED HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN? WHY WASN'T IT NOTICED DURING PREVIOUS SERVICE? WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM? CAN THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? I REQUESTED INVESTIGATION OF PARTS AND VERIFICATION OF RECALLS. "I WAS TOLD THAT BATTERY ACID DRIPPED ON LINE". I WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE ANSWER I RECEIVED DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE, ESPECIALLY IF ALL SERVICE AND WORK DONE TO MY ESCALADE EXT TRUCK WERE COMPLETED MY THE DEALER. MY BATTERY HAD NO CORROSION AND I DO NOT LIVE INSALT BELT STATE. I FEEL THIS BRAKE LINE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING. *TR
BRAKE LINE CORROSION CAUSED RAPID LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID . STEEL LINE RUPTURED WITHIN A PLASTIC RETAINER LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR ON THE LEFT FRAME RAIL DIRECTLY BEHIND THE LEFT FRONT SHOCK.. I HAVE KEPT THE EXACT RUPTURED PART.. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF CORROSION ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE VEHICLE IN FACT THE REST OF THE LINE LOOKS GOOD.. THE PLASTIC RETAINER, FOR SOME REASON ACCELERATED THE RATE OF CORROSION IN A SMALL ISOLATED AREA. I WORK IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE.. I CAN ASSIST IN ANY INFORMATION IF NEEDED...THIS PROBLEM WILL DEFINITELY INJURE SOMEONE.... *TR
2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE IN VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE EXPERIENCED BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH WAS RELATED TO OXIDATION AND RUST DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINES (METAL TUBING) AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED AND THE LINES AS WELL AS THE HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED OVER A YEAR LATER, WHERE 14 ADDITIONAL LINES SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST. A PATCH JOB WAS PERFORMED TO RETURN BRAKING CAPACITY. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE BRAKE AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HOUSING AND PIPES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,00.
I OWN A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE PURCHASED USED FROM THE ORIGINAL KNOWN OWNER LAST YEAR. 27,500 ORIGINAL MILES GARAGE KEPT WHOLE LIFE AND NEVER DRIVEN IN INCLEMENT WEATHER BY ORIGINAL OWNER OR MYSELF. HAD VEHICLE IN FOR PA SAFETY INSPECTION TODAY, WAS TOLD EXCESSIVE CORROSION WAS FOUND ON FUEL AND BRAKE LINES AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ASAP. REPAIR GARAGE SUGGESTED CONTACTING NHTSA AS A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED OF JANUARY 26, 2011 AT 10:34 AM NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA11001 IT WOULD APPEAR MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS MINE AND I WANTED TO BE ON RECORD WITH REGARDS TO THE INVESTIGATION. *TR
DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH OR ABOVE AND IF NEEDED TO COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP IT WON'T STOP LIKE IT SHOULD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID BRAKE PADS WERE FINE, AND THEY DID NEED NOT TAKE APART THE ABS SYSTEM. ALSO, THEY CHECKED A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, BUT IT DID NOT SHOW ANY CODES. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. NOTICED THIS AROUND AUGUST 1, 2005. *AK
WAS EXITING THE HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY, SOUTH IN PELHAM, NY. ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR! I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR AND HAD TO STEER INTO A UTILITY POLE TO AVOID AN ACTIVE INTERSECTION.
Showing 1–20 of 24 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.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026