There are 9 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Escaladein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND IT FELT AS IF SHE WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. ON OCCASION, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AND LOOSENED ON ITS OWN. FURTHERMORE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE "REAR DOOR MAINTENANCE" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TAKEN TO KUNI CHEVROLET CADILLAC (2449 FULTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825, (916) 538-7217). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POWER STEERING AND SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR THE STEERING AND SEAT BELT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA, SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH HIS BABY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTING THE HOOD AREA, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE BATTERY AND POWER STEERING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE LOCATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED, TOOK PICTURES, AND WAS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 02V224000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO FOLLOW UP TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
STEERING/CROSS BAR/AXEL- BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 10 + TIMES. CAR STEERING GOES OUT. CAR MAKES CRACKLING NOISES WHILE TURNING. *NM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 80 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE OCCASIONS AND REPLACED SIX TIMES UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER DUE TO FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING HAD ALSO BEEN REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 09/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE FAILURES WERE ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/14/10
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC EXT ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OVERHEATED AND FAILED AS SOON AS HE DROVE FROM THE LOT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHOUT WARNING ON AT LEAST TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD NUMEROUS UNKNOWN REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT, THE IGNITION SWITCH, FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ROUGH AND SHIFTING HARD. UPDATED 10/27/10
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE. THIS WAS DONE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. THIS SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS AGO CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKES WOULD SHOOK ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT WHILE ROAD WORK WAS DONE. THIS CAUSED A CRASH, VEHICLE RAN INTO A TREE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN HAND AND NOSE. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS AND HAD A KNOT ON HEAD, AND TORE LIGAMENTS IN HIS ARM. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. ALSO, INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING BOOSTER. THIS AFFECTED THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM; THE BLACK BOX HAS NOT BEEN RETRIEVED FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. *AK
STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN PROPERLY WHEN APPLIED. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING HOUSING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
CHROME LINING OF WHEELS HAS BEEN PEELING FOR YEARS. WHEN FIRST APPEARED FACTORY REP FROM CADILLAC/GM INSPECTED CAR AND STATED ONLY COSMETIC (CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). MY CONCERN WAS THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO INTO THE INTERFACE OF THE TIRE AND WHEEL. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO GM SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT HAS. BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE IT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE A PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD A FIX. THIS FIX WAS PERFORMED NUMEROUS TIMES AT DEALER AND OTHER TIRE DEALERS, MR TIRE AND GOODYEAR. ALL OF THE TIRE DEALERS HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE RIGHT AWAY. THE ISSUE IN ALSO NOTED MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET. WE CAN CHECK PRESSURE AND LOAD TIRES TO SPECS GO ON A RIDE ON HIGHWAY AND FEEL SOME LOSS OF STEERING AFTER A HUNDRED MILES. THEN NEED TO ADD PRESSURE. THIS IS A CHRONIC ISSUE WITH ACUTE INSTANCES THAT HAS POTENTIAL OF CREATING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER WANTS $1000.00 PER WHEEL TO REPLACE PLUS LABOR. GM NOT INTERESTED IN ANY FINANCIAL HELP OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CASE # 71-1423629281 (JANUARY 13, 2015). THEY STATED THAT THEY "HAVE TO FOLLOW COMPANY GUIDELINES", THAT THE "ISSUE IS TRICKY BECAUSE I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST BUT THERE IS NO RECALL", "THE YEAR OF MY VEHICLE PRECLUDES ANY FIX", "OUR GUIDELINES ONLY COVER UP TO 8 YEARS" ...... PLEASE HELP. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A FIX THAT DOES NOT LAST (AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR), AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND AN EVENTUAL ACCIDENT. *TR
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 10MPH ON FREEZING WEATHER (MOUNTAIN) HAS A SEVERE VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED YET. PLEASE PROVIDED FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR
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