There are 6 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2004 Cadillac Escaladein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DURING ROUTINE REPAIR WORK TRANSMISSION LINES, BREAK LINES AND POWER STEERING LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE ROTTEN OR BADLY LEAKING. IN ADDITION, FUEL PUMP, REAR BACKING PLATES AND POWER STEERING AND TRANSMISSION COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO ROT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND BARRING NEED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN.THEN THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP. BUT RIGHT BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF. ITS NEVER BEEN HIT OR HIT ANYTHING. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN NOV.2012. WE GOT A CARFAX WITH THE VEHICLE, IT WAS CLEAN, I LOOKED FOR RECALLS AND 4 APPEARED, I ALSO CALLED CADILLAC, SPOKE TO A DEALER AND THE WOMAN SAID MY VIN NUMBER HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED, I STATED IT WAS IN 2004 IT WAS RECALLED AND ALL THE THINGS IT WAS RECALLED FOR WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING NOW..AT TIMES IT WAS MAKING A NOISE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. SHE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP, CAUSING HER TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK AND MOVE THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE GREAT EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). SHE WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR A FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR BOX BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR COULD BE PERFORMED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,100. THE CONTACT ASKED IF SHE COULD GET A SECOND OPINION AT A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE OPINION OF ANOTHER MECHANIC INTO CONSIDERATION, IF THEY WERE NOT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,790 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,699. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF UPDATED 02/09/09. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING TURNS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND FILLED IT WITH GREASE.
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT PRODUCED A WHININNING NOISE. DEALER REPAIRED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
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 25, 2026