There are 5 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2005 Cadillac Escaladein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TWO EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE SHEARED OFF CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ENGINE WHERE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD MEETS THE ENGINE. THIS WILL POSSIBLY LEAD TO EMISSIONS FAILURE AND HIGH REPAIR COST FOR ME THE OWNER. IT WILL ALSO HARM THE ENVIRONMENT BY THE EXHAUST EXITING PRIOR TO GOING THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR MUFFLER. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
FAILURE OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS, DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY....THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO....AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM THAT GM IS IGNORING. *TR
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE SHEARING OFF THE ENGINE CAUSING EXHAUST ODOR AND FUMES. *TR
I HAVE TWO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. I HAVE READ THAT THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE THIS SAME CONDITION. I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT IT WON'T PASS EMISSIONS. I AM ALSO WORRIED OF WHERE IT IS LOCATED, THAT IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. I WOULD THINK GM SHOULD HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FIX THIS DEFECT DUE TO THE EPA VIOLATION & SAFETY RISK THAT IT POSSES. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE 6.0L ENGINE, WITH 88,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD A TICKING SOUND INVESTIGATED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE FOUND 3 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS, TWO ON ONE SIDE AND ONE ON THE OTHER, HAD SPONTANEOUSLY BROKEN. HE INDICATED BEFORE HE LIFTED THE HOOD THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE "THAT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 6.0L ENGINE". I CHECKED WITH CADILLAC OWNERS GROUP AND EDMUNDS CAR SPACE AND READILY FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE 6.0L GM ENGINE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AND COULD LEAD TO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AND/OR THE LEAKAGE OF EXHAUST GASES INTO THE SAME. I HAD ALL OF THE MANIFOLD BOLTS REPLACED. THEY DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED, BUT RATHER, THE HEADS OF THE 3 FAILED BOLTS APPEAR TO HAVE JUST POPPED OFF. I HAVE THE BOLTS THAT WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM IS SOMEWHAT INSIDIOUS BECAUSE IT CAN MIMIC THE SOUND THAT A BAD LIFTER MIGHT MAKE. I CONTACTED CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THEY OFFERED NO RECOURSE. *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 25, 2026