NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 22 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Cadillac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV owner complaints

Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV, describing incidents dated April 20, 2004 to June 15, 2021.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 6 complaints
Power Train 5 complaints
Air Bags 4 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Wheels 3 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints

Of the 22 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 22 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11434269 · Filed September 24, 2021
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that the ABS and traction stability warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and was diagnosed with needing the shocks and struts replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the…
ODI #11063905 · Filed January 20, 2018
I HAD A BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPNTURE AND NEARLY WRECKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAY THEY WON'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH LINES ROUTED THROUGH THE FRAME, OR BETWEEN FRAME AND BODY. THEY RECOMMEND A FULL BODY REMOVAL AND THEY REFUSED. FAULTY TRANS…
ODI #11012518 · Filed August 3, 2017
RADIO SOUND GOES IN AND OUT. ALSO DOOR CHIME DOES OR DOESN'T WORK RIGHT ALONG WITH IT. IT COULD BE A SHORT OR THE BCM FROM WHAT I CAN SEE. ALSO SOMETIMES THE SUNROOF LEAKS

Read all 22 complaints

GM/FMVSS 135/BRAKE VALVE

NHTSA #04V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported February 4, 2004 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 68,875 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 04004 · Owners notified June 18, 2004 · Vehicles built May 1, 2003 – June 30, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Safety consequence

CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

Notes

GM RECALL NO. 04004.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 3

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

22 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV.

Service Brakes

ODI #11434269

Incident: June 15, 2021 · Filed: September 24, 2021

The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that the ABS and traction stability warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and was diagnosed with needing the shocks and struts replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Power Train; Wheels; Service Brakes

ODI #11063905

Incident: January 17, 2018 · Filed: January 20, 2018

I HAD A BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPNTURE AND NEARLY WRECKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAY THEY WON'T FIX IT. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH LINES ROUTED THROUGH THE FRAME, OR BETWEEN FRAME AND BODY. THEY RECOMMEND A FULL BODY REMOVAL AND THEY REFUSED. FAULTY TRANS MODULES AND PEELING/LEAKING STOCK RIMS.

Electrical System

ODI #11012518

Incident: June 7, 2016 · Filed: August 3, 2017

RADIO SOUND GOES IN AND OUT. ALSO DOOR CHIME DOES OR DOESN'T WORK RIGHT ALONG WITH IT. IT COULD BE A SHORT OR THE BCM FROM WHAT I CAN SEE. ALSO SOMETIMES THE SUNROOF LEAKS

Air Bags

ODI #10861257

Crash

Incident: April 22, 2016 · Filed: April 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE PRECEDING VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SWERVE AND CRASH INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10722985

Crash 1 injury

Incident: April 30, 2015 · Filed: June 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING AT 58 MPH IN THE RAIN, A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TWO TREE STUMPS AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Steering; Air Bags; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10523740

Incident: July 8, 2013 · Filed: July 8, 2013

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

Suspension

ODI #10358510

Incident: June 16, 2010 · Filed: September 30, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A BUMPY ROAD, THE FRONT END CLUNKED AND SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE COMING APART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10352547

Incident: April 1, 2008 · Filed: August 29, 2010

2004 ESCALADE ESV; SPEEDOMETER AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES BEGAN TO GO HAYWIRE, SOMETIMES STICKING ON 0MPH OTHER TIMES ON 140MPH. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THIS IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND TOLD THEM TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE SPEEDOMETER BECAUSE ITS NOT WORKING. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT SAYING IT HAD MORE THAN 70,000 MI...THAT WAS 2008 AND IT HASN'T WORKED SINCE. I ESTIMATE MY SPEED BY THE TACHOMETER (NOT SAFE)...ORIGINAL BROKEN PART IS STILL INSTALLED...I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10331296

Incident: May 15, 2010 · Filed: May 19, 2010

PREMATURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WITH NO ERROR CODE OR WARNING. OCCURRED ON A LOW TRAFFIC AREA HAVING NO COLLISION OR INJURIES. VEH IS 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV WITH 67 K MILES. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER CONTROLS. *TR

Wheels

ODI #10259747

Incident: June 1, 2005 · Filed: February 24, 2009

MY 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV, THE FACTORY CHROME WHEELS HAVE RUSTED AND PEELED AND INTERFERES WITH SAFETY SENSORS ASSOCIATED WITH TIRES. THIS HAS BEEN A PROGRESSIVE PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST TIME THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AT 6 MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

Other Cadillac Escalade ESV model years

Check your 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV VIN

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