NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT 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 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT owner complaints

Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT, describing incidents dated December 27, 2003 to June 19, 2015.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 10 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Tires 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint

Of the 22 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 22 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10732316 · Filed July 6, 2015
SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN THE ABS SYSTEM TOOK OVER, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO "PULSATE". I DIDNT THINK THE TRUCK WOULD STOP SO I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO MISS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAD ALREADY STOPPED. LUCKILY MY TRUCK…
ODI #10726302 · Filed June 19, 2015
ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN STOP SIGN, I HAD TO STEP HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. SHORTLY AFTER I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL GETTING CLOSER TO "BOTTOMING OUT" EACH TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES. UPON ARRIVING HOME I FOUND, ON THE LEFT SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE BELOW THE BACK SEAT, FLUID DRIPPING AND…
ODI #10651875 · Filed November 1, 2014
I WAS DRIVING HOME. OUT OF NO WHERE MY DRIVERS SIDE - SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANIOUSLY. I BEGAN LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD, AND STARTELING THAT I THOUGHT SOMEONE STRUCK MY DRIVERS SIDE. I AM LEFT SIDE - HEARING IMPAIRED, MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE WENT NUMB AND BEGAN TO…

Read all 22 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE05-020: UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION
Closed September 13, 2005
- Recall 05V-379

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

GM/TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE

NHTSA #04V129000 · Structure — Body — Tailgate — Hinge and Attachments · NHTSA notice

Reported March 17, 2004 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 3,662,211 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 04007 · Owners notified September 18, 2004 · Vehicles built October 1, 2000 – July 31, 2002 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.

Safety consequence

ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR VISIT WWW.MYGMLINK.COM, AND ENTER YOUR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

Notes

GM RECALL NO. 04007.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

3 investigations

22 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT.

Service Brakes

ODI #10732316

Incident: September 19, 2013 · Filed: July 6, 2015

SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN THE ABS SYSTEM TOOK OVER, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO "PULSATE". I DIDNT THINK THE TRUCK WOULD STOP SO I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO MISS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAD ALREADY STOPPED. LUCKILY MY TRUCK STOPPED, BUT IT WAS RATHER SCARY. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ALSO. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR CHEVROLET AND GMC VEHICLES IN THE " SEVERE CORROSION" AREAS, OHIO BEING ONE OF THE STATES, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE. THE RECALL # IS 05068A. I AM CURIOUS WHY CADILLAC VEHICLES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING AND IS GETTING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. ANY LIGHT THAT CAN ME SHED ON THIS IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. UPDATED 9/25/15 *LN UPDATED 11/07/2017*CN

Service Brakes

ODI #10726302

Incident: June 19, 2015 · Filed: June 19, 2015

ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN STOP SIGN, I HAD TO STEP HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. SHORTLY AFTER I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL GETTING CLOSER TO "BOTTOMING OUT" EACH TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES. UPON ARRIVING HOME I FOUND, ON THE LEFT SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE BELOW THE BACK SEAT, FLUID DRIPPING AND APPROXIMATELY 24" OF THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE SATURATED WITH BRAKE FLUID. WHEN I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE I TRACED THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER BACK AND FOUND THE LINES TO BE RUSTED. THE LINE THAT IS LEAKING MUST HAVE RUSTED THRU. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO DESIGN I CANNOT SEE THE BREAK IN THE LINE NOR, IT APPEARS, CAN I REPAIR IT MYSELF DUE TO ACCESSIBILITY.

Air Bags

ODI #10651875

Incident: November 1, 2014 · Filed: November 1, 2014

I WAS DRIVING HOME. OUT OF NO WHERE MY DRIVERS SIDE - SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANIOUSLY. I BEGAN LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD, AND STARTELING THAT I THOUGHT SOMEONE STRUCK MY DRIVERS SIDE. I AM LEFT SIDE - HEARING IMPAIRED, MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE WENT NUMB AND BEGAN TO RING PIERCINGLY. I GAINED CONTROL BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO EXIT THE TRUCK. I WAS ENGULFED IN CHEMICALS AND COULDN'T SEE. I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND COULDN'T AS THE AIRBAG BLOCKED MY EXIT, AND / OR ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW. WHEN THE AIRBAG BEGAN TO DEFLATE I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I WAS FORTUNATE MY SON AND HUSBAND WERE BEHIND ME AS WE DROVE HOME. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING AS I JUMPED OUT OF MY TRUCK WITH A WHITE CLOUD OF FUMES BEHIND ME. I NOW FEEL AS THOUGH MY EAR HAS BEEN STABBED AND MY NOSE/THROAT ARE BURNING. *TR

Engine

ODI #10631232

Incident: August 20, 2014 · Filed: September 6, 2014

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN AND THE MUFFLER REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS COULD LEAD TO A MAJOR REPAIR BILL IF THE OTHER BOLTS BREAK TAKING THE MANIFOLD OFF, IT COULD LEAD TO THE EGR PIPE BRAKING AND THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL REPAIR BILL JUST REPLACING EACH EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT AS IS, THEN, THE REPAIR SHOP WANTS ME TO BUY NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLDS SO THEY CAN WARRANTY THEIR WORK. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE OR NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLDS & GASKET W/UPGRADED BOLTS. PLEASE HELP YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMER. *TR

Engine

ODI #10607158

Incident: May 13, 2009 · Filed: June 30, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Service Brakes

ODI #10564764

Incident: February 11, 2014 · Filed: February 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE BROKEN BRAKE LINE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD DETERIORATED DUE TO RUST AND THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

Engine

ODI #10561355

Incident: January 24, 2014 · Filed: January 24, 2014

I AM ANOTHER UNHAPPY GM VEHICLE OWNER DUE TO A VERY COMMON SAFETY ISSUE ON THEIR ENGINES, THE BOLTS ON MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAVE BROKEN, 3 IN JUST ONE WEEK, AND IM SURE THE OTHERS WILL BREAK TOO IN JUST A MATTER OF TIME.. I THINK GM SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BCUS IT WILL NOT ONLY LOOK GOOD ON THEM BUT KEEP THEIR FUTURE COSTUMERS HAPPY.. IF I DO NOT GET A RECALL ON THIS , I WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN OWN ANOTHER GM VEHICLE... DODGE HERE I COME... MY WIFE'S VEHICLE IS A DODGE AND HAS 3 TIMES THE KMS AS MINE AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR ISSUE ... OWN UP GM AND MAKES US PROUD AGAIN TO OWN A GM VEHICLE... *TR

Service Brakes

ODI #10469487

Incident: July 16, 2012 · Filed: August 7, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO NOTICED A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE INNER BRAKE PAD, WHICH WAS MISSING. THE TRIPPING SENSOR ON THE BRAKE PAD CAUSED ALL OF THE FLUIDS TO LEAK. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10442866

Incident: January 5, 2012 · Filed: January 8, 2012

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AN EMERGENCY SITUATION REQUIRED A HARD APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THE VERY NEXT STOP SIGN MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AT ABOUT A DROP EVERY SECOND FROM ONE OF THE HARD METAL BRAKE LINES THAT ARE ROUTED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT ALONG THE FRAME. THERE ARE FOUR BRAKE LINES THAT ARE ROUTED TOGETHER AND COULD NOT TELL WHICH ONE WAS LEAKING. EACH OF THEM IS HEAVILY RUSTED. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10399603

Incident: April 11, 2005 · Filed: May 9, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE BRAKES BEGAN TO PULSATE UPON ENGAGING. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED REPEATEDLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE ABS SENSOR, FRONT AND REAR ROTORS, MASTER CYLINDER AND FOUR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. MOST RECENTLY, THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND WAS ALSO REPLACED WHICH REQUIRED THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE TO BE DISENGAGED FROM THE FRAME TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ UPDATED 1/24/2012 *LN *TR

Other Cadillac Escalade EXT model years

Check your 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT VIN

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