Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Cadillac Escalade
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Cadillac Escalade has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 115 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #07E106000 REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E043000 AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS/FUEL LEAK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V253000 GM/FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 28 complaints
- Electrical System 16 complaints
- Service Brakes 11 complaints
- Power Train 9 complaints
- Suspension 8 complaints
- Steering 7 complaints
Of the 115 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 115 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$11,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Cadillac Escalade exhibits below-average reliability, with several recurring issues observed in complaints and recalls. Frequent brake and electrical system issues, along with hub-related recalls, contribute to its lower reliability score.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$900 | very common |
| electrical system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
| power train | 90,000–130,000 miles | $1,000–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Battery check and replacement
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- ABS warning lights
- Brake pedal softness
- Frequent electrical issues
- Transmission delays
- Steering vibration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.