The 2004 Cadillac Escalade Esv has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 68,875 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC04V0450002004-02-0468,875 affected
Defect
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.
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.
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.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
4
3crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
3
WHEELS
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES
2
STEERING
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1
EQUIPMENT
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
Total complaints28
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Cadillac Escalade Esv as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.