The 2003 Cadillac Escalade has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,429,455 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS05V1630002005-04-221,359,824 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT,…
Consequence
A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT…
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.
STRUCTURE03V0370002003-02-06107 affected
Defect
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH FOUR WELDS ON THE REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, ONE OR TWO OF THE WELDS MAY NOT BE TO SPECIFICATION.
Consequence
AS A RESULT, THE DOOR STRENGTH MAY BE DEGRADED DURING A SIDE IMPACT VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS ON THE LEFT REAR DOOR UPPER HINGE. IF A WELD IS FOUND OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, A BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED TO SECURE THE HINGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 17, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM02V2240002002-08-12649 affected
Defect
CERTAIN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITHOUT A POWER STEERING BRACKET TO SECURE THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE STEERING SHAFT.
Consequence
THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE A WEAR-THROUGH OF THE CABLE INSULATION, EXPOSING THE WIRE CORE AND RESULT IN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORTING. IF ENOUGH CURRENT IS DISCHARGED AT THE POINT OF CONTACT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING AND RE-ROUTE, IF NECESSARY. NO OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL TAKE PLACE SINCE ALL VEHICLES WERE CAPTURED AT THE DEALERS.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
3fires
SERVICE BRAKES
9
1crashes
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
6
AIR BAGS
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5
ENGINE
4
STEERING
4
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
3
Total complaints111
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“All of a sudden 3rd and 4th gears became useless causing a rapid deacceleration of the vehicle and posing the possibility of being rear ended with end result of massive damage to vehicle and serious injury to occupants”
“The sunroof on my vehicle flew off on the highway while it was in the "closed" position. There was no personal injury nor damage to any persons or vehicles. I returned to the area where the glass flew off only to find it shattered all over the shoulder of the road, completely destroyed. I've…”
“The contact owns a 2003 cadillac escalade ext. The contact stated that the air bag light was illuminated. The contact contacted an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the air bag needed replacement but did not diagnose the failure cause. The vehicle was not repaired. The…”
“Air bag light is on .want go off..its cadillac (est truck )not the suv”
“Breaks went to the floor and car went down embankment.”
“Some body take my truck like a robbery. Im have a police report bit they don't find it. *tr”
“Continously light comes on service airbag, especially when driver seat is moved and when hit a bump in the road”
“While driving I lost all use of brakes immediately after the brake system light came on driving 45mph on a city street. While driving the stability control light came on and car shut off 60mph on the highway. On another occasion stability control light came on and steering column locked up while…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA11001 Opened 2011-01-05 · closed 2015-04-08
Brake line corrosion failure
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states…
InvestigationEA11001 Opened 2011-01-05 · closed 2015-04-08
Brake line corrosion failure
On January 11, 2011, ODI opened EA11-001 to investigate allegations of premature brake line corrosion failure in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 General Motors (GM) full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles sold or registered in the following region of the United States that NHTSA has viewed as salt states…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.