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2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Serious

24 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 1.25 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious04V129000

Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments

ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Moderate04V045000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Complaint volume

24 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

2Crashes
2Fires
5Injuries
0Deaths

Across 24 complaints. Severity Index 1.25.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System3 · 13%Service Brakes3 · 13%Service Brakes, Hydraulic2 · 8%Fuel System, Gasoline · D…2 · 8%Power Train · Driveline1 · 4%Electronic Stability Cont…1 · 4%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 4%Air Bags · Frontal1 · 4%
  1. Electrical System — 3 reports
  2. Service Brakes — 3 reports
  3. Service Brakes, Hydraulic — 2 reports
  4. Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump — 2 reports
  5. Power Train:Driveline — 1 reports
  6. Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) — 1 reports
  7. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder — 1 reports
  8. Air Bags:Frontal — 1 reports
  9. Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments — 1 reports
  10. Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

2002 (1) · 2003 · 2004 (2) · 2005 (1) · 2007 (5) · 2008 (4) · 2009 (5) · 2010 (3) · 2011 (4) · 2012 (3) · 2013 (3)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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