2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Escalade ESV years
- Fewer complaints than other years 16th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV. That ranks 16th out of 24 Escalade ESV model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (2 complaints, 17%), typically at around 88,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 12owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 | 17% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 17% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 17% | 139,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 17% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 8% | 198,900 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 8% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 8% | 100 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 8% | 69,871 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Broken exhaust manifold bolts on engine found at under 100k miles. Creates serious fire hazard.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 cadillac escalade esv. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, all the gauges and indicators on the instrument cluster suddenly failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the instrument cluster had failed but the part…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 cadillac escalade esv. While driving 35 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to decelerate. The abs and traction activity warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 cadillac escalade esv. When the contact drove in reverse and attempted to apply the brakes, the vehicle made a loud noise. The contact's vehicle failed to stop and crashed into another vehicle. There were no injuries. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 cadillac escalade esv. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact noticed a ticking sound coming from the engine. The check engine light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where a diagnostic revealed that the exhaust…
Other Cadillac Escalade ESV years
See all Cadillac Escalade ESV problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
Similar Cadillac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Escalade ESV model years, the 2003 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.