2005 Cadillac Escalade: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 43 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (16% of complaints); the 2006 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Dec 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Brake/abs system locked up on me and I couldn't stop. I accidentally hit someone from behind and was proven to be an accident. My traction light my abs light and my brake light all came on at the same time right before I wrecked. The suv swerves over to the other lane randomly while on the interstate and does stop on time. Every time I fuel up gas leaks out from somewhere and its pumps gas really slow and takes so long”Owner report · Service Brakes · Mar 2023
“While driving down the road under any condition the brakes start to apply themselves ultimately leading the vehicle to not being able to pull itself. The more throttle you give it the more the brakes apply. I believe this is the same as the 2002-2004 chevy hydro boost recall. Also around the same time the resistor for the blower motor caught fire while driving down the road.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2023
“The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while refueling, the gasoline was spilling out of the filler neck. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Aug 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“Speedometer quit working on the instrument cluster. Only around 55,000 miles on vehicle. You can drive it awhile and then it quits working. Let it sit for a few minutes and it will work again for a little while and quit again. No other gauges are affected yet. Lamp assembly is fading from the inside of the light housing.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jan 2021
“I was driving and the vehicle was acting like it didn't want to switches into the next gear. Transmission fluid was empty. Filled it up and the next day it still has the same issue.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac escalade. The contact stated that the gear shift lever light failed to illuminate during the daytime. The contact stated that during night time driving, the gear shifter light operated as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05v055000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac escalade. The contact stated the instrument panel on the gear shifter failed to illuminate as designed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that similar vehicles were included in NHTSA campaign number: 05v055000 (power train) however, the VIN was not included. Cadillac of new orleans located at (3100 lime st, metairie, la 70006) was contacted and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac escalade. When the contact attempted to add fuel to the fuel tank, the valve became stuck and prevented the fuel from entering. As a result, fuel spilled out. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank and the valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 53,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Feb 2018
“I purchased my car used from a dealership in 2009 and I now have the following problems with it. A check engine light that will not go out, the error states the fuel cap is not tight and no matter how much I tightened it never goes away. When fueling the car fuel will overflow if not paying attention. Also the the shift lever position is no longer illuminated so I am not sure which position the car is in most of the time I have to listen and gauge it before trying to put it in gear. I never received an communications that the car was under recall but from what I am seeing from the NHTSA website these are the problems that I am now having.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2017
“Transmission shift lever position indicator not illuminated. Gm recall # 05023. I called gm # 866-982-2339. They stated my vehicle not included in recall. Would like to know why and have the instrument panel cluster reprogramed at no charge to me. I can't tell what gear the vehicle is in and this is not safe.”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.
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, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.
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 1-800-732-5493.
How other years compare
Check your exact Escalade by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Cadillac Escalade reliable?
NHTSA has 43 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade. The most complained-about area is air bags (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Cadillac Escalade problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 89,053 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Cadillac Escalade have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.