Complaints
164
Crashes
16
Fires
8
Injuries
15
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Cadillac Escalade Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#114 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:99,860 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:3
#211 complaints
Brakes
Avg mileage:116,232 mi
#310 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:52,186 mi
Crash-related:2
Considering a 2002 Cadillac Escalade?
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 14 | 2 | 3 | 99,860 mi | |
| Brakes | 11 | — | — | 116,232 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 | 2 | — | 52,186 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 9 | — | — | 85,170 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 7 | — | — | 33,360 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 5 | — | — | 39,002 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 2 | — | 40,250 mi | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — |
Electrical Faults
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Avg Miles
99,860
Brakes
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
116,232
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,186
Hydraulic Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,170
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,360
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
39,002
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,250
Parking-Brake Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Electric
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Traction Control System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Cadillac Escalade Years
2002 Cadillac Escalade — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Cadillac Escalade reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2002 Cadillac Escalade has 164 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Cadillac Escalade?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (14 complaints, avg 99,860 mi); Brakes (11 complaints, avg 116,232 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (10 complaints, avg 52,186 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Cadillac Escalade?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 75,324 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Cadillac Escalade?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade include 16 crash-related reports, 8 fire reports, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Cadillac Escalade?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (electrical faults) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Cadillac Escalade reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Cadillac Escalade
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99