2008 Cadillac Escalade Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade.

20072009
Complaints
180
Crashes
7
Fires
12
Injuries
3
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2008 Cadillac Escalade Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#174 complaints

AIR BAGS

Avg mileage:88,591 mi
Crash-related:3
#222 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Avg mileage:108,211 mi
Fires:5
#313 complaints

ENGINE

Avg mileage:150,429 mi
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade.

AIR BAGS
74
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
88,591
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
5
Avg Miles
108,211
ENGINE
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
150,429
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
97,400
POWER TRAIN
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
102,600
STRUCTURE:BODY
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
85,000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
83,500
SEATS
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
83,000
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
113,000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
93,000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
109,500
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
95,000
SUSPENSION
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
145,126
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
9,500
TIRES
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
130,000
WHEELS
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
150
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
300
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
9,500
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
9,500
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
EQUIPMENT
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
6,500
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
6,500
INTERIOR LIGHTING
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
6,500
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
6,500
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
170,000
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,000
STEERING
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
105,000
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
TIRES:SIDEWALL
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
150,000

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Cadillac Escalade

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~10,402,932 vehicles.

21V052000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~557,023 affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

21V052000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~557,023 affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

21V050000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~2,641,272 affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

21V050000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~2,641,272 affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

21V050000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~2,641,272 affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

10V240000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
~1,365,070 affected

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Other Cadillac Escalade Years

Wider context: See the full Cadillac Escalade reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2008 Cadillac Escalade

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