Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV with NHTSA between 2014 and 2020.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 15 of 19 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 13
Against the median year of the Cadillac Escalade ESV. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2009 compares with every other Cadillac Escalade ESV
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
330.0%
Median failure at 79,200 miles
Airbags
330.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 47,000 mi
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
Median failure at 120,600 miles
Brakes
110.0%
Median failure at 79,200 miles
Electrical System
110.0%
Median failure at 162,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
112.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
112.5%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
337.5%
150,000+ miles
337.5%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Nov 2014peak 3Nov 2020
NHTSA investigations into the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
Recalls on the 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202102772,415 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Note: For the 2010 and 2013 models listed, this recall only affects vehicles that were imported into Canada, and were originally sold or ever registered in certain areas of the United States that experience high or moderate levels of heat and humidity. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Action: General Motors will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the passenger-front airbag. Note: The Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all airbag inflators will be replaced before their function would be affected.
Recall 2021026101,593 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Note: For 2009 models listed, this recall only affects vehicles that were imported into Canada, and were originally sold or ever registered in certain areas of the United States that experience high or moderate levels of heat and humidity. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Action: General Motors will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the passenger-front airbag. Note: The Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all airbag inflators will be replaced before their function would be affected.
Recall 20205919,660 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Note: This recall is for vehicles that were originally sold or ever registered in certain areas of the United States that experience high or moderate levels of heat and humidity, and that were subsequently imported into Canada. Affected states: American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), Virginia and West Virginia. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: General Motors will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the passenger-front airbag inflator. Note: This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all air
Recall 20194205,327 units in Canada
Other
Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempered. If the window breaks, the glass may separate into large pieces instead of very small ones. Note: This is a voluntary recall that is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Safety Risk: Glass that breaks in to large pieces could create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: The company will notify consumers by mail and instruct them to inspect the designation code marked on the rear window glass. Products affected by this recall have the designation “DOT 287” along with the lettering “VMR” (Replacement Market) and a date code that is before July 2019. This information is printed on the bottom corner of the glass. Consumers should contact Vitro's customer service at 1-412-995-6457 or argbacklites@vitro.com to arrange for replacement of the glass.
Recall 20163077,809 units in Canada
Airbag
This Safety Improvement Program was replaced by Transport Canada Recall No. 2020-591. General Motors Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Program involving passenger airbag inflators in vehicles that were originally sold or ever registered in certain areas of the United States that experience high or moderate levels of heat and humidity, and that were subsequently imported into Canada. Dealers will replace the passenger inflator on affected vehicles. Owners who believe their vehicles may have been originally purchased or registered in the states listed below should contact a General Motors dealer. This action is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Affected states: American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), Virginia and West Virginia.
Recall 201018999,000 units in Canada
Accessories
On certain vehicles equipped with a Heated Washer Fluid System (HWFS), a short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. A repair was implemented in a recall in 2008, however, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on heated washer fluid system modules after this improvement was installed. This situation may cause some minor distortion, but also could lead to melting of the plastic around the heated washer fluid system, or cause a fire. Correction: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page will be provided and inserted in the Owner Manual to document the removal of the feature.
Recall 20091323,106 units in Canada
Fuel System
On certain vehicles, the fuel system control module may be subject to water intrusion. This could cause a short or open circuit, illumination of the Service Engine Soon lamp, setting diagnostic trouble codes, or the engine may be hard to start, may not start or may stall. Engine stalling would result in lost propulsion which, in conjunction with traffic and road conditions, and the driver's reactions, could increase the risk of a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel system control module.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 47,000 milesLacey, WACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD TO BE EVALUATED FOR DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA complaint #10660101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 162,000 milesSmyrna, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INITIALLY MY FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. I ASSUMED IT FAILED AND WAS GOING TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL GAUGE ISSUE. I WAS ON MY WAY TO DROP THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALER THE SAME DAY AND WHILE DRIVING A WARNING MESSAGE STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS INOPERABLE, IT THEN WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I PULLED INTO A SAFE LOCATION I HEARD A POP UNDER THE CAR AND EVERYTHING STARTED SHUTTING DOWN. THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING, EVENTUALLY QUITTING. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND AFTER CRAWLING AROUND I NOTICED THE WIRING CLIPS HOLDING THE WIRE LOOM ABOVE THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT HAD FAILED. THE WIRING LOOM HAS ENOUGH SLACK IN IT TO THEN WRAP ITSELF AROUND THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, FINALLY SNAPPING THE WIRES. A TOTAL OF 9 WIRES SNAPPED. THIS IS MOST LIKELY ONLY AN ISSUE FOR THOSE WITH AWD AS IT WAS THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT THAT THE WIRES FINALLY WRAPPED AROUND AND CAUSED MULTIPLE SYSTEMS TO FAIL IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY IT WAS DURING THE DAY IN AN AREA I WAS FAMILIAR WITH. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT OR ON A TRIP, THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ISSUE. A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS ONE.
NHTSA complaint #11376713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 162,000 milesSmyrna, GA
ENGINE
INITIALLY MY FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. I ASSUMED IT FAILED AND WAS GOING TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL GAUGE ISSUE. I WAS ON MY WAY TO DROP THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALER THE SAME DAY AND WHILE DRIVING A WARNING MESSAGE STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS INOPERABLE, IT THEN WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I PULLED INTO A SAFE LOCATION I HEARD A POP UNDER THE CAR AND EVERYTHING STARTED SHUTTING DOWN. THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING, EVENTUALLY QUITTING. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND AFTER CRAWLING AROUND I NOTICED THE WIRING CLIPS HOLDING THE WIRE LOOM ABOVE THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT HAD FAILED. THE WIRING LOOM HAS ENOUGH SLACK IN IT TO THEN WRAP ITSELF AROUND THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, FINALLY SNAPPING THE WIRES. A TOTAL OF 9 WIRES SNAPPED. THIS IS MOST LIKELY ONLY AN ISSUE FOR THOSE WITH AWD AS IT WAS THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT THAT THE WIRES FINALLY WRAPPED AROUND AND CAUSED MULTIPLE SYSTEMS TO FAIL IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY IT WAS DURING THE DAY IN AN AREA I WAS FAMILIAR WITH. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT OR ON A TRIP, THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ISSUE. A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS ONE.
NHTSA complaint #11376713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 162,000 milesSmyrna, GA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
INITIALLY MY FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. I ASSUMED IT FAILED AND WAS GOING TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL GAUGE ISSUE. I WAS ON MY WAY TO DROP THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALER THE SAME DAY AND WHILE DRIVING A WARNING MESSAGE STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS INOPERABLE, IT THEN WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I PULLED INTO A SAFE LOCATION I HEARD A POP UNDER THE CAR AND EVERYTHING STARTED SHUTTING DOWN. THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING, EVENTUALLY QUITTING. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND AFTER CRAWLING AROUND I NOTICED THE WIRING CLIPS HOLDING THE WIRE LOOM ABOVE THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT HAD FAILED. THE WIRING LOOM HAS ENOUGH SLACK IN IT TO THEN WRAP ITSELF AROUND THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, FINALLY SNAPPING THE WIRES. A TOTAL OF 9 WIRES SNAPPED. THIS IS MOST LIKELY ONLY AN ISSUE FOR THOSE WITH AWD AS IT WAS THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT THAT THE WIRES FINALLY WRAPPED AROUND AND CAUSED MULTIPLE SYSTEMS TO FAIL IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY IT WAS DURING THE DAY IN AN AREA I WAS FAMILIAR WITH. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT OR ON A TRIP, THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ISSUE. A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS ONE.
NHTSA complaint #11376713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Herndon, VA
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON AND IT WILL NOT GO AWAY. I AM UNABLE TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THAT. 07/06/2016 MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL ISSUED NHTSA #16V381 RECALL #2049151 PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATORS STATUS: REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE
NHTSA complaint #11352448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,200 milesMilton, WA
ENGINE
STUCK THROTTLE AT 4000+ RPMS: WHILE PASSING A CAR ON A STRAIGHT TWO LANE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STAYED AT 4000 RPMS OR GREATER AFTER THE THROTTLE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. NO CARPET OR FLOOR MAT WAS IMPEDING THE THROTTLE PEDAL. THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED HARD AND RELEASE SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO DISENGAGE THE THROTTLE BUT RPMS STAY ABOVE 4000 RPMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO THE MANUAL POSITION BUT RPMS CONTINUED TO STAY ABOVE 4000 FOR APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES AND 2.5 MINUTES WITH THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY GOING IN EXCESS OF 90 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THROUGHOUT THE STUCK THROTTLE EVENT BUT THE BRAKES BECAME OVERHEATED AND INEFFECTIVE. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS MOVED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP WITH THE RPMS STILL AT 4000+ PRMS. WHILE STOPPED THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND ONLY THEN DID THE RPMS GO FROM 4000+ TO ZERO. THE CADILLAC DEALER STATED THEY REMOVED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR TO REPAIR THE STUCK THROTTLE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10914374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,200 milesMilton, WA
SERVICE BRAKES
STUCK THROTTLE AT 4000+ RPMS: WHILE PASSING A CAR ON A STRAIGHT TWO LANE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STAYED AT 4000 RPMS OR GREATER AFTER THE THROTTLE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. NO CARPET OR FLOOR MAT WAS IMPEDING THE THROTTLE PEDAL. THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED HARD AND RELEASE SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO DISENGAGE THE THROTTLE BUT RPMS STAY ABOVE 4000 RPMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO THE MANUAL POSITION BUT RPMS CONTINUED TO STAY ABOVE 4000 FOR APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES AND 2.5 MINUTES WITH THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY GOING IN EXCESS OF 90 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THROUGHOUT THE STUCK THROTTLE EVENT BUT THE BRAKES BECAME OVERHEATED AND INEFFECTIVE. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS MOVED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP WITH THE RPMS STILL AT 4000+ PRMS. WHILE STOPPED THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND ONLY THEN DID THE RPMS GO FROM 4000+ TO ZERO. THE CADILLAC DEALER STATED THEY REMOVED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR TO REPAIR THE STUCK THROTTLE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10914374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,200 milesMilton, WA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STUCK THROTTLE AT 4000+ RPMS: WHILE PASSING A CAR ON A STRAIGHT TWO LANE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STAYED AT 4000 RPMS OR GREATER AFTER THE THROTTLE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. NO CARPET OR FLOOR MAT WAS IMPEDING THE THROTTLE PEDAL. THE PEDAL WAS PRESSED HARD AND RELEASE SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO DISENGAGE THE THROTTLE BUT RPMS STAY ABOVE 4000 RPMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO THE MANUAL POSITION BUT RPMS CONTINUED TO STAY ABOVE 4000 FOR APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES AND 2.5 MINUTES WITH THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY GOING IN EXCESS OF 90 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THROUGHOUT THE STUCK THROTTLE EVENT BUT THE BRAKES BECAME OVERHEATED AND INEFFECTIVE. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS MOVED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP WITH THE RPMS STILL AT 4000+ PRMS. WHILE STOPPED THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND ONLY THEN DID THE RPMS GO FROM 4000+ TO ZERO. THE CADILLAC DEALER STATED THEY REMOVED THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR TO REPAIR THE STUCK THROTTLE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10914374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilbert, AZ
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10893134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesNEW Port News, VA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE SHOOK, VIBRATED, AND STALLED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL MODULE AND FUEL PUMP WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10684048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,000 milesLacey, WACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD TO BE EVALUATED FOR DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA complaint #10660101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.