"How reliable is the 2004 Cadillac Escalade Esv?"

"Based on 28 NHTSA complaints, the 2004 Cadillac Escalade Esv has a median complaint mileage of 82500 miles. The most common issue is AIR BAGS."

"What are common problems with the 2004 Cadillac Escalade Esv?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Cadillac Escalade Esv is AIR BAGS, accounting for a significant portion of the 28 total complaints filed."

2004 Cadillac Escalade Esv: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 28 complaints

Total Complaints

82,500mi

Median Mileage

AIR BAGS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

57,699 25th Percentile

82,500 Median Mileage

133,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

WHEELS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STEERING

SERVICE BRAKES

EQUIPMENT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE BACK AND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE TRUNK AND THE ROAD WHEN THEY PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND INDICATED THAT THE SERVO WASN'T INSTALLED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY, WHICH RE..."

"MY COMPLAINT IS WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT THAT I MIGHT GET "CONFUSED" BY INFORMAITION FURNISHED BY AUTOMAKERS REGARDING SAFETY DEFECTS PERHAPS YOU ARE A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES. YOUR ARROGANCE ASTOUNDS ME.*AK IT APPEARS YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN THE FDA, A SORRY BUNCH OF DRUG COMPANY ..."

"THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED ON A NEW 2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE A SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR WARNING PRIOR. AFTER THE BEARING SEIZED, THE AXEL SNAPPED AND THE ONL..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28