2009 Cadillac Escalade: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 89 complaints
89
Total Complaints
100,000mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

59,000 25th Percentile
100,000 Median Mileage
138,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS
24
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
ENGINE
9
STEERING
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
POWER TRAIN
4
SUSPENSION
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
3
SEATS
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Injuries
30
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID (NA). WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 5 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINE SHUT DOWN AND THE BRAKES LOST ALL POWER. WHEN THE CONTACT ..."
"HEADLIGHT INSTALLED HEIGHT ON TALLER VEHICLES SUCH AS CATEGORY 1 AND 2 TRUCKS (COMMONLY CALLED SUV, CROSSOVER, VAN, PICKUP TRUCK, ETC.) IS OF SUCH A DESIGN THAT IT COMMONLY (PERHAPS UNAVOIDABLY) ENDS UP BLINDING DRIVERS IN PASSENGER CARS AT LOWER HEIGHTS BY DIRECTING THE 'HOT SPOT' OF HEADLIGHT LOW ..."
"HEADLIGHT INSTALLED HEIGHT ON TALLER VEHICLES SUCH AS CATEGORY 1 AND 2 TRUCKS (COMMONLY CALLED SUV, CROSSOVER, VAN, PICKUP TRUCK, ETC.) IS OF SUCH A DESIGN THAT IT COMMONLY (PERHAPS UNAVOIDABLY) ENDS UP BLINDING DRIVERS IN PASSENGER CARS AT LOWER HEIGHTS BY DIRECTING THE 'HOT SPOT' OF HEADLIGHT LOW ..."

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