MotorDeets

2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv: 4 recalls, 17 owner complaints and up to 14 mpg combined.

4vehicle recalls
17owner complaints
1mention a crash
14best combined mpg
2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv
Photo: (prise de vue) Frédéric ROUSSEL + (léger traitement numérique) Markus3 (Marc ROUSSEL) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Electrical Vehicle recall #08V441000 · 2008 · 857,735 vehicles

What's wrong: A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater May overheat the control-circuit ground wire.

Why it matters: This May cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2008.

Electrical Vehicle recall #10V240000 · 2010 · 1,365,070 vehicles

What's wrong: 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…

Why it matters: It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire May occur.

The fix: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall began on June 11, 2010.

Airbags Vehicle recall #21V052000 · 2021 · 557,023 vehicles

What's wrong: " 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…

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner…

Airbags Vehicle recall #21V050000 · 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles

What's wrong: 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…

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner…

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Airbags12
Electrical2
Speed control / throttle2
Engine1
Transmission & drivetrain1
Other / unknown1

What owners describe

The 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv has 17 owner complaints, ranking #10 of 24 Escalade Esv model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 22). Complaints peaked in 2017 (6 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 8 years old, at a median of 52,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (39 complaints, 4 recalls), 2009 (6 complaints, 5 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
6.2 L 8-cylAutomatic 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive121914Premium

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

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Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

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ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

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Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
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FAQ

Does the 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv problems?

Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (12), electrical (2), speed control / throttle (2).

What gas mileage does the 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv get?

EPA ratings run up to 14 mpg combined (6.2 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Escalade Esv years

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