2003 Cadillac Escalade: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Cadillac Escalade: 4 recalls, 81 owner complaints and up to 14 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical Vehicle recall #02V224000 · 2002 · 649 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain all-wheel drive sport utility vehicles were built without a power steering bracket to secure the positive battery cable, allowing the cable to come in contact with the steering shaft.
Why it matters: This contact could cause a wear-through of the cable insulation, exposing the wire core and result in intermittent electrical shorting. If enough current is discharged at the point of contact, an engine compartment fire could occur.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the positive battery cable routing and re-route, if necessary. No owner notification will take place since all vehicles were captured at the dealers.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #03V037000 · 2003 · 107 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 214, "side impact protection." these vehicles are built with four welds on the rear door upper hinge. On some of these vehicles, one or two of the welds May not be to specification.
Why it matters: As a result, the door strength May be degraded during a side impact vehicle crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the welds on the left rear door upper hinge. If a weld is found out-of-specification, a bolt will be installed to secure the hinge. Owner notification began February 17, 2003.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #04V045000 · 2004 · 68,875 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
Why it matters: Consequently, the valve o-ring seal May fracture. Steering efforts May be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal May require a slight increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration rate as prior to the…
The fix: Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on June 18, 2004. Owners should contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463; or Hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #05V163000 · 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing May make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to…
Why it matters: A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
The fix: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2005.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Fuel system Equipment recall #06E043000 · 2006 · 88,303 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from October 18, 2005, through March 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes, click on "document search" and then "bus applications"). The…
Why it matters: This condition May cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
The fix: Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on October 18, 2006.
Wheels Equipment recall #07E106000 · 2007 · 130,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain federal-mogul replacement wheel hub assemblies with the brand names: national, carquest p/nos. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, and 515060, shipped between January 23, 2006, and December 20, 2007, sold for light duty and medium duty trucks. The inboard retention nut used to maintain hub bearing assembly can loosen resulting in an ABS light indication, noise, and/or wheel separation.
Why it matters: Wheel separation can result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Federal-mogul will notify customers and will replace the hub assembly free of charge. The recall began on February 7, 2008. Owners can contact federal-mogul toll-free at 877-489-6659.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 4 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (23): the most common themes are electrical failure (12), stalls / loses power (6).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (11): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (4), brake failure / soft pedal (3), warning light on (2).
- Brakes (9): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (3), warning light on (2).
- Steering (6): the most common themes are steering problems (6).
The 2003 Cadillac Escalade has 81 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 28 Escalade model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 61). Complaints peaked in 2004 (11 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 71,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2002 (115 complaints, 1 recalls), 2004 (69 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 16 | 14 | Regular |
| 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 | 15 | 13 | Regular |
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 2003 Cadillac Escalade.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. 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 2003 Cadillac Escalade problems?
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (23), brakes (hydraulic) (11), brakes (9).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Cadillac Escalade get?
EPA ratings run up to 14 mpg combined (5.3 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Cadillac Escalade 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.