2008 Cadillac Escalade: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Cadillac Escalade: 4 recalls, 136 owner complaints and up to 14 mpg combined.
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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. 5 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (74): the most common themes are warning light on (12), deploys unexpectedly / inflator (3), fails to deploy (2).
- Electrical (23): the most common themes are electrical failure (9), fire / smoke (7), warning light on (5).
- Engine (13): the most common themes are warning light on (5), stalls / loses power (4).
- Exterior lights (12): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
The 2008 Cadillac Escalade has 136 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 28 Escalade model years for complaints (2.2× the average Escalade year). Complaints peaked in 2017 (25 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 8 years old, at a median of 98,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (230 complaints, 4 recalls), 2009 (58 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 | 19 | 14 | Premium |
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 18 | 14 | Premium |
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.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade. 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 problems?
Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (74), electrical (23), engine (13).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Cadillac Escalade get?
EPA ratings run up to 14 mpg combined (6.2 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 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.