CarRecallDB

2005 Cadillac Escalade recalls and problems

2 recalls and 43 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade.

2
recalls
43
owner complaints
3
complaints mentioning a crash
1
mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2005 Cadillac Escalade recalls

Seat belts: rear/other

NHTSA campaign 05V163000 · reported April 22, 2005 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · 1,359,824 vehicles potentially affected

The problem
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 instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (with child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the owner's manual text.
The risk
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. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.

Power train: manual transmission, shift pattern indicator

NHTSA campaign 05V055000 · reported February 14, 2005 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · 7,194 vehicles potentially affected

The problem
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster may not illuminate. If the shift lever position indicator does not illuminate, the driver may not know which gear the vehicle is in.
The risk
The vehicle may move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
The fix
Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, and gmc at 1-866-996-9463.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

Aug 6, 2026 · Air bags

The check air bag light stays on and will not go off. The light stays on with the seatbelt on or off.

Feb 8, 2026 · Service brakes · crash reported

Brake/abs system locked up on me and I couldn’t stop. I accidentally hit someone from behind and was proven to be an accident. My traction light my abs light and my brake light all came on at the same time right before I wrecked. The suv swerves over to the other lane randomly while on the interstate and does stop on…

Mar 13, 2025 · Fuel system, gasoline

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while refueling, the gasoline was spilling out of the filler neck. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated…

Dec 24, 2024 · Service brakes · fire reported

While driving down the road under any condition the brakes start to apply themselves ultimately leading the vehicle to not being able to pull itself. The more throttle you give it the more the brakes apply. I believe this is the same as the 2002-2004 chevy hydro boost recall. Also around the same time the resistor for…

Oct 4, 2021 · Equipment · 235,000 miles

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while driving 62 MPH, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the sunroof. The contact stated while attempting to exit the highway, the sunroof detached from the vehicle and hit the road. The contact drove to nearby auto glass repair shop. The vehicle was…

Escalade model years compared

YearRecallsComplaintsCrashesFires
2002 1115127
2003 48144
2004 269106
2005 24331
2006 21910
2007 4230137
2008 413655

Across all years, the 2007 Escalade has the most complaints (230). All Cadillac Escalade years →

Questions

Does the 2005 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade, the most recent reported on April 22, 2005 (Seat belts: rear/other). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Cadillac Escalade?
Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is electrical system (11 complaints), followed by air bags (10).
How many 2005 Cadillac Escalade complaints mention a crash or fire?
3 of 43 complaints report a crash and 1 a fire; 3 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received August 6, 2026.