2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Service brakes, hydraulic
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.
Remedy: 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.
12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 98,987 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Broken exhaust manifold bolts on engine found at under 100k miles. Creates serious fire hazard.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 18, 2016 · Engine
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 cadillac escalade esv. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, all the gauges and indicators on the instrument cluster suddenly failed to illuminate. The vehicle w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 14, 2015 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Cadillac Escalade (Escalade 2WD, Escalade AWD, Escalade ESV AWD, Escalade Ext AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–14 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–13 / 15–16 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 5.3/6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Cadillac Escalade ESV model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac Escalade ESV model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV
How do I know if my 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Cadillac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V045000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Cadillac models
- SRX3,262 complaints
- Deville2,725 complaints
- CTS2,217 complaints
- Escalade1,713 complaints
- Seville801 complaints
- DTS527 complaints
- Catera468 complaints
- STS430 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.