2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext, and owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext
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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Hinge and attachments (structure)
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (horizontal) position may corrode, weaken, and eventually fracture. If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on april 7, 20004. The recall began on september 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through october 29, 2004. Owners…
22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 91,596 miles. Complaints peaked in 2006 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Slowing down for a red light, had my foot on the brake pedal. As the truck slowed down the ABS system took over, causing the brake pedal to "pulsate". I didnt think the truck would stop so i swerved t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 6, 2015 · Service brakes
“Another vehicle ran stop sign, i had to step hard on brake pedal to avoid an accident. Shortly after i noticed the brake pedal getting closer to "bottoming out" each time i applied the brakes. Upon ar”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 19, 2015 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade (Escalade 2WD, Escalade AWD, Escalade Ext AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 12–14 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 10–13 / 14–17 |
| 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 Ext model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac Escalade Ext model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext
How do I know if my 2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext 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 2002 Cadillac Escalade Ext; 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 04V129000).
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
- Escalade ESV533 complaints
- DTS527 complaints
- Catera468 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.