2004 Cadillac Escalade Problems, Recalls & Reliability
99 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Cadillac Escalade, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 42/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 88,100 miles.
Below average
Where 2004 sits among all Escalade years
What owners report
“Headlights and ballets been replaced 3times.. They comes on only when not driving then i start driving then all the lights start flickering. Seatbelt in rear was repaired twice but wont retract after unbuckleing.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Escalade
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 62 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 93,230 miles. Half of those reports fall between 45,104 and 130,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
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…
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.
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…
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Technical service bulletins
751 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2004 Cadillac Escalade. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2004 Escalade TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2004 Cadillac Escalade reliable?
The 2004 Cadillac Escalade drew 99 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 42/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2004 Cadillac Escalade problems?
The top reported problems for the 2004 Cadillac Escalade are electrical (26 complaints), brakes & stability (20), and other (9).
At what mileage do 2004 Cadillac Escalade problems show up?
Owners most often report 2004 Cadillac Escalade problems around 93,230 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 45,104 and 130,000 miles.
Does the 2004 Cadillac Escalade have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 Cadillac Escalade. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.