Skip to content
Cadillac Escalade ESVModel year report

2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems

Complaints
14filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
95,987miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
13 mpgcombined, 6.0L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 12 city / 16 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The part named most often is electrical system, with 5 complaints (36% of the total), followed by brakes (4) and transmission and drivetrain (2). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 8% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 95,987 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 577 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 130 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 14 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The vehicle was parked in my driveway, where it had been since the day before. It was not powered on in anyway, nor was anything plugged in inside. In the early morning we were made aware by a neighbor that the truck was on fire. The fire was in the passenger side dashboard area and the center console of the vehicle. The fire dept arrived quickly and extinguished the blaze. …”

NHTSA complaint #11124518, filed 2018-09, 128,000 miles

Brakes: “Brakes completely went out while driving my children to school. Brake line rust busted the brake lines. This was out of no where and could have killed someone.”

NHTSA complaint #10629857, filed 2014-09, 95,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The hid headlights have been blinking together on and off for no reason. Started, stopped, moving, sitting in the driveway after shut off waiting for delay lighting to turn off. The loss is momentary. It is more critical on unlit highways and side streets. They blink on and off together. The dealer was unable to repair in a 4 month window. On dry roads, from a stop, starting out at 5-20 MPH active traction control turns on and the vehicle stalls. …”

NHTSA complaint #10478026, filed 2012-09, 85,000 miles

Air bags: “2005 Cadillac Escalade Esv.. Intermittent service air bag message. After doing an internet search of the problem I found hundreds of owners of similar GM vehicles 2003 to 2005 with the same problem. Not knowing if your air bag is working is a scary situation.”

NHTSA complaint #10359652, filed 2010-10, 97,656 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

8% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 85,000 and 128,000 miles.

0%0–108%10–250%25–508%50–7546%75–10023%100–15015%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 95,987 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

200922201122014220162023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Escalade ESV · sedan not rated4 / 3——3 · 21.9% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Escalade ESV AWD6.0L 8-cyl4-speed automatic121613$6,300

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 577 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 577 bulletins →

Other model years of the Cadillac Escalade ESV

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202611—35——Too new
20251412,80015——Too new
20242219,00024——Too new
20239240,00044—100 · MoreToo new
20225842,76544—50 · TypicalRising
20217469,608104—87 · MoreRising
20202265,0002———Rising
201934108,3501——0 · FewerRising
201815167,05414——Rising
20173831,27814—32 · FewerRising
20161537,0003———Rising
2015840,0006—17—Not enough data
201113100,0005—16—Not enough data
2009669,6005—15—Not enough data
20081752,5004—14—Stable
20073974,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
2006536,5001—13—Not enough data
20051495,9871—13—Not enough data
20042272,0001—13—Falling
20031293,0001—13—Not enough data

All Cadillac Escalade ESV model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 5 complaints (36% of the total), followed by brakes with 4.

Has the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV (Escalade ESV AWD, 6.0L 8-cyl) at 13 mpg combined, 12 city and 16 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $6,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 95,987 miles and the middle half falls between 85,000 and 128,000 miles; 8% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.