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Cadillac Escalade ESVModel year report

2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
52,500miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
14 mpgcombined, 6.2L 8-cyl RWD · 12 city / 19 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The part named most often is air bags, with 12 complaints (71% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and vehicle speed control (2). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 52,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 1,155 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 14 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns and 241 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.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. What is going on with this recall? My 2008 Cadillac is in limbo as GM drags its feet with petitions to avoid the whole issue. To make matters even worse, I have imported this vehicle into canada and can not register or legally drive it until all of the recalls have been completed. Does any government agency have any power to make an auto manufacturer comply with a recall in a timely manner?this issue with this model has been going on for years with no resolution as yet. Frustrating and very disappointing.”

NHTSA complaint #11102207, filed 2018-06

Electrical system: “Driving down the road, light rain, about 50 degrees, the engine shuts off, navigation/radio off, lights off. My wife was driving, lost and regained control of vehicle. Happened with deputy sheriff directly behind her. This was the second time the car has shut off unintentionally. The first time was in a parking lot and Cadillac came out and changed battery. This time was towed to dealer who could not find anything wrong. The dealer refused to check TSB's. Said there were too many.”

NHTSA complaint #10256882, filed 2009-01, 11,010 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Service stabilitrak that proceed into reduced engine power. Normally while steering the problem will drop up. I have gone twice into GM/Cadillac dealers and they incapable of fixing it.”

NHTSA complaint #11072121, filed 2018-02, 60 miles

Engine: “Started to accelerate and there was a loss of power for approximately 2 seconds and then the engine shut down. Car would not restart. I could not pull over to the curb and had to have someone help me get the car out of the middle of the roadway. Car started after sitting for 15 minutes. The car's engine fault light had been on. Took the car to the dealer for repair. They reported that the problem was a engine control module wiring harness that had been frayed by the drive shaft resulting in a number of engine faults.”

NHTSA complaint #10579363, filed 2014-04, 91,280 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 11,010 and 91,280 miles.

17%0–1033%10–250%25–500%50–7533%75–10017%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 52,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20092010201420152016201762018
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 2008 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 2WD/AWDnot rated5 / 5——3 · 23.7% 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 2008 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 2WD6.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic121914$5,850

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 2008 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. 1,155 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,155 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 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 12 complaints (71% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.

Has the 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV (Escalade ESV 2WD, 6.2L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 52,500 miles and the middle half falls between 11,010 and 91,280 miles; 50% 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.