Check a VIN

2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT problems

The most common problem on the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT is electrical system. Its complaint count is close to a typical Escalade EXT model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
5
Recalls
1
Service bulletins
78
Worst area
Electrical

The worst 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Electrical
    3
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Lights
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Seats
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Electrical
    3
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Lights
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Seats
    1

Recalls 1

Power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicatorReported February 14, 2005 · 7,194 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster may not illuminate. If the shift lever position indicator does not illuminate, the driver may not know which gear the vehicle is in.
Risk
The vehicle may move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on february 14, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, and gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.

Recall number 05V055000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT 78

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 78 bulletins for the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT

What 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 8, 2015 · Seat belts · 67,124 miles · CO · crash · 2 injuries

While driving south on powers blvd and crossing the briargate intersection in colorado springs, colorado on may 2, 2015, honda civic vehicle ran red light traveling west around 32 to 33 MPH (hit gas instead of brake). And impacted 2005 cadillac escalade ext on drivers side. Component parts in question are front drivers seat belt and passenger front seat belt. Driver supposively reported to onstar that drivers seatbelt had disengaged sometime during impact. Police report states cadillac came to stop 219 feet from impact. Onstar call only available if subpoena is requested. Injuries to passenger was side whiplash, back injury, and road rash to knees, bruising and sores as a result of knees impacting glove box in front of passenger. Initial injuries to driver was concussion, closed head injury, whiplash, left rib contusions, bruising and sores. Both occupants in cadillac were transported to er. Pictures taken of vehicle once located 3 days later illustrate drivers seatbelt in normal position and passenger seatbelt in pulled down position. Pictures available upon request. According to police report, pictures taken at scene.

Filed Mar 22, 2011 · Electrical · 68,700 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac escalade ext. The contact stated that the speedometer began malfunctioning intermittently and displayed that the contact was driving 80 MPH when traveling approximately 30 MPH. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they were aware of the failure and initiated a voluntary safety improvement campaign. The contacts vehicle did not fall within the VIN range of the vehicles chosen for the voluntary repair and the contact would be responsible for any repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,700.

Filed Dec 15, 2006 · CA

I have a 2005 cadillac escalade ext, I was in las vegas and parked my vehicle in the first parking spot , which was the handicap parking in front of store . I was in there for no more than 20 minutes and my vehicle was stolen , I the called the police which gave me the number to onstar, then onstar told me they sent a signal to the truck, and the time frame was no more than 10 minutes of 8:50 . The outcome was that onstar did not locate the vehicle it was located by the police 6 days later. When I went to go to look at the truck at the tow yard I discovered that the onstar antenna was behind the rear view mirror , so the person who is stealing your vehicle just has to pull a plug out of rear view mirror and that disables the antenna. The truck will never be pick up because it will only take them two seconds from jumping in the vehicle to disable it . And the unit is behind the glove compartment which they just pull down the box and rip off the wires that connect the power and etc.. So my complaint is that onstar is not a good system to have for stolen location, I was tod to put lojack and the police told me this, so cadillac knows this and they said that is not a good reasons for me to have cadillac look into this or help me with asst of buying a new vehicle and trading the old one in.

Filed Sep 6, 2006 · Electrical, Fuel system · 18,558 miles · MS

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle failed to start after being parked for one or two days. This problem occurred on four occasions. On one occasion, the dealership replaced the battery but this did not remedy the problem. The dealership could not duplicate the problem on all other occasions. The consumer stated the vehicle has been in the shop 17 times, since the vehicle was purchased. The cd player was inoperative. The heated seat was inoperative. The fuel tank and fog light was replaced updated 09/25/06.

Filed Dec 1, 2005 · Electrical · 8,363 miles · FL

The horn failed to sound when it was needed. This seems to occur when the horn is not used for some time. I had this exact problem on my 2004 cadillac escalade ext, and I think a recall should be done to resolve this problem on all gm cars and trucks involved. I am tired of being scared when my horn does not work. After a year, gm should have had this problem resolved. I think the federal safety agency should now resolve it for them!

Compare the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Other model years

20022003200420052007200820092010201120122013

Questions about the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Is the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT reliable?

Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT, close to a typical Escalade EXT model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT?

Electrical system, with 3 complaints. Next is fuel system (1).

How many recalls does the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT have?

1 recall, covering power train.

Share your experience with the 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Tell other buyers what went wrong and what it cost. We review every report before it appears, and we never publish names, emails or VINs.

No names, contact details or links. Reports about a dealer or a person are not published.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history
Is this car on a recall?Check VIN