Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Cadillac Escalade, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension6
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Seats5
- Tires4
- Power train3
- Electrical system3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Seat belts2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Steering2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 1999 Escalade vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Cadillac Escalade failed the safety check 1.87% of the time — 6% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 165,432 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
1 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 18.7 L/100 km (about 13 mpg US), CO₂ 430 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escalade · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 21.2 | 15.8 | 18.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1999 Cadillac Escalade.
| 2001263 1 Nov 2001 | Electrical Certain vehicles: Light duty trucks. passenger vehicles and sport utility vehicles. Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of C.M.V.S.S. NO. 118,… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH A FLOOR MOUNTED ROSEN VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." DUE TO THE METHOD OF INSTALLATION OF THE VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT CENTER BY THE INSTALLED, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT MEET THE FUEL SPILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Cadillac told its dealers about the 1999 Cadillac Escalade: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634909 | SUBJECT REGARDING TIE ROD REPLACEMENT- INNER PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 634905 | SOME VEHICLES WILL NOT MOVE WHEN 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS REQUESTED, NOISE, SHUDDER, POOR PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION / TRANSFER CASE SLIPS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT, SLIPS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *TT |
| 634903 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B2725. *TT |
| 634839 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 634815 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1870 SET. *TT |
| 632346 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DRUM BRAKES COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS FOR PICKUP AND UTILITY MODELS. *TT |
| 632332 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DRUM BRAKES COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS. *TT |
| 628934 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP IS ILLUMINATED, NO 3RD AND 4TH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY, THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL OR A LOSS OF DRIVE OCCURS. *TT |
| 628905 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON ROUGH IDLE AFTER START UP, ESPECIALLY AFTER SETTING OVERNIGHT. *TT |
| 628393 | SUBJECT REGARDING EXHAUST SYSTEM RUMBLE / RATTLE NOISE. *JG |
| 627839 | INFORMATION REGARDING HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT, SERVICE ENGINE SOON, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP, OR CEL ILLUMINATED, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1870 SET. (1996-2000 CHEVROLET AND GMC LIGHT DUTY TRUCK MODELS) *YH |
| 627635 | INFORMATION REGARDING SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATION ON THE INSTUMENT PANEL, ENGINE STALLS. *YH |
| 626202 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THEIR CENTER CONSOLE LOCK IS NOT OPERATIONAL. *SLC |
| 625163 | INFORMATION REGARDING SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ENGINE STALL, NO START, AND DIAGNOSIC TROUBLE CODE B2960. *SLC |
| 623967 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE DOOR TRIM PANELS, DOOR SWITCH PLATES, AND FLOOR CONSOLE WOODGRAIN TRIM EXHIBIT A CLOUDY AND / OR A MILKY APPEARANCE. *TT |
| 622945 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY WANT TO TOW THEIR VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH ALL FOUR TIRES ONT HE GROUND. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING RECREATIONAL (DINGHY) TOWING FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES INCLUDING THE 1996 THROUGH 2000 TOYOTA CAVALIER. *TT |
| 622930 | SOME OWNERS WITH VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JANUARY 15,1999 MAY COMMENT ON A HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT AND MAY ALSO HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *ET |
| 619741 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON; THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR; AND / OR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 619393 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, TRANSMISSION STUCK IN THIRD GEAR, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. *TT UPDATED *EH 2006 AND PRIOR GM PASSENGER CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *SC |
| 619373 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE NEW CONTROL VALVE BODY, SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS FOR THE 4L60-E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TT |
| 619005 | SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF EXHIBITING A BATTERY DRAIN CONDITION WHEN A VEHICLE THEFT EVENT CAUSES A PHONE CALL TO BE INITIATED BY THE ONSTART AUTOMATIC THEFT NOTIFICATION FEATURE, AND THE CALL IS NOT COMPLETED. *TT |
| 618141 | A NO REVERSE, NO SECOND GEAR, OR NO FOURTH GEAR CONDITION. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 617764 | CAMPAIGN PARTS BULLETIN REGARDING FMVSS NECK EXTENSION REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 617750 | SUBJECT REGARDING FMVSS NECK EXTENSION REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED
THROTTLE STICKING
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation