2002 Cadillac Escalade reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 164
- 10 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 14 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 16 reported crashes · 15 injuries · 8 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#3,000
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Cadillac median
-33
median 197 across 61 Cadillac records
Vs 2000-2004
-89
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
12%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 19 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Cadillac Escalade
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14
- SERVICE BRAKES 11
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 10
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 9
- SUSPENSION 7
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Cadillac Escalade
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Cadillac Escalade units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Cadillac Escalade reliable?
NHTSA has 164 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (14 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Cadillac Escalade units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Cadillac Escalade?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (14), service brakes (11), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10), service brakes, hydraulic (9). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Cadillac Escalade?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.