Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Cadillac Escalade, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 9 | 11% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 8% |
| Tires | 6 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 7% |
| Air bags | 5 | 6% |
| Seats | 4 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 5% |
| Steering | 4 | 5% |
| Wheels | 4 | 5% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
My drivers side heated seat burned when initiated switch after a while. I felt extreme heat while driving and turned off seat heating switch. I did not take to dealer for further inspection. I seen on a forum someone els
NHTSA complaint: Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, F
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO B
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS WOULD ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATE CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PULSATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
BRAKE AND FUEL LINES CRITICALLY RUSTED. THIS IS NOT A SALT ONLY ISSUES. THIS IS A MATERIAL DEFECT THAT CADILLAC SHOULD BE FORCE TO RECALL THIS IS A POTENTIAL LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE AND WOULD THEN SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. THE GRINDING NOISE WOULD ALSO BE A RESULT
NHTSA complaint: Power train
SMELLED GAS FUMES COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA. A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE GAS TANK AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THIS MAY IGNITE CAUSING FIRE. WE SAW ON LINE THAT THERE WAS INDEE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE TO ACCOMMODATE TRAFFIC, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE; MY VEHICLE SLOWED A FEW MILES PER HOUR AND THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATED, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO BRAKE AGAIN, BUT THE SA
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2000 Cadillac Escalade. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AN
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
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 MEE
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: IF THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IS INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE), NO CORRECTION IS REQUIRED. IF THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IS INSTALLED ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE (DRIVER SIDE), THE DEALER W
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 51 | average |
| Depreciation | 38 | below average |
| Performance | 79 | good |
| Efficiency | 25 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 9 of them (11%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 62/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.