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exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (1)
Seats: front assembly, head restraint
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REARWARD FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE SECOND ROW SEATS, TWO POTENTIAL PINCH POINTS EXIST ON EACH OF THE FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS WHEN THE RESTRAINTS ARE FOLDED REARWARD AS THE SEATBACK IS FOLDED DOWN.
Risk and remedy
Risk: IF A PERSON WERE TO INSERT THEIR FINGER(S) INTO THE PINCH POINT WHEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT FOLDS, IT COULD TRAP AND PINCH THE FINGER(S) CAUSING INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS OVER THE PINCH POINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.
Canadian recalls (2)
Show 2 Canadian recalls
Seats and restraints
2002-09-20 · campaign 2002-166
Certain vehicles equipped with rearward folding head restraints on the second row seats. Two potential pinch points exist on each of the folding head restraints when the head restraint(s) are folded rearward as the seatback is folded down. If a person were to insert their finger(s) into the pinch point when the head restraint folds, it could trap and pinch the finger(s) causing injury. Correction: Dealers will install protective covers over the pinch points.
Seats and restraints
2002-04-11 · campaign 2002-068
Certain vehicles fail to conform to CMVSS 209, seat belt assemblies. These vehicles have a condition where one or two sensors in the driver's and front seat passengers seat belt retractors may be inoperative. The seat belt retractors will lock when the belt webbing is extracted during a crash; however the mechanism that locks the seat belt retractor when the vehicle decelerates quickly, such as during heavy braking, may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, and could result in injury to the occupant. Correction update: None required as no effect on vehicle safety. See recall 04-158.
Owner complaints (115)
Owners filed 115 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Cadillac Escalade (12 crashes, 7 fires, 11 injuries reported). Among 28 model years of this model, it ranks #4 for the most complaints (median 51).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 28 | |
| Electrical system | 16 | |
| Service brakes | 11 | |
| Power train | 10 | |
| Suspension | 8 | |
| Structure | 7 | |
| Steering | 7 | |
| Seats | 6 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Cadillac Escalade.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2002 Cadillac Escalade 4-DR. w/SAB | – | – | – | 3★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2002 Cadillac Escalade version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Escalade 2WD 5.3 L Automatic 4-spd | 13 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Escalade AWD 6.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 10 | 14 | 12 | $5,600 |
| Escalade Ext AWD 6.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 10 | 14 | 12 | $5,600 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.