2008 Cadillac Escalade Airbag Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  15%
• 25k–50k
  15%
• 50k–75k
  315%
• 75k–100k
  840%
• 100k–150k
  420%
• 150k+
  315%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Cadillac Escalade owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Side Impact air bags did not deployed on side impact. Available for inspection. Got hit from the side and air bags did not deployed. Driver did not received protection from the crash. The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Vehicle was seen by the police at the crash site. The component has not been inspected. There were no warning signs or messages or symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Became aware of the air bag deployment failure after the side impact crash.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. While driving 5 MPH through a parking lot, the driver and passenger frontal air bags deployed without impact or warning. There were no injuries. The contact had to cut out the air bags in order to drive the vehicle. The contact drove to the dealer (flow Cadillac, 1400 s stratford rd, winston salem, nc 27103) and was informed to take the vehicle to the insurance company. The insurance company would not assist since a crash was not involved. The contact drove the vehicle back to the dealer and was informed to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to keep the vehicle at the dealer and they would send someone to investigate the air bag deployment. In the interim, the dealer provided the contact with a loaner vehicle. The vehicle was at the dealer since January 25, 2018. …

The truck was in motion on street and on freeway, the speed drops and it feels like it's going to cut off. The windows will not go up or down, the radio shuts off and, all the dashboard lights are on. This has happened at least 3 separate times (twice this year) different dates. There should be 3 pictures shown of that. -last week the vehicle would not start, the battery is 1 yr. Old- good, the radio would not come on, interior lights all worked. Towed to a shop diagnostic was the passenger airbag modular. The airbag light still won't go off. -when the vehicle was purchased in 2015 the service suspension alert was on, the dealer (suburban Cadillac in sterling heights, mi) said "don't worry about it right now", this year there the truck started making a buzzing noise. Every mechanic diagnosis something different. Of course the warranty ran out before it started.

I have a recall notice but the dealer states that GM says there's nothing wrong with the airbags and refused to replace them! I've written to GM and received a phone call from someone from "customer service" who told me that Cadillac says there's nothing wrong with my air bags. In the meantime my car has a recall which has reflected in such a low trade in value that I can't even sell my car. Now the light is on that says to "service air bags" and Cadillac wants to charge me over $1300 to "service" the air bags they won't replace. Since we live in florida, where it's hot and humid, the conditions make it even more likely that the propellant can degrade and if deployed can cause serious or fatal injury. And since both my husband and I are elderly and disabled, this causes even more concerns.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The instrument panel displayed "check air bag safety". The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V384000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer, massey Cadillac, was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and did not know when the parts would arrive. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted (bob bell Ford, bel air, md, [phone]) and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The contact also informed the same dealer that the air bag indicator illuminated, but the dealer stated that there was no remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issues and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V383000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact reached out to several dealers, including Cadillac of norwood located at 700 providence hwy, norwood, ma 02062, [phone], and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the dealer was told that the air bag light was illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning sensor illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the sensor was replaced. He was then informed that his vehicle was under recall NHTSA campaign number:16V383000 (air bag). The contact called lindsay Cadillac of alexandria 1525 kenwood ave, alexandria, va 22302 where the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The contact also stated that the driver's side air bag warning sensor was also replaced by the same independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V383000 (air bags) however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated the vehicle's air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact contacted an unknown dealer who informed the contact that the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the remedy was not available.the approximate failure mileage was 92,000. VIN tool confirms remedy not yet available.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Escalade. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). When the vehicle was started, the air bag indicator illuminated and remained lit, which was a safety concern. The contact called barksdale Cadillac at [phone] (located at 700 adcock st, ridgeland, ms 39157) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The failure was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Escalade years