NHTSA — Air Bags Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,571 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Cadillac Escalade seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2004 Cadillac Escalade Owner Comments

problem #7

May 042017

Escalade

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owned a 2004 Cadillac Escalade. While driving approximately 30 mph, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a brick wall. During the crash, the air bags deployed, but did not inflate. In addition, the front and rear seat belts malfunctioned and did not secure the passengers. The driver sustained a left leg laceration and left shoulder injury. The front passenger sustained injuries to the chest and right knee and the rear passenger sustained five fractured vertebrae. No further information was available. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was filed. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer (integrity GM of chattanooga, tn) were notified of the failures. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Rossville, GA, USA

problem #6

Jan 282015

Escalade 8-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
I have a serious safety concern for older model Cadillac Escalade's air bags. I own a 2004 Cadillac Escalade that has been well maintained. The airbags were deployed at full speed without cause while I was parked, idling. If I was driving, I could have been killed or caused other innocent people to be killed or injured. This defect has me wondering if this will be a safety issue for others with this vehicle. GM is currently committed to only inspect the vehicle at this time. My expectation is that they define root cause and repair the vehicle to a safe reliable vehicle.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #5

Nov 012011

Escalade

  • 130,000 miles
I was in an mva on Nov. 1, 2011 that totaled my 2004 Escalade. None of the airbags deployed, despite damage to all sides of the automobile, including front end impact. The car actually rolled. The frame was bent and the front hit an embankment nose first with great impact. I suffered several injuries, including head trauma.

- Vidalia, GA, USA

problem #4

Feb 102010

Escalade 8-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Escalade. While driving approximately 65-75 mph, the contact fell asleep. The vehicle drifted off the road and crashed into a bridge barrier. The contact sustained a broken wrist and facial lacerations. The front seat passenger was air-lifted to the hospital and sustained a broken right leg and severe facial injuries. The rear seat passenger sustained injuries to the spine. The airbags failed to deploy with the massive impact. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a collision center. Updated 10/14/11

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 162005

Escalade 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles
On July 16th, 2005; I was involved in a life changing, single vehicle auto accident. I struck a hill with the front right side of the vehicle with enough excessive force to flip this Cadillac Escalade head first. The Escalade flipped twice, impacting the front of the vehicle and landing up side down. Astonishingly, out of the four air bags in this vehicle, not one of them deployed. I purchased this 2004 Escalade brand new and at the time of the accident it only had 15,000 miles. The vehicle is a total loss and it is utterly unbelievable that the air bags did not deploy. I was so impressed with the raved reviews, consumer reports including safety features, and stylish body that this Cadillac Escalade became the vehicle of my dreams. Needless to say, I am very disappointed with my Cadillac experience. I do not trust this vehicle enough to get into another one. I know that I am only here because god decided the spare my life. As a direct result of this accident I frequently suffer severe migraines, dizzy spells, blurred vision, memory loss, and anxiety/panic attacks all which keep me from sleeping. It is extremely difficult to commute from doctors appointments and work for fear of another accident. The next week I had severe chest, shoulder and lower back pains; all of which I am being treated for on a regular basis. I also seek treatment from a neurologist for the head injury. I believe that this vehicle has a serious problem with the air bags and GM should strongly consider investigating this matter.

- Douglasville, GA, USA

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problem #2

May 112005

Escalade 8-cyl

  • miles
The consumer was involved in an a serious accident and the air bags did not deploy. There were 2 injuries.

- Mcallen, TX, USA

problem #1

May 112005

Escalade 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
Involved in a horrific auto accident with other vehicle. Hit in front passenger & front part of vehicle (by radiator area) at high speed. Est.speed approx. 45-55 mph with no skid marks, other vehicle stopped when it hit us. New GM/Escalade-SUV/"04-with 11,000 miles, bought new declared total loss, with apparent serious frame damage/bent 12 in. And found stress crk. Should give an idea high speed other vehicle traveling. 8-10 seconds from impact, onstar came on automatically, they recd. Emergency message via satellite, vehicle had been in a serious mva and air bags deployed. We didn't call onstar they called us. Next day we called asked how they knew we were accident. Told us depending on the severity, they get certain signals, which ours had advised of seriousness & airbag deployment. Unbelievably, none of our 4 airbags deployed. We & hundreds of our friends are in total disbelief when you see the condition veihicle was left in & that 4 air bags didn't deploy. We were injured but by grace of god injuries were not life threatening. Head, upperandlowerback, neck, legs, shoulder, hipsand arms extremley sore. Has been 33 days since the accident and am still feeling pains & serious headaches but alive. Have decided to become advocates and report accident/incident to possibly safe a person(s) life and make General Motors aware that they have a possible defect in their air bags, leading to massive recall and possibly a class action law suit if not fixed. This is a very serious matter. Anytime anyone is hit at rate of speed that we were, to leave brand new SUV Escalade a total loss/ 12 in. Bent frame & stress crack & 4 air bags not deploy - leads us to believe of a serious problem and a serious one for GM/Cadillac. Call for further details (956) 533-0811 (956)358-5272. Thank you & god bless.

- Mcallen, TX, USA

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