2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AN EMERGENCY SITUATION REQUIRED A HARD APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THE VERY NEXT STOP SIGN MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AT ABOUT A DROP EVERY SECOND FROM ONE OF THE HARD METAL BRAKE LINES THAT ARE ROUTED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT ALONG THE FRAME. THERE ARE FOUR BRAKE LINES THAT ARE ROUTED TOGETHER AND COULD NOT TELL WHICH ONE WAS LEAKING. EACH OF THEM IS HEAVILY RUSTED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AN EMERGENCY SITUATION REQUIRED A HARD APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THE VERY NEXT STOP SIGN MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AT ABOUT A DROP EVERY SECOND FROM ONE OF THE HARD METAL BRAKE LINES THAT ARE ROUTED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT ALONG THE FRAME. THERE ARE FOUR BRAKE LINES THAT ARE ROUTED TOGETHER AND COULD NOT TELL WHICH ONE WAS LEAKING. EACH OF THEM IS HEAVILY RUSTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE BRAKES BEGAN TO PULSATE UPON ENGAGING. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED REPEATEDLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE ABS SENSOR, FRONT AND REAR ROTORS, MASTER CYLINDER AND FOUR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. MOST RECENTLY, THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND WAS ALSO REPLACED WHICH REQUIRED THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE TO BE DISENGAGED FROM THE FRAME TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ UPDATED 1/24/2012 *LN *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE BRAKES BEGAN TO PULSATE UPON ENGAGING. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED REPEATEDLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE ABS SENSOR, FRONT AND REAR ROTORS, MASTER CYLINDER AND FOUR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. MOST RECENTLY, THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND WAS ALSO REPLACED WHICH REQUIRED THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE TO BE DISENGAGED FROM THE FRAME TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ UPDATED 1/24/2012 *LN *TR

RECENTLY, MY VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED TO FIRESTONE FOR STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THIS COMPLAINT IS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION, I WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. I WAS FURTHER INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS PREVELANT IN THE CADILLAC ESCALADE PRODUCTION LINE AND SIMILAR SERIES SUCH AS THE CHEVEROLET AVALANCHE. THE ASSOCIATE ATTRIBUTED THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S NEGLECT TO ADOPT AN EFFECTIVE RETAINING CLIP WHICH RESULTS IN PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES. THIS DEFECT NOT ONLY COMPROMISES THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT PREMATURELY WEARS AND SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGES THE ROTORS OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT, MY VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION AND IS PENDING OVER $500.00 IN REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED TO A BRAKE SHOP, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DISASSEMBLE THE REAR DRIVERSIDE HUB TO ACCESS THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES. A BOLT WHICH NEEDED TO BE REMOVED WAS LOCK-TITE TO THE POINT OF PERMANENT AND STATIC FIXTURE (WITH THE ONLY METHOD OF REMOVAL BEING THE GRIND OR CUT THE BOLT OUT). BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES, I AM UNABLE TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NEVER ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AND NEVER ENGAGED TO CREATE FRICTION WITH THE MOVING WHEELS. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS DEPRESSED, THE LEVER MOTIONS WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD.

RECENTLY, MY VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED TO FIRESTONE FOR STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THIS COMPLAINT IS A 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. FOLLOWING THE INSPECTION, I WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. I WAS FURTHER INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS PREVELANT IN THE CADILLAC ESCALADE PRODUCTION LINE AND SIMILAR SERIES SUCH AS THE CHEVEROLET AVALANCHE. THE ASSOCIATE ATTRIBUTED THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S NEGLECT TO ADOPT AN EFFECTIVE RETAINING CLIP WHICH RESULTS IN PREMATURE WEAR OF THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES. THIS DEFECT NOT ONLY COMPROMISES THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT PREMATURELY WEARS AND SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGES THE ROTORS OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT, MY VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION AND IS PENDING OVER $500.00 IN REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PRESENTED TO A BRAKE SHOP, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DISASSEMBLE THE REAR DRIVERSIDE HUB TO ACCESS THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES. A BOLT WHICH NEEDED TO BE REMOVED WAS LOCK-TITE TO THE POINT OF PERMANENT AND STATIC FIXTURE (WITH THE ONLY METHOD OF REMOVAL BEING THE GRIND OR CUT THE BOLT OUT). BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES, I AM UNABLE TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NEVER ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AND NEVER ENGAGED TO CREATE FRICTION WITH THE MOVING WHEELS. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS DEPRESSED, THE LEVER MOTIONS WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD.

9:30 AM ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2006. 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. ATTEMPTED TO STOP ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD IN AN EFFORT TO BACK INTO A DRIVEWAY. I WAS MOVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED (LESS THAN 5 MPH) AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW AND CONTINUED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A CULVERT. STRUCK A TREE AND THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED $2,500 TO 5,000 IN DAMAGES (NO INJURIES). ROAD CONDITIONS: SNOW, BUT NOT SLICK PHOTOS WERE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ACCIDENT. IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED CADILLAC CERTIFIED DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE CONDITIONS AND/OR SITUATION. DEALER SUGGESTED I CONTACT GM DIRECTLY TO DOCUMENT MY CONCERNS. SPOKE WITH CHERYL DANBEY AND BARBARA GREEN OF THE PRODUCT ALLEGATION DEPARTMENT. NEITHER WERE CONCERNED OR HELPFUL AND STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS SPECIFIC TO MY CONCERNS FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. *JB

9:30 AM ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2006. 2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT. ATTEMPTED TO STOP ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD IN AN EFFORT TO BACK INTO A DRIVEWAY. I WAS MOVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED (LESS THAN 5 MPH) AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW AND CONTINUED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A CULVERT. STRUCK A TREE AND THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED $2,500 TO 5,000 IN DAMAGES (NO INJURIES). ROAD CONDITIONS: SNOW, BUT NOT SLICK PHOTOS WERE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ACCIDENT. IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED CADILLAC CERTIFIED DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE CONDITIONS AND/OR SITUATION. DEALER SUGGESTED I CONTACT GM DIRECTLY TO DOCUMENT MY CONCERNS. SPOKE WITH CHERYL DANBEY AND BARBARA GREEN OF THE PRODUCT ALLEGATION DEPARTMENT. NEITHER WERE CONCERNED OR HELPFUL AND STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS SPECIFIC TO MY CONCERNS FOR MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ACTIVATED AT LESS THAN 30 MPH. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A CHATTERING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS WAS ON ONGOING PROBLEM. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2004. THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE CORROSION FROM THE ABS SENSORS. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RETURN UNTIL DECEMBER 23, 2005. THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE THE SAME AS BEFORE. THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED THE CORROSION FROM THE ABS SENSORS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. *AK THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ACTIVATED AT LESS THAN 30 MPH. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A CHATTERING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS WAS ON ONGOING PROBLEM. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2004. THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE CORROSION FROM THE ABS SENSORS. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RETURN UNTIL DECEMBER 23, 2005. THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE THE SAME AS BEFORE. THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED THE CORROSION FROM THE ABS SENSORS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. *AK THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB