Model year guide

2008 Cadillac Escalade

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Cadillac Escalade is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 164 on record.

2008 Cadillac Escalade — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Cadillac Escalade at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints167
Combined14 mpg
Typical price$19,651

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2008 Cadillac Escalade recalls 4

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21V050000 · 05/02/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South …

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notific…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #21V052000 · 05/02/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, N…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notific…

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #08V441000 · 28/08/2008

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CON…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC…

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #10V240000 · 04/06/2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS …

Fix: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OW…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2008 Cadillac Escalade common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 167 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

2008 Cadillac Escalade MPG & running costs

Combined14 mpg
City12 mpg
Highway19 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$5,450

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2008 Cadillac Escalade worth?

Low
$13,600
Typical price
$19,651
High
$25,500

From 162 comparable 2008 Cadillac Escalade listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Cadillac Escalade costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$27,250
Depreciation (5 yrs)$14,150
Total$41,400
Per mile$0.55

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($19,651) with the same model 5 model-years older ($5,511), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Cadillac Escalade trims & engines on record

Trims
Base · Luxury · ESV · EXT
Engines
6.2L 8-cyl

2008 Cadillac Escalade vehicles on record

2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Luxury1GYFK63878R217801 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63888R117741 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63858R269637 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC63818R116701 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63898R116534 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63838R123768 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63838R211168 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63818R173505 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63868R233259 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63828R154560 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC63878R165840 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC63818R120702 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63878R116175 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK638X8R138381 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63878R124700 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC63828R168807 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK638X8R254048 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63828R109294 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC638X8R128765 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC63878R177387 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC63808R153643 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC63888R159495 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYFK63818R147602 2008 Cadillac Escalade 2008 Cadillac Escalade Base1GYEC63898R179092

Other Cadillac Escalade model years

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2000 1999

2008 Cadillac Escalade — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Cadillac Escalade have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2008 Cadillac Escalade. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Cadillac Escalade?

Based on 167 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, engine, electrical system.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Cadillac Escalade get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2008 Cadillac Escalade at about 14 mpg combined (12 city / 19 highway).

How much is a 2008 Cadillac Escalade worth?

Comparable 2008 Cadillac Escalade listings run roughly $13,600–$25,500, typically around $19,651 (from 162 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.