2004 Cadillac Escalade vs 2004 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Cadillac Escalade | 2004 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 69 | 1,304 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 752 | 109 |
| Investigations | 0 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 58 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 15 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–14 | 15–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 87,000 mi | 65,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Cadillac Escalade | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 4 | 460 |
| Structure | 1 | 426 |
| Visibility | 0 | 100 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 76 |
| Electrical System | 20 | 55 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 71 |
| Engine | 3 | 44 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 39 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 33 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 107 |
| Stalling | 0 | 103 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 61 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 57 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 35 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 14 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 13 |
2004 Cadillac Escalade
2004 Ford Explorer
Compare all Cadillac Escalade vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.