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2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Escalade ESV.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV is an SUV backed by a 4-speed automatic transmission and a powertrain requiring 6 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, returning EPA ratings of 12 city, 16 highway, and 13 combined mpg. The model year carries 91 owner complaints—chiefly in the electrical system—alongside four recalls, figures that place it well below the 268-complaint peak seen in 2007 and comfortably above the two-complaint trough of 2013 across a complaint record spanning 2003 through 2026. For researchers, that makes the 2004 ESV a comparatively early and relatively moderate entry in the generation's reliability timeline, suggesting fewer systemic headaches than later years while still warranting attention to its electrical-system vulnerabilities.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2004

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy12/16/13 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172
Engine air filter	22845992 alt 15908916
Spark plug	12621258
Battery	88866121 alt 88866305
Front wiper blades	15214346
Serpentine belt	12576447 alt 12637202
Thermostat	12600171 alt 12570307

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	222 in
Overall width	78.7 in
Overall height	75.6 in
Wheelbase	129.9 in
Curb weight	5818 lb
Track (front / rear)	65.4 / 66.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	12 / 16 / 13 mpg
Drivetrain	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SAE 75W · Synthetic in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SAE 75W · Synthetic
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.83 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	8.85 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	70.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	110.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	110.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	70.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	177 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH RPO JC3, JC4, JH2 / WITH RPO JH6
Torque Caliper to Bracket	80 ft-lbs / 31 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	129 ft-lbs / 122 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH RPO JC3, JC4, JH2 / WITH RPO JH6
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.005 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.142 in / 1.181 in / 1.496 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head or head bolt bosses · M11 Bolts:

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	Bolts 1-8 90 degrees	90 degrees
4	Bolts 9and10 50 degrees; M8 Bolts:	50 degrees
1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV represents a slight improvement over the 2003 model year, with federal complaints dropping from 96 to 91 and recalls decreasing from 6 to 4. Within the immediate generational arc, 2004 marks the beginning of a downward trend in complaint volume that continues into 2005 and 2006, which saw just 56 and 24 complaints, respectively. However, the 2004 model still carries a relatively high complaint count compared to its successors, with its primary issues concentrated in the Electrical System (17 complaints), Service Brakes (13), and Air Bags (9), alongside 13 crash and 7 fire complaints; the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Because 2004 sits at the higher-complaint end of this generational downward arc and carries notable safety-related complaint figures, it is not the strongest year in this sequence. As a concrete takeaway, buyers should opt for the lower-complaint 2005 or 2006 models for better reliability, or insist on a rigorous pre-purchase inspection of the electrical, brake, and airbag systems if committed to the 2004.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

767

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

13 involved a crash · 7 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’03’04’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 91 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System17

Service Brakes13

Air Bags9

Power Train7

Seats6

Fuel/Propulsion System3

Steering3

Exterior Lighting2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

04V045000Service Brakes, HydraulicReported 04/02/2004

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE… Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 767 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT6446	2025-11-03	Unknown Or Other	This PI Communicates information to ensure Memory Recall is enabled to ensure memory…
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723J	2024-10-25	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Escalade ESV. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 6 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 22845992 Spark plug 12621258 Battery 88866121

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Escalade ESV take?

6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 Escalade ESV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Escalade ESV get?

EPA figures are 12 city / 16 highway / 13 combined mpg.