Cadillac Escalade 1st Generation (GMT 400) 1999-2000 Review

The first-generation Cadillac Escalade GMT 400 was a knee-jerk reaction to the launch of the first-generation Lincoln Navigator, introduced in 1998. As such, the Escalade was nothing more than a hasty rebranding of the existing GMC Yukon, which had been on the market since 1992 at that point and had almost reached the end of its production run. The Escalade was based on the Yukon Denali and rushed to market to serve as competition for the Navigator. It was made for two short model years - 1999 and 2000 - the second-gen Escalade switching to the GMT 800 platform along with its second-gen GMC Yukon Denali counterpart. For this reason, there was never a facelift of the first-generation Escalade.

The drivetrain lineup of the 1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade is exceedingly simple, with a single engine and transmission offered. It's not cutting-edge stuff, but it's easy to maintain and reliable.

The combination of a large-capacity gas V8, a big, bluff SUV body, permanent 4WD, and an old-fashioned four-speed automatic transmission takes its toll on fuel economy and the expected overall combined EPA estimate of 13 mpg is predictably terrible. Despite offering a full 300 hp, the 4WD Navigator matches the Escalade's figures. Real-world fuel consumption obtained by owners bears out the claimed 13 mpg combined average.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

Being such an old SUV, there aren't many standard safety features, even if these were perfectly acceptable for the era. The 1999 Escalade gets two front airbags, ABS, OnStar in-vehicle telematics, remote keyless entry, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a compass, and automatic headlights - that's it.

Crash safety was not nearly as good in the late '90s as it is today, and the Escalade's four-star result for the only two tests conducted by the NHTSA - the driver and passenger frontal impact - should be taken with a grain of salt, since they hail from a bygone era of lower safety standards. The big Caddy has a weight advantage over smaller cars that might see it do relatively well in a crash with one, but against larger SUVs, and in terms of rollover resistance, it would likely fare poorly according to today's standards.

There was only a single, fully equipped trim level for the two model years the first-generation Escalade was on the market.

While Cadillac threw every possible luxury feature at the interior including wood trim, heated leather seats all around, and a premium audio system, the base architecture was lifted from the GMC Yukon and the quality of the ordinary GM materials and plastics used leaves much to be desired. Clearly, there was no time for an interior redesign, and since the first generation was only destined for two model years, they left it at that. Still, there is enough space to stretch out in, if not as much as in the rival Navigator, with the latter's 39.7-inch figure for rear legroom beating the Caddy by around three inches.

The 1999-2000 first-generation Cadillac Escalade used tried-and-trusted mechanicals and should be reliable if properly maintained. It should receive a minor lubrication service every 3,000-7,000 miles, depending on usage. The upper limit applies if you do mostly highway driving and the lower limit applies if you traverse dusty roads or use your truck in freezing temperatures or for towing. We would recommend 5,000-6,000-mile intervals as a happy medium for normal use. Every 30,000 miles, the fuel and air filters should be replaced, and the cooling system drained, flushed, and refilled. This 30,000-mile service could cost around $880 and an independent workshop or around $1,240 at a Cadillac dealership with all the mentioned items included. Spark plugs last 100,000 miles.

The engine has an oil capacity of 5.1 quarts, and a full-synthetic oil type is recommended - the viscosity depends on your climate, so check your owner's manual. Buying the oil and filter to do the lube service yourself will cost around $75, as opposed to paying a workshop around $200 to do it. Should you want to replace the air filter yourself, you'd pay around $45 for it. A set of eight spark plugs cost around $120.

The first-gen Escalade has proven to provide a mostly trouble-free ownership experience, with few recalls or major problems.

There were only three 1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade recalls of note:

• 1999 and 2000 Escalades were recalled to replace non-compliant headlights, turn signals, combination lights, and reflectors.
• 1999 and 2000 Escalades were recalled to replace the optional floor-mounted entertainment system's attachment bracket that could cause a fuel leak.
• 1999 Escalades were recalled to install a tray insert on the passenger side of the dashboard to correct a non-compliant passenger-restraint system.

There were also recalls to replace leaky oil and fuel filters that could cause engine fires, but that won't be valid today since these filters are replaced at every service anyway. This Cadillac was sold before the worldwide Takata airbag scandal, so unlike later generations of the popular SUV, there were no 1999 or 2000 Cadillac Escalade airbag recalls for faulty airbags - or any other airbag or seatbelt recalls.

Here are some of the typical OBD-II error codes you may encounter on a Cadillac Escalade first gen:

• On a 1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade, P0758 is an automatic transmission error code, indicating an issue with the two-to-three shift solenoid.
• P1345 on a 1999 or 2000 Cadillac Escalade engine means there is a problem between the crankshaft's and camshaft's relative positions.
• On any 1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade, P0171 and P0430 are error codes from one or more of the oxygen sensors, indicating any of a number of faults that may have to do with factors such as the sensors themselves, the mixture strength, catalyst efficiency, fuel trim, and a host of possible others.
• P0440, P0442, and P0446 on any 1999 or 2000 Cadillac Escalade refer to problems with the evaporative emissions (EVAP) control system.
• If something goes wrong with the ignition system, such as the distributor, spark plugs, or plug wires, P0300 would indicate a random misfire condition. If the last digit is not a zero, it indicates the number of the misfiring cylinder, so on a 1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade, P0302 and P0308 mean that cylinders two and eight are misfiring, respectively. P1351 refers to an ignition control module voltage error.
• On all 1999 or 2000 Cadillac Escalades, P0410 means that there is an issue with the secondary air-injection system.

There seem to be few instances of water leaks into the interior, so check the carpets and the trim for dampness, be on the lookout for musty odors indicating wet trim, and check that all the doors and the tailgate fit snugly and seal properly. A few issues with the seat heaters have also been reported as the Escalades age, so make sure they work; remember that all four seats are heated. A few have failed and burnt the seat, so check for this as well.

There are reports of a few 4x4 problems on 1999 and 2000 Cadillac Escalades, front-end differential failures sometimes being mentioned, in addition to the odd transfer case giving up the ghost. It is unclear whether this is due to the advanced age of all these first-gen Escalades or some other fault. Be that as it may, be sure that the differentials are quiet and replace the diff and transfer-case oil as a precaution - and as scheduled. As is the case with many old cars, suspension bushings, control arms, and tie rods wear out and should be replaced as they fail. Don't wait too long, or the car may develop handling problems. When the vehicle starts to wander, develop suspension clunks, pull to one side, or lose directional stability, have the suspension and steering systems inspected.

Although there was a recall for an entertainment system's bracket that could touch the fuel tank and cause a leak, that was not the last one of the fuel-tank problems. Quite a few owners of 2000 MY Escalades report fuel leaks due to cracks or other fuel-tank leaks. Make sure that there is no gas smell around an Escalade you're looking at that may point to a fuel leak.

These cars are all old by now, and although no special mention is made anywhere of particular problems with the 1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade's air-conditioning, blower-motor resistor, heater, or evaporator, the refrigerant may leak out over the years, and the odd heater blend-door may get stuck, so test the system thoroughly on a test drive. Any leaks that do occur seem neither chronic nor commonplace, so there are few problems with performing a standard AC recharge, and recalls for the 1999 or 2000 Cadillac Escalade's battery, alternator, or other electrical components were never necessary.

Other than the more common anti-theft and ABS issues mentioned earlier, there were also a few problems with the distributor on 1999 and 2000 Cadillac Escalades, so if starting is difficult or idling is rough, check the distributor and consider replacing the spark-plug wires as well. Other electrical issues with the bodywork and engine, such as problems with the brake lights, ECM, or BCM are rare on 1999 and 2000 Cadillac Escalades.

There is only a single trim and only two model years of the first-gen Escalade, with nary a difference in overall reliability or problems reported. Given the limited choice, there isn't a dud that you should steer clear of in this case. Given that these cars are now all old and cheap, GMC enthusiasts considering a Yukon Denali should perhaps rather go for the high-value Escalade and avoid the GMC. Both are exactly the same car and the Cadillac does offer the ultimate expression of the GMT 400 platform in terms of luxury and convenience features.

As intimated in the previous section, the single trim and generally excellent reliability mean that there is nothing to choose between the two model years and you only have one trim option anyway. However, do keep in mind that only the 2000 model year was ever available with the vertically split rear doors, so if that's important, you'd have to look for a 2000 model for which this box was ticked.

There is nothing advanced about the 1st-generation Cadillac Escalade and some may criticize it for being nothing more than a lightly restyled Yukon Denali with all the options fitted. They wouldn't be wrong, but this would sell the Caddy short, because it does make a convincing case for itself in this class thanks to being loaded with a full house of luxury features. And having been around only for 1999 and 2000, it is quite rare, so there is a bit of exclusivity there. It might have had a controversial start to life by being a knee-jerk reaction, rebadged GMC in response to the Navigator, but it was the right call, as the Escalade has turned into Cadillac's cash cow. Humble beginnings, as they say. And the original will probably keep on trucking for years.