Cadillac Escalade heating problem: cold air from front zones
Learn about the Cadillac Escalade's front heating issue causing cold air, including GM's service bulletin, HVAC defect, and dealer repair process under warranty.
The new-generation Cadillac Escalade has encountered a widespread issue: the front heating zones may blow cold air while the rest of the cabin warms up normally. GM has released a service bulletin and confirmed a manufacturing defect in the HVAC module's temperature flap.
Cause
GM engineers found that the HVAC temperature flap can have a "high spot" of plastic, resulting from the molding process. When the flap moves, this protrusion can interfere with the housing, causing failure, grinding, or linkage detachment. As a result, the left or right zone may deliver cold airflow, with the system logging error codes B2B05 or B2B29.
How dealers will fix the problem
The official procedure requires an endoscopic inspection of the flap movement. If binding or linkage breakage is detected, the dealer must remove the HVAC housing and replace the upper evaporator module. After installation, an actuator adaptation cycle is performed via GDS2. This repair qualifies as warranty work under the Bumper-to-Bumper program.
Why DIY repairs are not recommended
GM explicitly warns that intervention by an unprepared owner is risky. The climate control system in the Escalade is integrated with electronic actuators, and improper handling could damage the HVAC housing or cause incorrect flap calibration. For owners, this means that visiting a dealer is the only correct approach.