2009 Escalade Newbie Questions

[Corvettelarry]

Hi, have read several posts, stickies, and youtube videos. Based on AFM problems, I'm interesting in a 2009 Escalade. Looking to buy a low mileage example, but wanted to confirm if these are the things to watch out for:

Rear air suspension
Ball joints
Motor mounts
Tranny & Transaxle
Door Handles
Cracked Dash
Rusted exhaust manifolds
Improperly serviced radiator
Anything else I'm missing?

Any issues with the amps or speakers? Looking to swap out the head unit with an Apple car play unit.

Thanks

 

[avalonandl]

Have inspection done. AFM came in 2010 I believe.
Cracked dash is not as common on Escalade, there is a dash cap available
Tranny, transaxle- rare to have issues.
Radiator- new to me but a flush is the best
Ball joints - depends on age/mileage
Stereo audio- try them out- Older models before 2012 have less features.

 

[Corvettelarry]

The cooling items and other stuff just based on some things I've come across:

 

[avalonandl]

Keep us informed

 

[91RS]

It always pays to get a PPI done by a picky technician. The part of the dash that cracks on an Escalade is only the defroster grille piece that is up against the windshield because that is the same piece is a Tahoe/Yukon. The rest of the dash in the Escalade doesn't crack or at least I've never seen one, it is not made from hard plastic like the Tahoe/Yukon.

2009 is indeed the best year. All of those things you've mentioned are very common for this body style in general and the ages they all are now. I wouldn't say the transmission is a major worry though. My 2012 has 190k on the original transmission and it still shifts great. My 2008 has 155k and doesn't shift as nice but shows no signs of stopping.