Low ESR is desirable. Perhaps you mean that high ESR is unlikely to cause this particular fault symptom?
Otherwise I need to correct your assertion: high ESR is extremely common after a few years - even with supposedly good capacitors (i.e. the non-"plague" type). I always measure the ESR, even if examination shows no obvious sign of top bulging, rubber plug bulging, leakage or hot to the touch. Without the required test equipment you can waste an enormous amount of time and energy guessing.
