CSR

Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2025 Cadillac Optiq

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 12 safety complaints about the 2025 Cadillac Optiq with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 3 complaints, 25% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers April 2025 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

12 complaints on file

12

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 25%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 · 25%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 25%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 17%
AIR BAGS 1 · 8%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 · 8%
POWER TRAIN 1 · 8%
STEERING 1 · 8%
STRUCTURE 1 · 8%
TIRES 1 · 8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 · 8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 · 8%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 12.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 6.

8 6 4 2
25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2025 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2025 Cadillac Optiq. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

26V612000 · September 24, 2026

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Cadillac OPTIQ vehicles. When closed using the key fob's express-up function, the front windows may fail to detect an obstruction and reverse direction. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
The risk
A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
The body control module (BCM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N262567230. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 24, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 29,347 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

26V114000 · February 26, 2026

The defect
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
The risk
Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 5,861 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

25V704000 · October 16, 2025

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Cadillac Optic and 2025-2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV vehicles equipped with 21-inch Continental all-season tires. One or more of these tires may experience partial or full tread detachment.
The risk
Tire tread detachment increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect all four tires and replace those manufactured during DOT week 4024, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252525030. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 16, 2025.

General Motors, LLC · up to 22,914 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Electronic Brake Module Component Failure

EA26006

Still open engineering analysis · opened August 21, 2026

the brakes

On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2023 MY Cadillac Lyriq vehicles. These complaints allege a hard brake pedal, followed by a “Brake System Failure” message at start up or while driving. GM shared records regarding several internal investigations for loss of brake assist due to alleged spindle fractures in the eBoost system. GM has stated that in the event of a spindle fracture, anti-lock brakes (ABS), stability control, and traction control remain functional until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. At this point, ABS, brake assist, stability control, and traction control functions are lost. The loss of these functions causes the vehicle to set one of three Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) based on failed performance criteria for the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM). These DTCs, in turn, activate several driver alerts: an audible chime, a visual “Service Brake System” message in the display, and multiple illuminated Malfunction Indicator Lights (MILs) for the ABS, Traction Control, and Brakes informing the driver of loss of functionality. The vehicle speed will also be limited to 70 KPH (43 MPH). Since opening PE24011, ODI has continued to receive reports of loss of brake assist. Some of these reports describe symptoms inconsistent with GM’s description of a spindle failure. These reports allege an immediate loss of brake assist functionality as opposed to the loss occurring after the vehicle comes to a complete stop. The sudden loss of brake assist during a braking event could result in extended braking distance, which increases the risk of a crash or injury. ODI believes further analysis is necessary to assess the potential for failures in GM’s eBoost system to resulting in safety-related outcomes. At this time, ODI is aware of the following vehicles that are equipped with this eBoost system: 2023-2026 MY Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon; 2024-2026 MY Buick Enclave, Envision; Chevrolet Blazer EV, Equinox EV, Traverse; Cruise Origin; and GMC Acadia; 2025-2026 MY Cadillac Celestiq and Optiq. ODI is also aware of 2024-2026 MY Acura ZDX and 2024-2026 MY Honda Prologue vehicles that were built with this system. The Acura and Honda vehicles were manufactured by GM in a joint venture with Honda, and will be included in the Engineering Analysis as peer vehicles. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysis to further assess the safety-related consequences of a failed eBoost system. In addition, ODI is expanding the scope of the investigation to encompass all GM vehicles that share this eBoost system. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

crash

Car was t- boned at Intersection on right side. Front passenger sustained bruising but did not require hospitalization. Side airbag did not deploy.

NHTSA complaint 11751379. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
On or around [XXX], while driving at approximately 40 mph, the automatic emergency braking / auto collision assist system on my 2025 Cadillac OPTIQ (VIN: [XXX]) activated without warning and brought the vehicle to a sudden stop. There was no obstacle, pedestrian, or hazard present in the roadway ahead of the vehicle at the time of activation. The vehicle was brought to Moore Cadillac, Chantilly, Virginia (RO# [XXX], check-in January 9, 2026). The dealership technician was unable to duplicate the concern on a diagnostic road test but found that the body control module, image processing module, short-range radar, and forward-range radar all contained outdated calibrations. Vehicle-wide module

NHTSA complaint 11755656, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Continental Cross Contact RX, 245/50 R20, M&S I was driving my 2025 Cadillac Optiq. I was about 1 mile from my home driving at 35 mph or less when the rear passenger side tire blew out. There was a fist size hole in the track (bottom of tire) . I definitely didn’t run over anything. The car was towed to a Cadillac dealer who put on a new tire at my expense. At the dealers they said it was “unusual”. There was no warning lamps, messages, etc. I was lucky that I wasn’t on a highway traveling ay high speeds. There was only about 2,500 miles on the tire.

NHTSA complaint 11745050. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS
Vehicle experienced a sudden tire blowout and loss of control matching recall 25V704000. Rear driver side Tire ruptured while driving, bounced car to the left , hit car mirror off of a mailbox, then car bounced off to the right of road. When I described this incident to my friend who works at GM quality, he believes this description fits perfectly the tire failure/ recall GM had on continental tires in 2025. However, my VIN shows 0 active recalls. The manufacturer's recall boundary is too narrow and must be expanded to include this vehicle block. The dealer charged me $1,100 for consequential wheel damage.

NHTSA complaint 11742511. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
I am filing this safety complaint regarding my 2025 Cadillac Optiq with approximately 6,500 miles. On May 25, 2026, during rainy/wet road conditions, the vehicle failed to stop normally on two separate occasions while I was approaching stop signs at low speed. I was driving cautiously and was not speeding due to the rain. During the braking events, the vehicle displayed an “ABS Active” message/indicator, but the vehicle did not decelerate or stop as expected. I had to continue attempting to brake, and the vehicle traveled farther than it should have before stopping. This happened twice in the same day under wet conditions. Fortunately, there were no other vehicles or pedestrians in the

NHTSA complaint 11739920, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On or about December 2, 2025, I discovered that multiple connected and safety-related systems on my 2025 Cadillac Optiq had stopped functioning. We believe a GM over-the-air software update was installed the weekend prior, and the dealer has inferred that the update may have caused the failure. We brought the car into the dealership on December 16th. The car was "fixed" and I picked up later that evening. i was told that the OnStar module is broken and is on national backorder. The OnStar module is connected to, several critical safety and driver-assistance systems which are inoperable. These include, but are not limited to: OnStar emergency services driver-assist systems, GPS and

NHTSA complaint 11715095, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Cadillac Optiq

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 6 3 —

Other 2025 Cadillac models

Every Cadillac on this site — 97 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst