Multiple times over the last four months of leasing this 2026 Cadillac Optiq, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system has malfunctioned and abruptly slammed on the brakes without warning, bringing the car to a sudden stop in the middle of our travel lane. All incidents occurred under similar optimal conditions: clear daylight, sunny skies, a clean windshield, and zero hazards or pedestrians in the road. Neither cruise control nor Super Cruise was engaged during any incident. The vehicle is updated with the latest software version. During a recent event, we were traveling at approximately 25 mph in a residential zone when the vehicle violently engaged the brakes. No warning lamps, dashboard alerts, or audible chimes appeared prior to the activation. This unprovoked, severe braking creates an immediate hazard for occupants and a severe risk of being rear-ended by trailing traffic. To mitigate this ongoing hazard, we manually disable the AEB feature in the vehicle software. However, the system automatically defaults AEB features back to "On" every drive cycle, forcing us to re-disable it every single time we start the vehicle. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by police, insurance, or the manufacturer, and we are awaiting an upcoming service appointment with our local Cadillac dealer. The vehicle and its software remain available for inspection upon request.
- NHTSA ID
- 11753580
- Incident
- Jul 28, 2026