2026 Cadillac Optiq Owner Complaints

My 2026 Cadillac OPTIQ experienced two brake-system failures. The second occurred on September 14, 2026. The vehicle displayed brake-system warnings and braking performance was impaired. The vehicle previously received a brake-system-control-module reprogramming in August. The dealer has advised that the master cylinder and brake booster, which are one assembly on this vehicle, may be failing and is consulting Cadillac Engineering. The vehicle is currently at the dealership, and I have been provided a loaner. This incident may relate to NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA26006 concerning sudden loss of brake assist in 2025–2026 Cadillac OPTIQ vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11766574

Incident

Sep 14, 2026

The tire size experiencing failure is 245/50 R 20 Load Range XL Continental CROSSCONTACT RX with Contiseal technology. Passenger side rear. I drive a Cadillac Optiq 2026 Luxury This is now the fourth tire I’ve had to replace in a short period of time. These tires have plenty of tread on them and were just recently replaced with new tires because the other ones had a nail in a non-repairable zone. This is the second one I’ve had to replace in a week due to a similar issue that isn’t seemingly a nail. I pulled my car out of my driveway today and I heard a noise similar to a pop although it could have been that the tire was already deflated and I was hearing the tire riding with no air. I filled the tire with air using my air pump in order for me to be able to properly inspect and I see a similar looking puncture/rupture hole as my last tire that required a replacement just two days ago. Sticky gooey residue surrounds the rupture hole from the self seal material that gets released from inside the tire and air escapes rapidly. I do notice that on these tires there always seems to be what look like small bulges or bubbles inside of tread grooves, I’ve noticed this on each tire every time, even on the replacements after riding on them. Maybe this car is too heavy for this type of tire? This issue should be investigated as this is different that just merely a nail in a non repairable zone. This is the same issue I’ve dealt with in my last replacement, both on the same side. Passenger side. My last replacement was two days ago on passenger side front. Others have experienced this same issue with regards to blow outs and losing air rapidly. There is one report with a car exactly like mine where the NHTSA misunderstood the tire size the person was referencing. Luckily mine wasn’t on the main road just yet. I’ve tried to upload video and pictures but none are being accepted as of yet.

NHTSA ID

11766557

Incident

Sep 23, 2026

On September 16, 2026, at approximately 3:30 PM, I was driving my 2026 Cadillac OPTIQ on a dry road under clear, blue-sky conditions. Cruise control was set at approximately 28 mph. There were no vehicles in front of me or behind me, and there were no apparent roadside objects or other conditions that should have presented a collision hazard. Without warning, the vehicle displayed a "Grab the Wheel" warning. My hands were already on the steering wheel at approximately the 10-and-2 positions. A red collision-alert box was also displayed on the windshield even though there was nothing in front of the vehicle. The vehicle then began slowing substantially. I attempted to regain normal control, including gripping the steering wheel at various positions, but the vehicle did not respond to anything I tried. It continued slowing until it had brought me to a near stop. During the event, I pressed down the SET switch located immediately to the left of the center of the steering wheel. The vehicle's warning/hazard flashers came on. Thankfully, there was no vehicle behind me. This is the SECOND time I have experienced a similar event in this vehicle. During the previous occurrence, I was traveling at approximately 45 mph. There was likewise no vehicle immediately in front of me or behind me. I am reporting this because an unexpected substantial deceleration or stop at roadway speed, particularly when a following vehicle is present, could result in a serious rear-end collision. I am concerned that this represents a safety-related defect and request that the vehicle's driver-assistance, collision-detection, braking, cruise-control, driver-monitoring, and related diagnostic/event data be investigated.

NHTSA ID

11764812

Incident

Sep 16, 2026

Vehicle: 2026 Cadillac Optiq AWD Purchased/Leased: Beverly Hills Cadillac, XXX (new lease) Current Mileage: 2,313 (XXX) The vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system has repeatedly activated without any actual hazard present, bringing the vehicle to a complete, unexpected stop while driving. This has occurred a handful of times with 3 notable occasions: XXX – On the [XXX], the vehicle applied full automatic braking and came to a complete stop with no vehicle or obstacle ahead of it. XXX – On a winding road, the vehicle again automatically applied the brakes and came to a complete stop with no hazard present. XXX – While approaching a stoplight under normal driving conditions, the AEB system engaged and stopped the vehicle unexpectedly. Each incident occurred without warning and without any legitimate collision-avoidance scenario (no pedestrian, vehicle, or obstacle in the vehicle's path). Sudden, unwarranted full stops — particularly on a freeway — create a serious rear-end collision risk to my vehicle and to other drivers. Dealer Response: I reported this issue to my local dealer. They confirmed there is currently no fix or software update available for this defect, as the defect seems to be a hardware issue across the model line. Their only recommended workaround is to manually disable all ADAS features that include automatic braking through the infotainment settings menu. However, these settings reset to their default "on" state every time the vehicle is restarted, meaning the defect cannot be permanently mitigated and reoccurs on every drive cycle. Safety Concern: This is a repeated, unpredictable, and un-fixable false-positive AEB activation that: Poses a collision risk to following traffic, especially at freeway speeds Cannot be permanently disabled by the owner Has no manufacturer-provided remedy at this time despite the dealer being made aware INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11759534

Incident

Jun 15, 2026

On Friday August 7th, I was driving my 2026 Cadillac OPTIQ Luxury AWD at approximately 25 mph near Byron road in Tracy. While crossing a railroad track under normal driving conditions, both passenger-side tires—the right-front and right-rear—suddenly lost air and sustained sidewall ruptures. I did not strike a pothole, curb, debris, or any other visible object, and no foreign object or tread puncture was found. Both tires were Continental CrossContact RX, size 245/50 R20 105H XL, tubeless and were the original factory-installed tires. The vehicle had approximately 12,850 miles, and the tires had approximately 12,850 miles. Before the incident, there was no tire-pressure warning or indication of a problem, and the tires were maintained at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure. The near-simultaneous failure of two tires on the same side required an immediate stop and created a serious risk of loss of vehicle control. Photographs show a substantial split in the tire sidewall. There were NO INJURIES and NO OTHER DAMAGE. Both failed tires have been retained and are available for inspection. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether these failures indicate a safety defect involving this tire model or its application on the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11757088

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

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