2026 Cadillac Optiq

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.

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)

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.

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.