General Motors is recalling 29,347 Cadillac Optiq electric SUVs in the United States because the front side windows may not meet federal anti-pinch safety standards. The Cadillac Optiq recall, announced September 30, 2026, covers the 2025, 2026, and 2027 model years of Cadillac’s entry-level luxury EV.
According to USA Today, the affected population breaks down to 12,558 units of the 2025 Optiq, 10,201 units of the 2026 Optiq, and 6,588 units of the 2027 Optiq — vehicles manufactured between July 24, 2024, and September 22, 2026. The issue lies in the front side door window software calibration within the vehicle’s body control module: the calibration must be adjusted so the windows’ anti-pinch protection meets federal stop-and-reverse requirements, which are designed to prevent a closing window from injuring fingers, hands, or heads caught in the frame.
What’s Wrong and How GM Will Fix It
Anti-pinch systems use sensors to detect resistance as a window closes; when obstruction is sensed, the window is required to stop and reverse. In the affected Optiqs, the software calibration governing that behavior may not comply with the federal standard. GM has not reported any injuries or crashes linked to the defect, and the recall is a compliance action rather than a response to a known injury.
The fix is free and straightforward. GM will update the front side door window software calibration in the body control module. Owners of vehicles capable of receiving wireless software updates — and who have accepted the applicable terms and conditions — can receive the remedy over the air, without visiting a dealership. Everyone else can have the update performed at a GM dealership at no charge.
GM implemented the revised software calibration in production on September 22, 2026, meaning Optiqs built after that date already carry the corrected calibration, according to the recall report. The company planned to notify dealers about the recall on September 24, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed starting November 9.
What Cadillac Optiq Owners Should Do
Owners don’t have to wait for a letter. Anyone can check whether their vehicle is affected right now by entering its 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall lookup tool at NHTSA.gov, or through GM’s own recall resources. Model year alone doesn’t determine inclusion — the VIN check is the definitive answer.
If your Optiq is included and supports over-the-air updates, make sure your vehicle’s software update settings and terms are current so the fix can be delivered wirelessly. If the vehicle doesn’t support OTA updates or you prefer a dealer visit, call ahead: service departments can confirm your VIN is covered and schedule the calibration update, which involves reprogramming the body control module rather than replacing any hardware.
A recall-heavy stretch for EV makers
The Optiq recall lands in a busy season for electric-vehicle recalls. GM’s move follows Rivian’s recall of roughly 99,000 EVs over a rearview camera glitch — another software-driven campaign in the EV space, where over-the-air updates have made fixes faster but have also made software defects a leading recall trigger. Regulators have increasingly scrutinized software compliance issues as automakers shift more vehicle functions to code.
The Optiq is an important vehicle for Cadillac’s electric ambitions: a compact luxury crossover positioned below the Lyriq, aimed at bringing new buyers into the brand’s EV lineup. A swift, OTA-delivered fix should limit the disruption for owners — and for GM, the contrast with hardware recalls is favorable: no parts to order, no service-bay backlog, just a software push. Meanwhile, the broader EV market has its own drama this week, with Tesla pushing its next-gen Roadster reveal to October 15 after severe weather threatened its Texas test-site event.
The Optiq campaign is also a reminder of how recalls work in the software-defined-vehicle era. A decade ago, a compliance issue like this would have meant a mandatory dealer visit and a loaner car. Today, for vehicles with mature over-the-air platforms, the fix can arrive overnight — no appointment needed. NHTSA still treats software remedies as formal recalls, requiring the same owner-notification letters and quarterly completion reports as hardware campaigns, which is why Optiq owners will receive a mailed notice in November even if their car was already fixed wirelessly.
FAQ
Which vehicles are included in the Cadillac Optiq recall?
The recall covers 29,347 Cadillac Optiq SUVs: 12,558 from model year 2025, 10,201 from 2026, and 6,588 from 2027, built between July 24, 2024, and September 22, 2026. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov to confirm.
What is the window anti-pinch defect?
The front side door window software calibration in the body control module may not meet federal stop-and-reverse requirements — the standard that requires a closing window to stop and reverse when it detects an obstruction. GM will update the calibration for free.
Do I need to visit a dealer for the fix?
Not necessarily. Vehicles capable of over-the-air updates can receive the software fix wirelessly if the owner has accepted the applicable terms. Otherwise, the update can be performed at a GM dealership at no charge.
When will owners be notified?
GM planned to notify dealers on September 24, 2026, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed starting November 9. Owners can check their VIN online immediately rather than waiting.
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