Cadillac Recalls 14,000 Vistiq SUVs Over Crushing Third-Row SeatsThe push to automate every single function in the modern electric SUV just hit a massive safety roadblock at General Motors.According to a recently published Part 573 Safety Recall Report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Cadillac is officially recalling 14,540 Vistiq EVs across the 2026 and 2027 model years. The issue isn't related to the battery pack or the drivetrain—it is a glaring oversight in the basic safety logic of the vehicle's seating.Here is a breakdown of the defect, what triggered the investigation, and the immediate fallout for Cadillac dealerships.Vistiq's Trapping HazardIn the affected 2026 and 2027 Vistiq models, the third-row seatbacks are equipped with a one-touch power-folding mechanism. With a single press of the "down" control button, the seats automatically fold flat into the cargo floor.AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, the software governing the seat module lacks a crucial safety failsafe: if the seatback encounters an obstruction while folding down, it simply stops moving instead of automatically reversing course.This creates a severe hazard. As explicitly noted in the NHTSA filing, "smaller occupants could become trapped under the seatback, increasing the risk of injury". While GM has acknowledged six internal complaints or incidents related to the mechanism between May 2025 and April 2026, no injuries have been reported to date.Interestingly, GM did not catch this software oversight completely on its own. The internal investigation was directly triggered by the actions of a rival automaker.According to the report's chronology, a GM engineer submitted an internal Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) report on March 31, 2026. This evaluation was explicitly prompted by the "announcement of a recall by a different vehicle manufacturer" regarding power seats failing to properly reverse when hitting an object.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen GM engineers placed a 33- to 40-pound box on the Vistiq's third row and triggered the power-fold function, the seat crushed down on the object and locked in place, making it impossible to remove the box without manually reversing the seat back.The Dealership FreezeBecause 100% of the recalled population is estimated to contain this defect, GM has had to take drastic measures to stop the bleeding.The Stop-Shipment: GM officially halted all shipments of the 2027 model year Vistiq on June 8, 2026.The Temporary Fix: Until a permanent replacement module is manufactured and shipped out, dealerships are strictly ordered to electronically disable the third-row power-folding feature on all vehicles sitting in their inventory.The Owner Timeline: Current Vistiq owners can also request a dealership to temporarily disable the feature to eliminate the trapping risk. Official notification letters outlining the permanent, free-of-charge module replacement—which will successfully program the seat to automatically reverse upon impact—are slated to be mailed out on August 3, 2026.Until the new modules arrive, Cadillac's high-tech, automated third row is officially reverting to a manual experience.
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