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Cadillac lemon law
If your Cadillac keeps going back to the dealer for the same problem, your state's lemon law may make the maker buy it back or replace it, and pay your lawyer when you win. Here is what Cadillac owners report to the federal government, and how to check your own car.
What Cadillac owners report most
A complaint can name more than one area. 120 complaints name none.
Models with the most complaints
- Escalade 416
- Escalade ESV 269
- Lyriq 137
- XT6 72
- CT5 72
- XT4 70
Latest Cadillac recalls
- Electrical System, September 24, 2026: 2025 Optiq, 2026 Optiq, 2027 Optiq, about 29,347 vehicles.
“A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.”
NHTSA recall 26V612000 - Electrical System, July 30, 2026: 2026 Escalade IQ, 2026 Escalade IQL, about 11 vehicles.
“A loose component may move and damage the high voltage battery, increasing the risk of a fire.”
NHTSA recall 26V494000 - Seats, June 18, 2026: 2026 Vistiq, about 14,540 vehicles.
“A person, especially a child, may be trapped by a rear powered seatback, increasing their risk of injury.”
NHTSA recall 26V394000 - Wheels, May 14, 2026: 2025 Escalade ESV, 2026 Escalade ESV, 2026 Escalade, 2025 Escalade, about 2,457 vehicles.
“A bolt that loosens or breaks during vehicle operation can result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.”
NHTSA recall 26V304000 - Power Train, May 7, 2026: 2026 Escalade ESV, 2026 Escalade, about 66 vehicles.
“Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.”
NHTSA recall 26V289000
Check your own car by its VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at any Cadillac dealer.
Recalls, repairs and the lemon law
A recall alone does not make a car a lemon. What counts is a defect the dealer cannot fix: most states presume a lemon after 3 or 4 repair attempts for the same problem, fewer for a defect that could cause a crash, or about 30 days in the shop, inside the first one to two years. A recall repair for a defect that keeps coming back is a repair attempt like any other, so keep the repair order from every visit.
In California, General Motors opted in to the state's new lemon law process on April 23, 2025. Owners send the written demand to californiawarrantynotice@gm.com at least 30 days before suing. How the new process works
How a Cadillac lemon law claim and buyback work
Keep the repair order from every visit, then write to Cadillac, not only the dealer, at the customer relations address in your owner's manual or warranty booklet, and ask for a buyback or a replacement. In a buyback Cadillac refunds the price, taxes and fees and costs like towing, minus a deduction for the miles you drove before the first repair, and pays off the loan.
The steps · Letter template · Buyback or cash and keep · Estimate a buyback
Cadillac lemon law in your state
The rules depend on the state where you bought or leased the car:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Questions about Cadillac lemons
How many complaints have Cadillac owners filed with NHTSA?
1,225 for 2021 to 2027 model years, received through October 22, 2026. The most reported area is engine.
How many Cadillac recalls are there?
52 safety recalls cover 2021 to 2027 Cadillac models, for about 3,931,942 vehicles in all.
Is a recall enough to make my Cadillac a lemon?
No, not on its own. But if a defect keeps coming back after repairs, recall repairs included, each visit can count as a repair attempt under your state's lemon law. Keep every repair order.
How do I start a Cadillac lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, then write to Cadillac at the address for customer relations in your owner's manual or warranty booklet, asking for a buyback or replacement under your state's lemon law. Send it by a tracked method and keep a copy.
Does Cadillac have to buy back a lemon?
Yes, when your state's lemon law rules are met. The maker must buy the car back or replace it, and most states let you choose. The rules differ by state: see your state guide.
Did Cadillac opt in to California's new lemon law process?
Yes. GENERAL MOTORS opted in on April 23, 2025. California owners send the written demand to californiawarrantynotice@gm.com, at least 30 days before suing.
About the data
From NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation files (complaints received 2020 to now, and recalls), counted for 2021 to 2027 model years and filed under the make CADILLAC. Read on October 26, 2026. Complaints are what owners report, not findings, and big sellers get more of them: a count is not a defect rate, and it says nothing about your car. We keep no complaint text or personal details.
Is your Cadillac a lemon? Find out free
Free, about ten taps. You see what your state's law says first. If you want a lawyer, we find a lemon law firm in your state that takes cases like yours, and they contact you.
Your state: Ohio
What model year is it?
Who pays the lawyer? In Ohio, an owner who wins can make the maker pay the lawyer.* * So most lemon law lawyers ask nothing up front. Some charge costs, or a share of a settlement: ask before you sign. You never pay us. More