Cadillac has announced a recall of more than 14,000 units of its 2026 and 2027 model year Vistiq SUVs due to a malfunction that could turn a convenience function into a potential safety risk. The issue involves the electric SUV’s one-touch power-folding third-row seats, which are designed to stop when they detect an obstruction but do not automatically reverse, creating a possibility that a passenger or an object may become trapped.

As per the Safety Recall Report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), General Motors (GM) conducted a detailed assessment of the third-row power seatback folding system on the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq. This evaluation was initiated following a March 2026 recall notice issued by another automaker. Although GM’s recall documentation does not identify the other manufacturer, it is believed to be Hyundai, which recalled its Palisade in March after a tragic incident in Ohio where a two-year-old child lost their life after being trapped by the vehicle’s power-folding second-row seat.

During the Cadillac Vistiq’s testing, engineers placed a box weighing between 33 and 40 pounds on the seat and activated the power-folding mechanism. They discovered that while the seat stopped upon encountering the obstruction, it did not reverse direction automatically. As a result, the box could not be removed without manually reversing the seatback. GM noted that, under similar circumstances, smaller passengers could potentially become trapped beneath the seatback.

GM has stated that it has received six customer complaints possibly linked to this issue, though there have been no reports of injuries so far. The company confirmed that dealerships will eventually replace the folding third-row seat module to address the problem, but the corrective solution is not yet ready. In the interim, affected owners can opt to have the third-row folding feature disabled as a precautionary measure.

Once a permanent solution becomes available, the power-folding function will be re-enabled and updated through a dedicated customer satisfaction campaign. The repair will involve installing an improved seat module that automatically moves the seatback back to its upright position if it encounters sufficient resistance to halt the folding operation. Cadillac owners will be officially informed about the recall through a mailing campaign expected to commence on August 3, 2026.