Electrical system and drive assist issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Luxury sport sedans aren’t as easy to find these days, but the 2019 Cadillac CT6 continues to have a following. The automaker claims that this model helps to “Exceed expectations. Rapidly,” but owners are not in agreement. This vehicle suffers from a defective brake system and poorly-built structure.
To ensure that everything runs the way it should, automakers must pay special attention to the electrical system. One minor fault can throw everything out of whack. Sadly, this Cadillac model suffers from more than just a few simple mishaps.
Here is one Edmunds review worth noting. “The Infotainment System (CUE) installed in the new 2019 CTS is defective from the factory and Cadillac doesn’t have any working replacements. The screen freezes when the inside of the car gets hot from parking outside. That means you can’t do anything requiring selections on the screen (configuring the vehicle preferences, setting up driver preferences, selecting Navigation, selecting Contacts or Phone, etc.). It also doesn’t recognize voice prompts to call contacts. The Audio Favorites you have stored are also unavailable.”
Unfortunately, Cadillac is struggling to get the electrical system to work the way it should. There are numerous communications within the company discussing various issues. One is noted with Service Bulletin #PIC6123F that states drivers receive an adaptive cruise control or lane keep assist unavailable message. While this might appear to be a short or malfunction with the software, it is actually caused by something far more disturbing. It turns out that when the car is parked in the sunlight or the cabin temperature rises, it can cause these systems to malfunction. Again, the design might say “performance,” but the operation says something different.
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| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Power Train | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Seats | |
| Steering | |
| Suspension | |
| Wheels |
Modern vehicles are designed to monitor speeds and adjust accordingly. With today’s sophisticated systems, there’s no reason for cars to put anyone’s life in danger the way that the Cadillac CTS does.
Just look at this NHTSA complaint. “I leased a Cadillac 2019 CTS in December 2018. The car’s engine accelerates sporadically on its own. It happened to me approximately 10 times while driving at very low speed, during stop and go traffic and as I was entering a parking spot. Three such events occurred within ten minutes while inching my way to merge and enter the Queen’s Midtown Tunnel in NY. Each time I managed to stop the car by leaning very heavily on the brake pedal and moving the transmission into the Neutral position. The dealer unsuccessfully tried to determine the cause of the problem, and the car was in his shop four times for over 20 days. Cadillac claims that they [were] unaware of any sudden engine acceleration problem. The latest proposal that Cadillac offered is to install a diagnostic device in the car with the hope that the fault will show up. In the meantime, Cadillac expects me to drive the car, endangering myself, innocent pedestrians and other fellow drivers.”
It turns out that Cadillac is dealing with a long list of customer issues related to driver-assist problems. Even Service Bulletin #PIC6013E talks about how adaptive cruise control can stop working. Some owners are getting an “ADAPTIVE CRUISE TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE” message on the car’s Driver Information Center whenever they attempt to activate the program. To repair it, technicians must perform a Multi-Axis sensor yaw rate sensor learn procedure, but that’s not guaranteed to repair the problems. In the meantime, it makes sense for owners to look for a model that’s actually “performance inspired” and not just designed to look like it.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Cadillac pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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