NHTSA is looking into electric SUV after owners reported a hard brake pedal and “Brake System Failure” message
April 15, 2024 at 11:02
- NHTSA investigating Cadillac Lyriq after owners reported brake problems
- Drivers say they experienced a hard brake pedal and a “brake failure” message
- Cadillac over-the-air update will test the brake system at startup and warn of failure
Many Cadillac Lyriq buyers had to put up with agonizing production delays that slowed the delivery of their electric SUVs, but now that production is in full swing, there’s literally no stopping the Lyriq. The NHTSA has announced it’s investigating the SUV after receiving reports of brake failure.
Some owners of 2023MY Lyriqs say they’ve experienced an unusually hard brake pedal while driving, followed by a “Brake System Failure” message on the EV’s digital display that can also appear during the startup procedure. A total of 3,322 SUVs are potentially affected by the problem.
Related: Cadillac Lyriq Back On The $7,500 Tax Credit Nice List
A preliminary report by the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) says the owners’ experiences have been verified by GM, which explained that an internal spindle in the eBoost electronic brake module can fracture when the ABS is triggered. The broken spindle can cause the EV to lose brake assistance and anti-lock functionality.
GM also says that only the 2023 models, and not the newer version of the Lyriq, are affected because the spindle was redesigned in May 2023. For now, its solution is to roll out an over-air update that will cycle the brake booster during start-up when the vehicle is stationary to simulate an ABS event and test the safety of the brake system. If the spindle fractures during the test, a check light will appear on the dash along with a message instructing the driver to bring the car to a dealership for repair under warranty.
So this isn’t a full recall situation yet, but that may change if the ODI decides GM should take things more seriously. For now, the ODI says its Preliminary Evaluation will “determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and…fully assess the potential safety-related issues.”
Those production delays that infuriated both GM and its customers when the Lyriq was launched could actually prove to be a benefit if the NHTSA does insist on a full-scale recall because the number of affected vehicles is relatively low. Although loss of braking power could be disastrous in the wrong circumstances, no one appears to have been hurt or killed up to this point.
Cadillac sold only 968 Lyriqs across the United States in Q1 2023, but sales have rocketed by 499 percent, with 5,800 Lyriqs finding new homes in the first three months of this year. That performance means the Lyriq now ranks as Cadillac’s third best-selling model, beaten only by the Escalade and the XT5.
