Side Airbag Manufacturing Defect Lead To Cadillac CT4 and CT5 Recall

General Motors is recalling more than 34,000 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans, due to problems with side airbags not deploying properly, which could increase the risk of serious injuries during a car accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedan recall on August 5, following indications the roof rail airbags in certain vehicles were not installed correctly. There have been no reports or accidents associated with the recall at this time.

According to General Motors, if the roof-rail airbag was not installed properly, it may cause the airbags to become twisted and fail to deploy when needed in a crash, leaving occupants unprotected.

The airbags are installed above the rear doors, behind the headliner. At issue is the placement of the stitching, which, if it becomes twisted, could cause airbag deployment problems. The problem can affect both left and right side airbags.

General Motors started an investigation in June 2021, after a crash test was done in August 2020 where the airbags did not properly deploy. The company claims the investigation was began as soon as an investigator brought it to management’s attention through its “Speak Up For Safety” program. GM found that out of 1,300 vehicles tested, five had twisted airbags.

The recall affects Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles from model years 2020 through 2022. The recall affects around 34,157 Cadillac sedans with 11,064 being Cadillac CT4s and 23,093 being CT5s.

General Motors is working with dealers to inspect owners’ left and right-side roof-rail airbags. They will reinstall if necessary and free of charge. Dealers were notified on August 5, 2021. Customer notification is estimated to begin on September 20, 2021.

Consumers can contact Cadillac customer service for any questions or to report an issue at 1-800-458-8006. The General Motors recall number is N212342780. Consumers should wait for a letter to arrive from Cadillac to schedule their maintenance appointment.