General Motors LLC (GM) will recall more than 50,000 Cadillac vehicles containing dangerously defective seat heaters.
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The Warren, Michigan-based manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Sept. 7, 2018 they will recall 53,586 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles built from June 10, 2013 to July 1, 2016.
The affected vehicles contain heated front seats that can bend and damage under persistent occupant pressure. The heated seat system activates automatically in cold ambient temperatures.
If the seat heater activates with no occupant, a damaged heater mat can melt or create smoke, increasing both injury and fire risk.
GM opened its investigation on April 18, 2018 after meeting with NHTSA officials regarding a fire in a 2015 Cadillac CTS. GM inspected the vehicle on May 7, 2018 but could not determine a root cause because the fire damaged the vehicle so severely. Further investigation found a pattern involving 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles experiencing smoke or fire when remotely started.
GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority reviewed the investigation on June 14, 2018, and asked the investigators to conduct additional analysis and inspect vehicles in the field for abnormal seat heater functionality.
The company initiated a safety recall on Aug. 30, 2018.
GM will notify owners and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started for free. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM’s number for the recall is 18286. Consumers can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you. a href=”/practice-areas/lemon-law/” style=”font-weight:bold”;”>Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.
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