Feeling The Heat
Earlier this month, a deadly heat wave swept across much of the U.S., disrupting Fourth of July celebrations marking the country’s 250th anniversary, during which several automakers also released special-edition vehicles commemorating the milestone. Coincidentally, General Motors launched a new program addressing a Cadillac Optiq windshield foam-seal problem linked to high temperatures.
Customer Satisfaction Program N252534680 was sent to dealerships with instructions for inspecting and repairing the issue. While the Optiq was Cadillac’s best-selling electric vehicle in the second quarter of this year – surpassing the Lyriq – the program noted that only a small number of affected 2025–2026 model-year examples are expected to need the fix.
How GM Plans To Fix It
Under the program, dealers are asked to inspect the windshield foam seal for delamination; Optiqs without the problem won’t require further work. For those with the defect, the instrument panel extension and foam seal will be removed before the adhesive is cleaned from the surface using isopropyl alcohol.
After removing any adhesive residue, dust, and debris, a new foam seal will be installed. A roller will be used to apply pressure and activate the adhesive, ensuring the replacement seal is properly positioned and adhered. The repair concludes with the reinstallation of the instrument panel extension.
The replacement, including the inspection, is expected to take around 1.4 hours, or one hour and 24 minutes. Affected units requiring only an inspection because their foam seals remain intact should take just 0.1 hours, or about six minutes.
What Owners Should Know
The service will be performed at no charge to Cadillac Optiq owners, with the program running through August 31, 2028. After that date, any applicable warranty coverage will apply. The program noted that the repair must be completed at an authorized EV dealer by a technician who has completed the applicable technical training, so it would be wise for owners to confirm that their chosen dealership is EV-certified before scheduling an appointment.
While only MY2025 and MY2026 Optiqs are involved in this program, the 2027 model is already available to order. Serving as the brand’s entry-level EV, the Optiq starts at $50,900, before destination charges, and can go up to around $89,000 for the performance-oriented Optiq-V loaded with options.
Cole Attisha
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