Home › Guides › Cadillac › AIR Bags
Cadillac airbag recalls: which models may not deploy correctly?
These four campaigns cluster in two places. On the sedans, the 2020-2022 CT4 and CT5 roof-rail side-curtain airbags may not have been installed correctly, which could produce an improper deployment in a crash. On the SUVs, the 2020 XT5 and XT6 fall under a GM-wide recall in which the roof-rail airbag inflator's diffuser was not properly crimped, and the 2024 XT5's driver front airbag cushion can tear as it deploys. The fourth is not a deployment fault: 2021 CT4, CT5, Escalade and Escalade ESV share a gateway module software error that can leave the airbag warning light off when a fault exists. Roof-rail airbags are the recurring theme, and CT4, CT5 and XT5 each appear twice.
Warning signs to watch for
- No visible or audible warning in most cases — the defect only shows up in a crash.
- On the 2024 XT5, the cushion tears during deployment, so nothing can be detected in advance.
- On 2021 CT4, CT5, Escalade and Escalade ESV, the airbag warning light may fail to illuminate when there is a problem.
- The vehicle drives normally throughout; none of the notices describes a change you would feel.
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of the four notices tells you to stop driving or to park outside, and GM places no restriction on driving in any of them. Still, the two rated most serious — the 2020-2022 CT4 and CT5 curtain airbag installation and the 2024 XT5 driver airbag cushion — involve airbags that may not protect you as designed, and neither gives warning beforehand, so book them promptly. The 2020 XT5 and XT6 inflator recall and the 2021 warning-light update are less pressing but should still be completed.
What the free repair involves
Repairs differ by defect. On 2020-2022 CT4 and CT5, dealers inspect both left and right roof-rail airbags and reinstall them as necessary. On the 2024 XT5 they replace the driver's front airbag module. On the 2020 XT5 and XT6 they replace the suspect roof-rail airbag modules. The 2021 warning-light recall is a gateway module software update, done at a dealer or over the air. All free.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 2 |
| medium | 2 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-02 | Cadillac XT5 driver airbag may tear when deploying | high |
| 2021-08-05 | Cadillac CT4 and CT5 side curtain airbags possibly misinstalled | high |
| 2021-06-10 | GM SUVs and cars: airbag warning light may not work | medium |
| 2020-07-30 | GM Trucks and SUVs May Have Weak Roof Airbags | medium |
Common questions
Does my CT4 or CT5 need parts, or just an inspection?
Dealers inspect both the left and right roof-rail air bags and reinstall them only as necessary, so some cars need no parts at all. Either way the visit costs nothing, and 2020 through 2022 model years are covered.
Can I tell whether my 2024 XT5 has the faulty airbag?
No. The driver's front air bag cushion tears only during deployment, so there is nothing to see, hear or feel while driving. Check your VIN against the recall; the remedy is a new driver's front air bag module.
My Escalade is under the warning-light recall. Is that really a safety issue?
Indirectly, yes. The communications gateway module mishandles a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module, so the airbag light may not warn you of a genuine fault. The car drives normally and the software update can come over the air.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.