GM Recalls 14,500 Vistiq SUVs, Says Third-Row Folding Seat Could Trap Small Child

The company was aware of six incidents or complaints associated with the power-folding seats, though no injuries were reported.

The GM logo is displayed at the new location of the General Motors Headquarters in Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 12, 2026. Rebecca Cook/Reuters

General Motors announced it was recalling 14,540 Cadillac Vistiq mid-size sport utility vehicles (SUVs) because the third-row seat could automatically close and trap smaller passengers.

The recall was posted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) website and announced on the NHTSA’s X page on July 2. GM said it was recalling 13,629 of its 2026 Vistiq all-electric SUVs and 911 of its 2027 models after learning that the power-folding third-row rear seat could be activated and may not reverse operation if a child or infant were still in the seat.

“The third-row seatbacks in these vehicles can be commanded to power fold into the stowed position with a single press-and-release of the ‘down’ control button located in the cargo area or on the pillar adjacent to the seat,” the recall notice states.

“The seatback stops and does not automatically reverse if it encounters an obstruction in the seat.”

GM said that on March 31, one of its engineers submitted a Speak Up For Safety report after evaluating the operation of a third-row seat on a 2206 Cadillac Vistiq. The report prompted a wider evaluation of the seats to determine how they functioned when contacting an occupant or object during the power-folding operation.

GM said that tests showed the power seats continued to fold after encountering a 33- to 40-pound box that was placed on the seat. The folding operation stopped in a position that prevented the box from being removed without first manually reversing the seat back.

GM said in the recall notice that it was aware of six incidents or complaints associated with the power-folding seats, though no injuries were reported.

The incident follows a similar problem with power-folding seats in Hyundai Palisades. In March, Hyundai halted sales and announced a recall of its Palisade SUV after a 2-year-old girl in Akron, Ohio, died after being trapped by a power-folding rear seat.

The Hyundai recall involved 69,060 vehicles, including 61,093 made in the United States and 7,967 made in Canada. Hyundai announced a software update and offered owners free rental vehicles while it worked on a permanent solution.

GM said its dealers would replace the folding third-row seat module, which was made by Chinese state-owned SAIC Motor Corporation Limited’s Yanfeng Seating in Nuevo León, Mexico. However, replacement parts are currently unavailable. While customers in the recall population wait for replacement modules, GM dealers will disable the power-stow feature if desired. Any vehicles still in dealer inventory will have the power folding rear seats disabled until the solution becomes available, the NHTSA report stated.

Recall notices for Vistiq owners will be mailed on Aug. 3, GM said. Cadillac owners can search the NHTSA’s recall portal to determine whether their vehicles are part of the recall. Owners can also contact Cadillac’s customer service line at 800-333-1200 and reference internal manufacturer recall number N262555780.