GM has a habit of fixing a software bug and later finding the bug had a sibling. The newest example affects the brakes on its quickest EVs, and it comes about two years after a recall that was meant to deal with almost the same problem.
GM’s Part 573 filing recalls 67,380 vehicles. It says the brake system control module (BSCM) “contains a software defect that may cause a temporary loss of braking at low speeds.” The vehicles covered are certain 2023–2027 Cadillac LYRIQ, 2024–2027 Chevrolet Blazer EV, 2025–2026 Cadillac CELESTIQ, and 2026–2027 Cadillac VISTIQ models. static.nhtsa.gov
When it happens
The conditions are specific, but anyone who parks at home will recognize them. GM says the problem can occur “When the brakes are lightly applied at low speeds during a sharp turn and the vehicle encounters a bump or depression,” and gives the example of a bump “at the end of a driveway.” static.nhtsa.gov
The cause is the brake software misreading what the wheels are doing. “The software slip calculation may not always correctly interpret wheel movement”. In that situation, a brief release and reapplication of the brakes can make the software misjudge wheel movement. Braking may then be temporarily lost, and normal braking returns when the brakes are applied again. static.nhtsa.gov
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Here’s what’s going on, as best we can tell. Anti-lock and stability systems compare the speed of each wheel to work out whether a tire is slipping. In a tight, slow turn the inside and outside wheels already turn at different speeds. Add a driveway lip that briefly unloads one tire, and the numbers can look like a wheel locking up. The software then does what it was designed to do and releases brake pressure. The trouble is that no wheel was actually locking. With a light foot on the pedal and a garage wall a few feet away, that brief release is enough to cause a crash.
Why the 2024 fix didn’t cover it
GM has dealt with this before. NHTSA’s record for recall 24V589 shows GM recalled certain 2023-2024 Cadillac LYRIQ all-wheel-drive vehicles because the anti-lock brake system (ABS) can activate unexpectedly and release brake pressure. That covered about 21,469 vehicles, and the fix was a software update.
GM’s chronology shows how the new problem came to light. On April 10, 2026, a GM technical expert submitted a report to GM’s Speak Up for Safety (SUFS) program after reviewing a low-speed incident in which a 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ struck a garage. That Lyriq already had software improvements from the earlier remedy. GM later confirmed the crash involved conditions “associated with certain pAWD implementations that were not addressed by the remedy” from 2024.
In other words, the 2024 update fixed the scenario GM’s engineers had reproduced, but not every variation of it. That’s the hard part of fixing software problems: you can only test for the conditions you think of. It’s also notable that this was caught by GM’s own internal reporting program, not by a regulator.
The complaint record isn’t trivial either. GM found 24 field complaints potentially related to the condition. These included 20 minor accidents, two of which alleged minor injuries. GM opened its investigation on August 18, 2026, and its safety committee decided on a recall on October 22, 2026.
Which vehicles are covered
The headline number makes this sound broader than it is. For the Lyriq, only vehicles with pAWD (RPO X0E) are involved. For the Blazer EV, the dual-motor setup is limited to two versions: “This configuration is only available for the SS and PPV trim levels.” PPV is the police version, so some police departments have their own recall work to schedule. static.nhtsa.gov
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The Lyriq accounts for most of the total. The model subtotals are: LYRIQ 44,585; Blazer EV 3,911; CELESTIQ 82; VISTIQ 18,802. If you own one of the 82 hand-built Celestiqs, which cost well into six figures, you’re getting the same software fix as everyone else. static.nhtsa.gov
The fix
No parts are needed. GM will update the BSCM software, which “corrects the slip calculation.” Owners who have accepted GM’s connected-services terms can accept the update remotely without visiting a dealer, or have a dealer install it. Letters are expected to be mailed December 14, 2026. Lyriqs that were already fixed under 24V589 are included in this recall, and will be closed under 24V589 because the BSCM software update addresses both conditions.
Production cars already have the fix. For example, the corrected Lyriq software went in for 2026 model year production, starting September 7, 2026. static.nhtsa.gov
What owners should do
- Don’t wait for the letter. Check your VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup now. If your car can get updates over the air, look for the update in the vehicle’s software menu instead of waiting for December.
- Change how you park. Until your car is updated, take steep, curved driveway entries slowly and brake firmly rather than lightly. GM says normal braking returns when you press the pedal again, so if the car feels like it’s rolling on, press again firmly.
- Insurance and documentation. If you’ve had an unexplained low-speed bump while pulling into a garage or driveway, write down the date and the conditions and report it to NHTSA. An open recall doesn’t cancel your insurance, but a documented defect matters if you later need to make a claim or argue about who was at fault.
- Buying used. Get proof that the update has been installed. A pAWD Lyriq that was updated in 2024 still needs this newer software.
Images Via: Wikipedia