2021-2022 Cadillac CT4 Curtain Air Bag Recall (21V611)
General Motors, LLC · 34,157 vehicles · Reported August 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC is recalling 34,157 2021-2022 Cadillac CT4; 2021-2022 Cadillac CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash. Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V611 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V611000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N212342780 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 5, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Cadillac CT4; 2021-2022 Cadillac CT5 |
| Units affected | 34,157 |
| Component | Air Bags > Side / Window > Curtain |
| Safety risk | Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Cadillac CT4 in recall 21V611?
The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 CT4 with recall 21V611?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the curtain.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V611?
Recall 21V611 covers 34,157 vehicles: 2021-2022 Cadillac CT4; 2021-2022 Cadillac CT5.
NHTSA lists 34,157 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Cadillac | CT4 |
| 2021-2022 | Cadillac | CT5 |
What is the fix for the CT4 curtain air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212342780.
When was recall 21V611 announced?
General Motors, LLC reported recall 21V611 to NHTSA on August 5, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 5, 2021 | General Motors, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V611000. |
| August 30, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 62 months ago. If your CT4 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my CT4 is part of recall 21V611?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V611 is open on your CT4, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V611000 is open on your CT4, it will be listed there, along with Cadillac recall number N212342780. You can also ask any Cadillac dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should CT4 owners do about recall 21V611?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V611000 applies to your CT4.
- Call a Cadillac dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any curtain symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are CT4 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 5 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 21V611 was reported on August 5, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after August 5, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 53 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 5 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Cadillac CT5: 29 complaints in total, 2 about the air bags
- 2022 Cadillac CT5: 11 complaints in total, 2 about the air bags
- 2021 Cadillac CT4: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2022 Cadillac CT4: 6 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
My 2025 Cadillac CT5 was stationary at a red light behind a red truck when a black truck traveling in the opposite direction struck the truck head-on. The red truck was pushed backward into the front of my CT5 with enough force to cause major front-end damage. Despite this, no airbags deployed.
2021 Cadillac CT5 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11676354, filed July 26, 2025
There was no indication that the Automatic Braking System, Air Bags and Seatbelts were not working properly. In August 12, 2021, I was in an auto accident where I rear-ended another dodge car. The air bags did not deploy and Onstar was not notified. I believe I hit the steering wheel.
2021 Cadillac CT5 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11430956, filed August 29, 2021
Sept 4 2024 my husband was involved in a motor vehicle accident involving a gravel hauler that hit him twice once in the rear then in drivers side that cause my husband to spin out of control hitting another vehicle none of the airbags deployed My husband should have been killed or severely injured by…
2022 Cadillac CT4 owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11613882, filed September 10, 2024
Can recall 21V611 make my CT4 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this curtain recall means their CT4 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the CT4 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your CT4 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Cadillac CT4 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V611
Did the recall 21V611 fix work?
Since recall 21V611 was reported on August 5, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V611000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my CT4 is part of recall 21V611000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V611000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Cadillac. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.