A family's Cadillac Lyriq EV locked with an infant inside due to a faulty 12-volt battery, leading to a frantic rescue attempt. The investigation revealed electrical issues and a lack of clear solutions from the manufacturer. This report details the incident, the family's experience, and the manufacturer's response, raising concerns about vehicle safety.
7 On Your Side investigated a concerning safety incident involving a Cadillac Lyriq EV, where a young infant was trapped inside the vehicle. The ordeal left the parents scrambling to rescue their baby. The incident occurred on January 4th, as Lacey Gunn was en route to Sunday service with her two daughters. The family was using the grandparents' Cadillac, a car they frequently used to transport the children.
Upon arriving at the vehicle, the mother discovered the car was locked, with the door handles seemingly inactive. Despite attempting to unlock the car using both the remote keyless entry via the key fob and the Cadillac mobile app, she was unable to gain access. The situation quickly escalated as the baby, strapped in the car seat, began to cry, becoming increasingly distressed due to the cold winter morning and the duration of being alone in the vehicle. The parents then attempted to use the OnStar feature, a safety and security service available to General Motors vehicle owners, but this failed as well. The OnStar service did attempt a remote unlock, but was unsuccessful due to the vehicle's battery condition. The family then sought solutions from the company, but were left with no immediate solution, which caused a long wait time that deeply worried the family.\After failed attempts to unlock the car, the family, in a state of panic, resorted to breaking open the key fob to access the hidden mechanical key. They were able to release the baby from the car through the rear hatch. The baby had been trapped for 27 minutes. A subsequent service receipt revealed that the car's 12-volt battery was faulty and required replacement. An OnStar diagnostic report also highlighted electrical issues, with a technician explaining that the battery failure caused the electrical system to shut down and lock the doors. The family says they found no emergency feature to open the car or turn on the fully electric car when such a thing happens, and were grateful the weather conditions were mild instead of extreme heat. The family then decided to file a formal complaint to corporate Cadillac and inquired about what caused the battery issue and what the company would do to prevent a recurrence. However, the family was disappointed with the lack of clarity they received from the company about the underlying cause of the incident. Further adding to their frustration, the family was initially billed by the dealership for replacing the key fob. The family pleaded and explained that the key fob broke while trying to save the granddaughter.\7 On Your Side contacted the Cadillac dealership and General Motors for comment. The company responded by stating that safety is a priority, and all GM vehicles, including those with electronic door openers, have physical key access through the door or rear hatch. They also stated the 2024 Lyriq has access via the rear hatch, as detailed in the owner's manual. The dealership later agreed to refund the cost of the key fob replacement and rental car gas. The investigation also revealed that other drivers have reported issues with the Lyriq's 12-volt battery on an online Cadillac forum, some with the 2026 model. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq was not subject to any 12-volt battery-specific recalls. For the family, the incident remains a significant concern, especially given that they were only halfway through their two-year lease on the vehicle
Cadillac Lyriq Electric Vehicle Battery Failure Vehicle Lockout Child Safety
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