Inside display dims inappropriately, even in daylight making it impossible to see navigation. Hazard when trying to drive on road. Could cause accident. Needs option to manually brighten/dim. Auto dim feature in this vehicle is terrible.
2024 Cadillac Lyriq lighting problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2024 Cadillac Lyriq has multiple documented lighting failures that affect night driving safety and daytime usability. Headlights drift out of aim during operation requiring repeated power cycles, the instrument display is dangerously dim even when set to maximum brightness, and failures of brake lights and backup systems are known issues that dealers acknowledge but cannot repair.
The 2024 Lyriq exhibits a pattern of lighting system failures reported across 17 complaints. The most prominent issue is headlight vertical drift—the self-leveling system fails to keep both headlights aimed correctly during driving. Owners report the right headlight drooping toward the pavement (illuminating only 1 car length ahead) while the left drifts upward, creating unintended high-beam glare on oncoming traffic. This drift cycle repeats every 10-30 minutes of driving and only resets by power-cycling the vehicle. Multiple owners say dealers cannot reproduce the problem, and GM has acknowledged it is a known issue without a current fix.
Dashboard and instrument cluster brightness poses a separate safety problem. Owners report the display is too dim to read navigation, instrument gauges, and controls, particularly at dusk/dawn or in low light. The manual brightness control has no effect even when set to maximum; an automatic dimming sensor overrides it. Dealers confirm this is a widely reported complaint that meets GM specifications but offer no solution.
Additional lighting failures include intermittent rear brake light and taillight outages, inadequate backup light illumination, and backup camera blackouts when reversing. One owner reported headlights failing completely on one or both sides despite three headlight replacements and multiple lighting module replacements.
Failure modes owners describe
Headlight vertical drift (self-leveling malfunction)
Adaptive headlights fail to maintain proper aim during driving. Right headlight drifts downward toward pavement while left drifts upward, or headlights droop together. Owners report the right beam illuminates only 1 car length ahead while the left beam points toward overhead signs or overhead, creating high-beam-like glare on oncoming traffic despite high beams being off. Problem develops 10-30 minutes into driving and repeats cyclically. Power cycling (vehicle off/on) temporarily restores correct aim for another 10-30 minutes before drift recurs.
When: 10-30 minutes into driving; occurs during night driving
Symptoms owners cite: Right headlight drifts down toward pavement; Left headlight drifts upward toward signs/overhead; Severely reduced forward visibility (1 car length or less); Unintended high-beam-like glare on oncoming traffic; Reduced illumination throw despite high beams off; Cyclic behavior after power cycling
Repairs/costs cited: No warning messages or codes displayed in vehicle. Multiple headlight replacements and lighting module replacements have not resolved the issue in at least one case. Dealers unable to reproduce while vehicle in their possession.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states unable to reproduce issue. GM acknowledged it is a known issue with no current solution.
Dashboard/instrument display insufficient brightness
Instrument cluster and display screen are too dim to read safely, especially during dusk/dawn and low ambient lighting conditions (such as coming out of a garage into overcast conditions). The automatic dimming sensor overrides the manual brightness rheostat, preventing drivers from raising display brightness to safe levels even when the rheostat is set to maximum. Owners report the display prematurely dims at dusk/dawn even when set to maximum brightness.
When: Dusk/dawn conditions; low ambient light (e.g., exiting garage into overcast light); occurs from vehicle pickup
Symptoms owners cite: Display too dim to read navigation or controls; Difficulty viewing instrument cluster; Unable to adjust drive mode (e.g., snow/ice); Manual brightness control insufficient even at maximum setting; Auto-dimming sensor overrides manual brightness setting; Safety hazard requiring extended eyes-off-road time to adjust controls
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer service calls made; GM confirmed display meets specification. No adjustment available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Customer Assistance case filed; dealer made TAC call to GM; GM confirmed display brightness meets specifications. Dealers acknowledge this is a widely reported complaint but state nothing can be done.
Backup light inadequacy
Backup lights provide insufficient illumination for safe reversing. Only 10 feet of area behind the vehicle is visible using backup lights alone. Problem persists whether using rear window/mirrors or backup camera for navigation.
When: Reverse gear operation at night
Symptoms owners cite: Inadequate illumination of area behind vehicle; Only ~10 feet of backward visibility; Safety hazard when reversing at night
Intermittent taillight/brake light failure
Right rear taillight and brake light fail to illuminate intermittently. Light operates normally sometimes, then randomly stops working, creating a pattern of erratic operation. Affects compliance with state brake light laws and creates safety hazard during lane changes or braking.
When: Intermittent; occurs during night driving and lane changes
Symptoms owners cite: Right rear taillight fails intermittently; Right rear brake light fails intermittently; Erratic on/off cycling; Non-compliance with state taillight/brake light requirements; Safety hazard during lane changes and night driving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Cadillac acknowledges this is a known defect on multiple Lyriqs.
Backup camera dysfunction
Backup camera displays black screen with lines when vehicle is in reverse, making it impossible to use for safe backing. Camera is non-functional despite vehicle being equipped with it.
When: When shifting into reverse
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera displays black screen with lines; Unable to see behind vehicle using camera; Safety hazard; almost struck pedestrian
Headlight loss or dimming during operation
Headlights fail completely on one or both sides of the car, or dim and wash out, reducing ability to see road ahead. Problem occurs often on two-lane roads with curves where judging distance to oncoming traffic is critical. Headlights have been replaced three times and lighting module replaced more than once without resolving the issue. Vehicle is unusable after dark.
When: During night driving; occurs intermittently
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of headlights on one or both sides; Erratic headlight operation; Headlights dim and wash out; Reduced ability to see road ahead; Vehicle unsafe to operate after dark
Repairs/costs cited: Headlights replaced 3 times; lighting module replaced more than once; issue persists
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
The bigger issue is the car will prematurely dim the display and dusk/dawn - making it very hard to see at those times - even with max dimmer setting. Took it to the dealer multiple times they say it’s working as expected but it’s a known issue for all lyriq owners that GM ignores
The instrument cluster display is too dim to see, making it unsafe to drive
Lyriq display not bright enough prematurely dim the display and dusk/dawn - making it very hard to see at those times - even with max dimmer setting
Unable to get display lighting bright enough to adequately read instrumentation when coming out of garage into low atmospheric lighting. Have instrument display lighting rheostat turned up to maximum but sensors don't allow the display to brighten. The vehicle lighting sensor is not blocked. The rheostat should be able to turn the display to full bright, but isn't designed that way. Definitely a…
During dusk/dawn exterior lighting conditions, the informant screen is too dim to use. i.e. can't change drive mode to snow/ice, or locate any other controls.
Rear right light not working, then works, then it randomly stops working, complained to Cadillac but they keep saying nothing is wrong. I feel unsafe so to my light constantly going off especially dangerous driving at night or changing lanes on the road.
Had lighting trouble with your 2024 Cadillac Lyriq?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2024/Cadillac/Lyriq.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.