GM Canada Recalls Cadillac CTS for Passenger Air Bag Issue

General Motors of Canada is recalling about 6,668 Cadillac CTS models from the 2005-2007 model years because of a kink, bend or fold in the front passenger presence system mat that can lead to the passenger air bag failing to deploy.

If the airbag becomes disabled, the passenger airbag status indicator on the rearview mirror will show that the airbag is off, the Air Bag indicator will be illuminated, and a Service Air Bag message will appear in the Driver Information Center. In the event of a crash severe enough to activate the front passenger airbag, if the passenger airbag does not deploy, it could result in increased injury for the occupant.
There are no known injuries or fatalities related to this condition.

The passenger presence system in affected vehicles may have been built with a sensor mat that can kink, bend, or fold while the seat is in use. This flexing can cause the traces in the mat to fatigue and fracture, causing loss of continuity in the trace that would tell the airbag to deploy.

Dealers will replace the passenger presence system sensor mat and seat cushion in affected vehicles at no charge to the customer. Owner letters are expected to begin mailing in February 2011. Owners of certain other 2005-2007 vehicles that have significantly lower incident rates will be provided free repairs for the issue for up to 10 years or 192,000 kilometres.

The type of Passenger Presence System was changed with the 2008 CTS model. No other GM models have the same system that used in the 2005-2007 Cadillac CTS.