Buyer Research

2023 Cadillac Lyriq — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $45,000–$58,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

Cadillac's genuinely impressive first modern EV — the Lyriq offers a stunning, tech-forward cabin, a smooth quiet ride, 300+ miles of range, and fast charging on GM's Ultium platform. It's a strong luxury-EV effort. As an early-production Ultium vehicle, verify software updates and any early-build issues. A well-kept Lyriq with updates done and a healthy battery is a handsome, comfortable luxury EV; verify battery health, software, and charging.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 24 owner complaints for the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, across 7 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 42% of them are about one thing — the lights. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.

7 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: the driver-assist and automatic braking systems (5 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.

Looked at and set aside: the lights (10) — 10 lighting complaints on file; real, but usually a bulb or a housing rather than a reason to walk.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Early Ultium production / softwareMedium

Early Lyriqs (and Ultium vehicles) had some software and early-build quirks; verify updates/recalls and that all systems work.

Repair cost (estimate): $0-$1,000

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (6); 7 NHTSA recall campaigns on this model year.

Complex tech / big screenLow

Verify the large curved display and tech features all function.

Repair cost (estimate): $100-$1,000

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (6).

Tire wear (heavy)Low

Heavy luxury EV wears tires; budget accordingly.

Repair cost (estimate): $700-$1,400

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Un-updated software / early bugs
✗Battery/range concerns
✗Salvage title
✗No warranty remaining

Good Signs

✓Updates/recalls done, tech working
✓Healthy battery, remaining warranty

Found a specific Cadillac Lyriq?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.