The driver of a 2024 Cadillac Lyriq claims the infotainment screen cracked after being in the Nevada sun for too long.
TikToker user @blackpocahontas36 posted an image of the damage with the caption, “When it’s so hot your car screen cracks while on vacation.” It has garnered over 10,000 views.
The photo shows the Lyric’s in-dash display—which depicts a map of Las Vegas and an outdoor temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit—bifurcated by a large vertical crack. A description under the photo says temperatures reached 109.
Cadillac Heat Crack Causes
It turns out that @blackpocahontas36 isn’t the only Caddy driver who’s claimed that sweltering temperatures have caused damage to their screens. This Reddit user posted to the site’s r/cadillac sub about a similar issue, though the photo appears to show a different model and infotainment system than the Lyriq’s, and the damage consists of several small bubbles instead of a large crack. The temperature displayed on the screen is significantly lower than the Lyriq’s, too, at 92.
Commenters replied that this was a “common” issue for Cadillac’s CUE touchscreens. One who appears to work at a Cadillac dealership explained how their team typically goes about rectifying screen damage issues. “Yeah it’s common. At the dealer we replace the whole CUE assembly. You can buy the parts and fix just screen yourself though,” they wrote.
Another asked if sustained air conditioning usage is somehow warping the plastic on CUE screens. This jarring shift between two temperatures isn’t enough for the materials to withstand, causing them to break. “Super common. Do you use your ac a lot? I wonder if it’s from cold air hardening the plastic,” they asked.
Another Reddit user said it doesn’t have to do with the screens themselves but another material GM utilizes to manufacture the infotainment displays. “It’s a flaw in the gel that is used in the middle of the screen between the display and the touch element. It dries out over time,” they said. “It’s not related to temperature and those are not cracks. But it will happen to every CUE screen eventually.”
GM Has Been Sued Over Screen Cracks
General Motors has been accused of allowing vehicles to roll off the assembly line with screen manufacturing defects. GMAuthority reported that the automaker has been served with at least two class-action lawsuits “over issues related to the Cadillac CUE infotainment screens.”
The outlet wrote in 2019 that the suits are directed against cars “like the Cadillac CTS and ATS.” The piece showcased another example of a cracked CUE screen, which sported a “spider web” aesthetic as a result of the alleged defect.
In a 2024 post on the Cadillac Forums, a user described their own CUE system damage as a spiderweb pattern. Like others, the poster said the cracks appear to have occurred entirely on their own. They said, “There is no impact mark or signs of excessive pressure, the outside surface is totally smooth. We are in New Orleans and it was about 95 outside when I picked up the car. So the only thing I can think of is the extreme heat caused it to break from the inside.”
New Display, Same Problems?
While the damage to @blackpocahontas36’s screen differs greatly from the aforementioned examples of ICE Cadillac cars, it seems other Lyriq owners also have display gripes, too. In a Reddit post shared to the r/CadillacLyriq sub, a user on the site shared a photo of a “screen crack from the inside” of their Lyriq’s infotainment display. Like @blackpocahontas36, they mentioned that their car is also a 2024 model, and they also attributed the crack to extreme heat, commenting that they reside in Southern California.
Cadillac’s screen woes aren’t just restricted to physical damage. Driving reported in June that the luxury brand recalled 41,376 of the 2023 and 2024 model Lyriqs in the United States for a recurring infotainment display problem that renders the unit unusable. The outlet stated that affected full-electric models’ screens go entirely blank, leaving drivers without crucial functionality and information. The speedometer, battery percentage, and rearview camera imagery are all affected by this flaw.
GM investigated the issue after receiving more than 1,200 complaints from drivers. The brand stated that this issue was tied to cars that weren’t running the most up-to-date software. Consequently, the massive displays are prone to shutting off completely.
BroBible has reached out to @blackpocahontas36 via TikTok comment for further information.