The passenger occupancy sensor has failed on my 2016 ELR after 14k miles. The part is no longer available (23504893). I've inquired with General Motors and they said they could not help me. This seems to be a 1year only part used only on the Cadillac ELR. I believe this is an integral part of the Air Bag safety system in my vehicle and that the passenger seat is no longer safe for passengers.
The worst 2016 Cadillac Elr problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags4
- Seats1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags4
- Seats1
Trouble codes owners of the 2016 Cadillac Elr mention
U0170 2
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Cadillac Elr 1,052
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- Unknown or other
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and...
- Unknown or other
- This PI communicates a procedure to clean oil leaking from the rain sensor.
What 2016 Cadillac Elr owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Initial repair of the vehicle was initiated on 9/12/25 due to a dashboard warning message indicating an air bag system fault. The Cadillac dealership was unable to complete the repair during the initial service visit. The vehicle was returned to the dealership in October 2025 and has remained there since that time. The dealership has confirmed that the Air Bag Front Passenger Sensor Kit (Part #23504893) failed following repair of the driver side air bag module. As a result of this failure, the passenger side air bag sensor does not function as designed. This condition creates a significant safety risk, as any passenger seated in the front passenger seat would be at increased risk of serious injury or death in the event of a collision. The issue has been inspected and confirmed by the authorized Cadillac dealership. I have been advised that this part is no longer manufactured by Cadillac and is unavailable for replacement, rending the vehicle unsafe to operate. I am the original and sole owner of the vehicle; whish has fewer than 50,000 miles. Based on the vehicle's age, mileage, and maintenance history, I reasonably expected many additional years of safe operation. Due to the confirmed air bag system failure and lack of available replacement parts, the vehicle cannot be safely driven and represents a major safety defect.
Vehicle is producing a "Service Airbag" warning message and red airbag light on the instrument cluster at each start. The problem code 'U0170' is found which correlates to 'Lost Communication With Passenger Presence Module'. The dealer advised that the part is discontinued and no longer available. The needed Part Number is: 23504892 which is a single year, single model only part. I checked with numerous aftermarket sources as well as salvage yards for an alternative to the GM part, but no luck. It appears the part does not exist in the marketplace. The dealership, and Cadillac Customer Service, were unable to provide a path forward. I am left no alternative but to operate the vehicle without the passenger side airbag and any other airbags that may be tied to the inability of the car to detect the presence of a passenger in the seat, as well as an annoying error and light every time I start the car.
An 'amber' airbag malfunction light has illuminated on the instrument panel. The airbag light has since turned 'red'. It is 'red' to this date. The manufacturers guide advises to take the vehicle to the dealer. The authorized Cadillac dealer in our town troubleshot the problem to code 'U0170', 'Lost Communication With Passenger Presence Module'. The dealer advised that the part is no longer available. The needed Part Number is: 23504893. I checked with numerous aftermarket sources for an alternative to the GM part, but no luck. It appears the part does not exist in the marketplace. The dealership, and Cadillac Customer Service, were unable to provide a path forward. To assure my families' safety, it appears I have no alternative but to scrap this otherwise very fine eight year old Cadillac. I have documentation from my local Cadillac Dealership, as well as my communication with Cadillac Customer Service, and can provide it if needed.
Compare the 2016 Cadillac Elr
Other model years
20142016
Questions about the 2016 Cadillac Elr
Is the 2016 Cadillac Elr reliable?
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2016 Cadillac Elr, fewer than a typical Elr model year.
What is the 2016 Cadillac Elr year score?
The 2016 Cadillac Elr scores 92 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Cadillac Elr: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Cadillac Elr?
Airbags, with 4 complaints. Next is seats (1).
How many recalls does the 2016 Cadillac Elr have?
No recalls on record.
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