GM is recalling nearly 23,000 Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models due to a defect where the tire tread could fall off.

GM is recalling more Chevy Equinox EV models

In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GM said it has decided to issue a safety recall for certain Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models from model years 2025 to 2026.

This time, it isn’t necessarily GM’s fault. The vehicles may be equipped with 21″ all-season tires that Continental Tire is recalling.

According to Continental, the tires were produced during the week of October 6, 2024, and may have a defect where the tire tread could partially or fully detach. The records show the defect is due to a nonconforming tread base rubber compound.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Owners of affected vehicles may notice unusual tread wear or bulging, vibration while driving, or tire noises. GM is unaware of any incidents related to the defect, but is issuing the recall out of an abundance of caution.

On September 18, 2025, GM inspected the assembly plant and confirmed there were no suspect tires in stock. The 21″ tires come standard on RS trims and are optional on LT1 and LT2 grades.

Although GM is recalling 22,914 Chevy Equinox EVs and Cadillac Optiqs, it estimates that only about 1% of them have the defect.

The recall includes:

• 2026 Cadillac Optiq: 214
• 2026 Chevy Equinox EV: 1,832
• 2025 Cadillac Optiq: 3,468
• 2025 Chevy Equinox EV: 17,400

GM dealers will check all four tires and replace them if needed, free of charge. Dealers were notified on October 16. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on December 1, 2025.

You can contact Chevrolet’s customer service number at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac’s at 1-800-333-4223. GM’s recall number is N252525030. Owners can also call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.

The Chevy Equinox EV is now the third best-selling EV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s entry-level Optiq SUV is the fifth-most-popular luxury EV. The recall is minor and only affects a small percentage of models, so it’s not expected to have a major impact.

If you want to test one of them for yourself, we can help you get started. Check out our links below to find available Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models near you.

Some Tesla Cybertruck owners thought they were victims of vandalism, but it turned out that it was just a factory defect.

Earlier this year, amid Elon Musk’s controversial involvement in politics, there was a noticeable surge in vandalism against Tesla vehicles, particularly Cybertrucks.

Therefore, it’s not too surprising to see some owners worried that they were victims of vandalism when strange inscriptions appeared on their electric trucks.

Earlier this week, a Tesla Cybertruck owner posted on a Cybertruck Facebook group:

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Any ideas how to remove a hydrochromic paint? Some person vandalized my truck. It only appears when wet.

The owner shared images of what he believed was invisible ink being used to vandalize his truck:

Several other owners chimed in and confirmed that they weren’t alone with this issue.

However, it is not vandalism. It’s a problem with Tesla’s protective film at the factory.

Another Cybertruck owner, Christian Maciel, had the same issue. He brought it to the Tesla service and shared the technician’s report.

The report mentioned “other owners report different initials (‘MPS’, ‘BLT’, ‘WC’)” showing up on the B pillar when wet – confirming that it is a widespread problem.

The culprit is an imprint from the factory protective film. Tesla wrote in the report:

Technician inspected the driver-side B-pillar and verified the presence of a persistent mark (‘BVT’) that appears when wet, confirmed as residue from factory protective film. The issue was caused by residue left after the removal of the factory’s protective film. Technician replaced the left-hand B-pillar applique to address the issue. The fix was validated by ensuring the mark no longer appears when the surface is wet.

They had to fully replace the part:

Tesla Cybertruck had about a dozen safety recall since going into production two years ago.

However, there are many more non-safety defects that led Tesla to conduct large-scale service of the Cybertruck.

Hyundai and Kia are betting big on lower-priced electric vehicles, and so far, it’s paying off. With more arriving soon, the South Korean auto giant is laying the groundwork for what’s shaping up to be a strong run.

Hyundai and Kia are betting on low-cost EVs.

Since launching the EV3 in Europe in late 2024, Kia’s compact electric SUV has quickly become one of the most popular EVs in the region.

The EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK and ranked sixth in Europe in the first half of 2025. Hyundai’s Inster EV, which also arrived in late 2024, is now also gaining traction.

According to the latest figures, Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia, sold 103,476 compact EVs in Europe from January through September.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The Kia EV3 remains a hot seller, leading the surge with 55,514 units sold in the first nine months of 2025. At this pace, the EV3 is now expected to become Hyundai’s top-selling electric vehicle in Europe by the end of the year, outpacing the Kona Electric and IONIQ 5.

Hyundai sold 20,493 Inster EVs in Europe through September, right behind the Kona Electric at 21,224. With full-scale sales kicking off, the Inster EV is expected to surpass the Kona by the end of 2025.

By the end of 2025, Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia, expects to sell over 200,000 electric vehicles in Europe this year.

The Inster EV was “Germany’s best-selling electric small car” through July, according to Ulrich Mechau, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Germany.

With new mass-market electric vehicles, including the Kia EV2, EV4, EV5, and the Hyundai IONIQ 3, rolling out or set to launch in 2026, Hyundai expects to see even more demand in Europe over the next few years.

What about those in the US? Well, the low-cost Kia EV2 and Hyundai IONIQ 3 will not be offered in the States, but Kia is expected to introduce the EV3 sometime in 2026. It’s also set to launch the EV4 early next year, likely starting at around $35,000.

Meanwhile, Hyundai already offers one of the most affordable electric vehicles in the US with the IONIQ 5. After the federal tax credit expired at the end of September, Hyundai reduced prices on the 2026 IONIQ 5 by nearly $10,000 on some trims. The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 now starts at under $35,000.

The IONIQ 5 remains one of the top-selling EVs in the US, alongside the Tesla Model Y, Model 3, Chevy Equinox EV, Honda Prologue, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Want to see one for yourself? We’ve made it easy for you. You can use our links below to find Hyundai and Kia’s electric vehicles in your area.