Reliability
Cadillac XT5 and XT6 Radiator Tab Fix Excludes Radiators Already Leaking
GM's October 16 update to its 2023-2025 XT5 and XT6 radiator campaign says a radiator that already leaks is not replaced under it. Getting the free tab fix done early matters.
GM has revised its service campaign for radiator coolant leaks on the 2023-2025 Cadillac XT5 and XT6, and the update draws a line that owners should know about. The fourth version of service update N262570770, dated October 16, 2026, adds a warranty entry for vehicles whose radiator is already leaking when they arrive at the dealer. For those cars, the bulletin says, a new radiator has to be handled separately and is not covered by this campaign.
The problem and the fix
GM says small thermal break tabs on the radiator can put it under stress and eventually cause a coolant leak. The campaign covers 2023-2025 XT5 and XT6 models, plus the 2024-2025 Chevrolet Blazer. The cure is quick and needs no parts: a technician uses side cutters to snip four tabs on the left and right sides of the radiator, relieving the stress before a leak can start.
On the Cadillacs, reaching the tabs takes more effort than on the Chevrolet. The technician loosens the front wheelhouse liners, the front wheel opening moldings and the top of the front fascia, though the wheels stay on. GM revised the bulletin twice in September to settle the procedure and the labor time, landing on 0.7 hour for the XT5 and XT6 against 0.3 hour for the Blazer.
The October 16 update adds two warranty labor operations. One is for vehicles where the tabs have already been cut and nothing more is needed. The other is for vehicles with a radiator that is already leaking, where replacement falls outside the bulletin.
How a service update works
This is not a safety recall, and owners will not receive a letter asking them to bring the car in. GM classes it as a service update: dealers look for it whenever an affected vehicle visits for any reason, and GM's original notice says the aim is to spare owners a special trip. The campaign stays open until September 30, 2028.
Dealers must also finish the work before releasing any affected vehicle in their stock. That includes new, used and Certified Pre-Owned units, and CPO vehicles are temporarily de-certified until the repair is logged.
Owner brief
What it means for owners
- Who is affected: owners of 2023-2025 XT5 and XT6 SUVs. Not every vehicle from those years is included, so the dealer has to confirm eligibility by VIN in GM's warranty system.
- Next visit: ask the service advisor whether N262570770 is open on your VIN and have it done at your next oil change or tire rotation. The job takes well under an hour and costs nothing.
- If there is already a leak: this campaign will not pay for a new radiator. If the vehicle is still inside Cadillac's four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a radiator leak would normally be repaired under that coverage. Depending on in-service date and mileage, some early 2023 models may already be past it, which is a good reason not to put off the tab fix.
- Warning signs: a low coolant message, drips under the front of the vehicle, a sweet smell after driving, or a temperature gauge reading higher than usual. If the engine overheats, pull over and stop rather than keep driving.
- Buying used: an affected XT5 or XT6 sold by a GM dealer should already have the fix. From a private seller, have a Cadillac dealer check the VIN, and look up open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Dashbird tipAfter the tab fix, keep an eye on coolant temperature in the live gauges in Dashbird for a few weeks; a reading that climbs above your usual is a cue to check the coolant level before it turns into overheating.
