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Pre-2016 Cadillacs Not Capable Of Being Retrofitted With 2016 MY CUE Update

Among other changes and updates, 2016 model year Cadillacs are getting a notable update to CUE (Cadillac User Experience) infotainment system. But owners of pre-2016 model year Cadillacs equipped with CUE will not be able to receive the update for their vehicles.

“These are hardware updates along with some software updates. Pre-2016 vehicles cannot be retrofitted”, Cadillac told us.

This means that those currently purchasing remaining 2014 Cadillac vehicles and current 2015 model year Cadillacs with CUE will not be able to enjoy the improvements and new features that will be part of the update, including:

  • Improved system speed and performance
  • Faster, more accurate map loading and voice command execution
  • Faster service reprogramming
  • Redesigned navigation interfaces
  • Single press mute navigation voice/cancel route
  • Expanded cities with 3D maps
  • Bluetooth Media browsing

Click the appropriate link to see the changes in store for each 2016 model year Cadillac vehicle:

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Comments

  1. GM should offer those owners something to trade up to a 2016 Cadillac…….maybe Safe and Sound and Satellite Radio for two years? Minimal cost and it shows your best customers that you care about them.

    Reply
    1. …or offer to swap out the revised hardware at the customer’s cost.

      Reply
  2. You can get Updates over the air on TV’s, Home Theater Receivers, Laptops, Tablets and Phones, but not this!!! Extremely Piss Poor Execution for a Luxury Brand who knows updates are imperative to Better the Product, DAM…… 😉

    Reply
    1. I guess you didn’t read it. HARDWARE UPDATES. Did Samsung come out and give you a new TV because their 2015 model is better than your 2014?

      Reply
      1. Dam, you Truly Missed the Point Big Time, let me say this Slow so you and the Rest of your kind(Technically Challenged) can Maybe figure out what is being said……This product did not come out 5 years ago, it came out last year, and at this point in time products do have the ability to get over the air updates, are you following me now?? So your In-conceived statement about products that didn’t have that Opportunity to have that option 5 plus years ago is Irrelevant and Short Sighted, the Engineers should have had the foresight in knowing an update was coming and been better prepared for that, try to get with the Program, cause Samsung S4 can run Lollipop just fine, but the Hardware on the S6 is Way Superior then the S4 if you can even understand that!!!!!

        Reply
        1. You just don’t get it. Software updates can only do so much if the root of the issue was a slower processor or inferior touch screen. Your analogies hold no water either as both the 2015 and 2016 will run CUE (just like the S4 and S6 running Lollipop) but the 2016 will have hardware improvements, just like the S4 vs S6 again.

          I’m not sure what about it you don’t get, but it’s clear you are not a technical person.

          There will always be advancements in technology if you want to be at the cutting edge.

          Now go petition Samsung to offer a firmware update to turn your 720p plasma into a 1080p unit with a firmware update, over the air too.

          Reply
  3. This is why consumers are so demanding for Android Auto and CarPlay. The car touchscreen should be a thin client for the smartphone – so the smartphone can easily be upgraded… at no cost to the car.

    It’s also why the auto makers are so apprehensive about Android Auto and CarPlay.

    Reply
  4. Wasn’t part of the master plan to enhance the customer experience?

    Then comes this news – oops, sorry, forget what we said about CUE updates. Want the current version?
    Come on in for a trade. Sorry about the resale value. But we have new colors! And our best products will be available in a few years.

    We probably could cover the cost, but moving to NYC is expensive, and we only have $12 billion to keep Cadillac from becoming as irrelevant as McDonald’s.

    I recently saw an SRX with the vanity plate ‘FOSSIL’. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

    Reply
  5. If Cadillac desires to have customers want CUE and buy another Cadillac then they must do something to improve CUE on older cars. I have an ELR and CUE is unacceptably slow. I can back out of my driveway and get a couple hundred feet down the road before the Nav will display a map. I can pull out my phone and select a location and start getting direction long before CUE even allows me to start selecting a destination.

    Reply
  6. As a professional who is involved in the health and safety of my community, I am furious about the notion that the 2015I (yes, I – not the standard 2015, but the latest, mid-year major “I” upgrade) that I purchased and received in December 2015 may not be capable of accepting a firmware update that has the capability of improving the safety of my family as well as others on the road. Speed, accuracy, and access to the rear and 360 cameras at the touch of a button (as opposed to needing to flip my car into reverse transiently just to make sure there aren’t any children near my care) are issues relating to safety and shouldn’t limit one’s ability to upgrade. The system is so slow and poorly responsive that it forces an additional glance just to make sure the screen moved to the next step. Insult to injury, I’m certain that if I hack into my car’s system (which, according to numerous white hat sources is quite easy for outsiders to do for malintent such as disabling brakes, etc.) and force an upgrade, I’m certain I’d void a warranty. I know enough about coding to contest any notion that an upgrade is not possible for earlier users. I HOPE THAT, IF CADILLAC FAILS TO ALLOW FOR UPGRADES TO ENABLE MAXIMUM FUNCTIONALITY BASED ON USERS’ HARDWARE, SOMEONE FILES A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. One death, or anything beyond, is on the shoulders of whomever is responsible for such a greedy and unnecessary decision. Please, Cadillac, don’t do this to your customers. I assure you, if you do, I will see to it that any potential buyer who’s researching a Cadillac online will find posts about such detestable business tactics. If I’m wrong, and you are planning on allowing such upgrades, I offer my sincere apologies for this post.

    Reply
  7. I am DISGUSTED, as this news now confirms Cadillac LIED when they first introduced the CUE system. Up until only several months ago, the Cadillac website clearly stated that existing CUE system would be able to grow, as new technology was introduced (Hence the reason the units were built with the ability to swipe to the next screen when new icons i.e. new features were made available). If this promise was never made, I would not be upset. I don’t think it’s quite right to lie to a customer base who is spending $50K to $70K on their product. Cadillac just lost a longtime customer.

    Reply
  8. GM: Good luck getting the ’15s off the dealer lots to make room for the ’16s.

    Reply
  9. As someone who purchased a 2015 Cadillac Escalade Premium with every option plus and almost $8k in additional warranties bringing the total value of the truck to a close $125k CAD including tax; not being able to upgrade my CUE system to Include Apple play is awful. I was promised when I purchased the truck that it would soon be compatible with IPhone. I wasn’t aware of this feature until I was put into a rental (BASE) Yukon because my ridiculously expensive truck needed an engine rebuild at 40,000km. As a previous Cadillac owner I must say that I am truly not satisfied with this truck and it was the worst money I ever spent. I could get a $30k car with more options and more reliability than the hunk of junk I purchased.

    Reply
  10. Yeah I just purchased a 2014 ELR with 98 miles, It was sitting at a dealer for almost a year and picked it up for $38,500. My CUE is locking up and reboots. The navigation is re-routing me hundreds of miles out of the way. I was driving from Texarkana Tx to Wichita Falls, TX on Highway 82. The GPS kept on trying to route me to I-635 hundreds of miles off my intended route. Car is going to the dealer for service. I don’t mind paying out of pocket for the new CUE system with Android Auto and other features if it would fit into my 2014 ELR. I have seen them on the net for $995.00. Just curious to know if the 2016 ELR CUE would fit into my 2014 ELR

    I have had the car 5 weeks and has already gone to the dealer once for several sensors that went out due to sitting idle almost a year and now a screwed up CUE. I was excited to buy this car but now have second thoughts. I have a 2011 CTS with no problems at all

    Reply
  11. It sucks Cadillac is screwing owners by not providing CUE update for 2014/15 ELR. I understand that it is a hardware problem. Sounds underhanded to me to treat those that paid $60,000 for car and don’t get any type of support for the manufacturer. At least offer owner the opportunity to buy the new navigation CUE hardware at a discount so it will run the new software. I HAVE Been a Cadillac owner 15 years and this situations pisses me so much that I am going to sell both of CTSV and ELR and buy a Tesla. At least they treat customer fairly and all cars no matter what year gets free updates. Cadillac needs to change their attitude about the way of doing business especially when someone spends this kind of money for a car 95% of the population don’t want.

    Reply
  12. After reading this article, it appears that the Cadillac engineers screwed up big time. When we purchased our 2014 SRX we were tole there would be an upgrade the following April, wher we would see “Apple Car Play”! This means we have a $2000 CUE Infotainment system that is no more than a confusing graphical display! You can’t get air conditioning in the back seats without paying an extra $5 thousand, yet they force you into the glass ceiling!

    Reply
  13. There should be a pathway to upgrade the hardware and software unfortunately everything is blended together so On_star is also affected. I don’t care about the WIFI but the other advancements would be nice to provide to the legacy customers. Might as well get my 3 watt bag phone back out . Also the voice recognition on the 2014 ATS is really bad. All it’s know how to say is “pardon” and then scolds me on the proper way to request information. UGH! Anyoe in the market for a 2014 ATS4 Sport?

    Reply
  14. As A Gesture of Goodwill, Kia Updates Older Models With Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/lianeyvkoff/2016/07/26/as-a-gesture-of-goodwill-kia-updates-older-models-with-apple-carplay

    Kia has announced that CarPlay and Android Auto will be available as free software updates for a wider range of select 2014 to 2017 model year vehicles equipped with UVO3 or a compatible navigation system.

    The new U.S. models eligible for the CarPlay update specifically, in addition to the 2017 Sorento and Sportage, include the 2017 Forte, 2015-16 Optima, 2015-16 Optima Hybrid, 2015-16 Sedona, 2014-16 Soul, and 2015-16 Soul EV.

    Glad Kia figured it out!!! Common Cadillac!! Really??? Cadillac…..punked by Kia!!

    Reply
  15. Cadillac failed on CUE. It needed better hardware to begin with so that it can take updates as they come out. At least, that’s where they need to go with the system. Owners of a 2016 CUE should be able to update their firmware in 2018 when some other update comes out. Or at the very least, make it somewhat modular so you can swap hardware easily.
    Technology fail.

    Reply
  16. It was Cadillac’s fail, they need to replace the components that are too deficient to handle the Car Play. The new owner spent bucu bucks to purchase that level which would handle the Apple CarPlay. Most upper end vehicles are built with GPS Navigation, while the vehicle we purchased only has “turns and directions ” in a $30 package. Its free with a smartphone.

    Reply
  17. i have printed proof Cadillac said ……CUE will always be updateable for the life of the vehicle so CUE will never be out of date…..
    I have 13 XTS great car that Cue ruins. So slow and Nav cant find1 many locations.When shown car salesman showed the extra screens for apps- None of which ever showedup . The owners manual even talks totext messaging. The car i turned in a 2012 Ford had my ford touch and all owed listing to texts and responding with about 10 responses you could program.
    I’m steamed i have contacted gm for thee years. now i have the proof and im gonna take it to them. 60k car shpuld get updates we were promised.Now they say sorry your car needs hardware update……well guess what itsays your cue will be updateable for the life of vehicle. Going after this BIGthey are not getting away with this……i will put lemon stickers on my car and traveling to park near Caddy dealers if they dont replace the unit or give me a fair offer- they offered 24k on a trade a year ago….2 years old exactly 30,000 miles not a nick anywhere. This car stickered at 60k
    FIRED UP going after them.

    Reply
    1. If GM ever did say that, and frankly you should post a picture of that so we can see, it is going to be difficult to get them to honor it. No piece of technology is “updated for life” – especially not cars.

      I suspect GM would argue that they were referring to the ability for CUE to get software updates, which it can, and has to fix bugs – not a promise of continued new features for life.

      Reply
  18. hmm cant see to see how to post picture but go to wayback website and enter this address:
    http://www.cadillac.com/cadillac-cue/features.html

    at bottom:
    updateable software:
    Software can be upgraded during the life of the vehicle, so CUE will never become outdated.

    pretty clear. that they changed hardware not my problem. my 2013 cue sucks.
    i have called Cadillac and been blown off. next step coming because i will mot accept on a 60k car

    Reply
  19. Yeah I am still pissed paying lots of money for 14 ELR and the CUE never works. Half the locations cant be found and when driving it automatically states traffic conditions have changed, Re-routing. It wants to follow all the damn back roads out there in East Texas. Always wants to route off a major highway into some secondary road. I checked on getting Android Play but would cost about $400. I travel and now I use my tablet since CUE sucks. May be worth the money

    Since Cadillac wont fix this issue or honor customer loyalty by changing out the system which I know they can do, I am selling my ELR with only 4850 miles and buying the 2017 Genesis Couple. I have been a caddy man for 20 years and never will purchase another Cadillac. I have 2010 CTS with 47,000 miles and no problems at all.

    Reply
  20. Sounds like a class action lawsuit to me.

    Reply
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