NHTSA Complaint #11716618 — 2025 CADILLAC LYRIQ

My car is equipped with a forward-facing camera, mounted on the forward area of the interior rearview mirror. Additional cameras are mounted on the front bumper, trunk door, and on the rearview mirrors on each side of the car. Various sensors mounted throughout both bumpers face the front, rear, and each side of the car. At the time of this incident all sensors and cameras were clean and free of obstructions, and software was up to date. I was driving uphill, negotiating a tight left curve at approximately 30 MPH in a rural, forested area in the Santa Cruz Mountains (California.) There were no other conveyances, objects, or obstruction on the roadway in front or behind me. The weather was clear and the daytime visibility was excellent. The road was dry and I estimate its gradient at 30%. As I was about to enter the curve, the vertical dirt hillside appeared ahead and directly in front of the forward-facing cameras and sensors, which I supose, detected this topography. With minimal pressure, I had my right foot on the throttle to keep the aforementioned speed while turning. The cruise control was not in use. As I began to turn, and while still facing the hillside, the throttle stopped responding and the car decelerated. Simultaneously, a warning appeared on my dashboard screen, indicating the forward collision warning system was unavailable. I fully depressed the throtle but instead of gaining speed, the car slowed down to 12 MPH as I completed the turn. In quick succession, I lifted my right foot of the throtle and depressed it all the way to the floorboard but the car did not accelerate. The car eventually regained forward acceleration when I had the throttle pedal all the way against the floorboard but despite this severe throttle application, the car only accelerated very slowly. Thereafter, the throtle resumed normal operation and I continued my trip over the hills and back. I believe I could have been rear ended during this scary incident.