
Black plate (26,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
3-26 Seats and Restraints
What Will You See after
an Airbag Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
inflate, they quickly deflate, so
quickly that some people may not
even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inflated for some time after
they inflate. Some components of
the airbag module may be hot for
several minutes. For location of the
airbags, seeWhere Are the
Airbags? on page 3‑22.
The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated
airbags. Airbag inflation does not
prevent the driver from seeing out of
the windshield or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.
{WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there
may be dust in the air. This dust
could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe to do so. If you have
breathing problems but cannot
get out of the vehicle after an
airbag inflates, then get fresh air
by opening a window or a door.
If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek
medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors, turn
the interior lamps on, turn the
hazard warning flashers on, and
shut off the fuel system after the
airbags inflate. You can lock the
doors, turn the interior lamps off, and turn the hazard warning
flashers off by using the controls for
those features.
{WARNING
A crash severe enough to inflate
the airbags may have also
damaged important functions in
the vehicle, such as the fuel
system, brake and steering
systems, etc. Even if the vehicle
appears to be drivable after a
moderate crash, there may be
concealed damage that could
make it difficult to safely operate
the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt
to restart the engine after a crash
has occurred.
In many crashes severe enough to
inflate the airbag, windshields are
broken by vehicle deformation.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-2
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-3
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 5-4
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-4
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Headlamp Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13 Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Boost Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Engine Speed Limiter . . . . . . . . 5-14
Engine Oil Pressure
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-16
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-17
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Charging System Light . . . . . . 5-19
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Up-Shift Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light . . . . . . . 5-23
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-24
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-25
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-26 Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . 5-26
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Battery Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-32
Compass Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Cruise Control Messages . . . . 5-34
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-35
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-36
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-36
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-37
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Airbag System Messages . . . . 5-43

Black plate (37,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-37
Key and Lock Messages
ACCESSORY MODE ACTIVE
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays when the accessory mode
is active. SeeIgnition Positions (Key
Access) on page 9‑16 orIgnition
Positions (Keyless Access) on
page 9‑18 for more information.
ELECTRONIC KEY ALREADY
KNOWN
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays if you try to match a
transmitter that has already been
learned. See the keyless access
information for Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation (Key
Access) on page 2‑5 orRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation (Keyless Access) on
page 2‑6 for more information.
ELECTRONIC KEY NOT
DETECTED
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays if the vehicle does not
detect the presence of a transmitter
when you have attempted to start
the vehicle or a vehicle door has
just closed. The following conditions
may cause this message to appear:
.Driver-added equipment plugged
into the accessory power outlet
on the center console is causing
interference. Examples of these
devices are cell phones and cell
phone chargers, two-way radios,
power inverters, or similar items.
Try moving the keyless access
transmitter away from these
devices when starting the
vehicle. In addition, PDA devices
and remote garage and gate
openers may also generate
Electromagnetic Interference
(EMI) that may interfere with the
keyless access transmitter. Do not carry the keyless access
transmitter in the same pocket
or bag as these devices.
.The vehicle is experiencing
Electromagnetic Interference
(EMI). Some locations, such as
airports, automatic toll booths,
and some gas stations have EMI
fields which may interfere with
the keyless access transmitter.
If moving the transmitter to
different locations within the
vehicle does not help, place the
transmitter in the center console
transmitter pocket with the

Black plate (38,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-38 Instruments and Controls
buttons facing the front of the
vehicle and then start the
vehicle.
.The vehicle's battery voltage is
low. The battery voltage must be
above 10 volts for the keyless
access transmitter to be
detected properly.
ELECTRONIC KEY NOT
DETECTED RESTART
ALLOWED
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays when the keyless access
transmitter is not detected inside the
vehicle while you are trying to turn
the ignition off. The vehicle may be
near a strong radio antenna signal
causing the keyless access system
to be jammed. If you have the
keyless access transmitter with you,
get out of the vehicle and lock the
doors. If you do not have the
keyless access transmitter with you,
you will be able to start the vehicle
again within five minutes, or after
the vehicle's content theft-deterrentsystem is armed. See
Starting the
Engine on page 9‑20 for more
information.
LEARN DELAY ACTIVE WAIT
XX MIN (MINUTES)
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays when matching new
transmitters to the vehicle. See the
Keyless Access information for
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6 for more
information.
MAXIMUM # ELECTRONIC
KEYS LEARNED
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays when the maximum
number of transmitters have been
learned. See the Keyless Access
information for Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation (Key
Access) on page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation (Keyless Access) on
page 2‑6
for more information.
PRESS START CONTROL TO
LEARN KEYS
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays when matching new
transmitters to the vehicle. See
the keyless access information
forRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6 for more
information.
READY TO LEARN
ELECTRONIC KEY # X
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays while matching new
transmitters to the vehicle. See the
keyless access information for
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry

Black plate (47,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-47
No Change:No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Auto Door Lock
This feature allows you to select
when the vehicle's doors will
automatically lock. See Automatic
Door Locks on page 2‑17 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
Auto Door Lock appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the menu up/
down button to scroll through the
following settings.
Shift Out Of Park (default on
Automatic Transmission)
(Automatic Transmission Only):
The vehicle's doors automatically
lock when the doors are closed and
the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park). At Vehicle Speed (default on
Manual Transmission):
The
vehicle's doors automatically lock
when the vehicle speed is above
8 km/h (5 mph) for three seconds.
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Auto Door Unlock
This feature allows you to select
whether or not the door(s) will
automatically unlock. It also allows
you to select which doors and when
they will automatically unlock. See
Automatic Door Locks on page 2‑17
for more information.
Press the customization button until
Auto Door Unlock appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
menu up/down button to scroll
through the following settings. Off:
None of the doors will
automatically unlock.
Driver Only At Off: Only the driver
door will unlock when the ignition is
turned off.
All At Off (default on Manual
Transmission): All of the doors
will unlock when the ignition is
turned off.
All In Park (default on Automatic
Transmission) (Automatic
Transmission Only): All of the
doors will unlock when the vehicle
is shifted into P (Park).
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Remote Door Lock Feedback
This feature allows you to select the
type of feedback you will receive
when locking the vehicle with the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) or

Black plate (48,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-48 Instruments and Controls
keyless access transmitter, or when
the vehicle is automatically locked
using the Keyless Locking feature.
You will not receive feedback
when locking the vehicle with the
transmitter if the doors are open.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6, or “Keyless
Locking” later in this section for
more information.
Press the customization button until
Remote Door Lock appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
menu up/down button to scroll
through the following settings.
Off: There will be no feedback
when you press the lock button
on the transmitter.
Lights Only: The exterior lamps
will flash when you press the lock
button on the transmitter. Horn Only:
The horn will sound on
the second press of the lock button
on the transmitter.
Horn & Lights (default): The
exterior lamps will flash when
you press the lock button on the
transmitter, and the horn will sound
when the lock button is pressed
again within five seconds of the
previous command.
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Remote Door Unlock Feedback
This feature allows you to select the
type of feedback you will receive
when unlocking the vehicle with the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) or
keyless access transmitter, or
when the vehicle is automatically
unlocked using the Keyless Unlock
feature. You will not receive
feedback when unlocking the vehicle with the transmitter if the
doors are open. See
Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6 or“Keyless
Unlock” later in this section for more
information.
Press the customization button until
Remote Door Unlock appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
menu up/down button to scroll
through the following settings.
Lights Off: The exterior lamps will
not flash when you press the unlock
button on the transmitter.
Lights On (default): The exterior
lamps will flash when you press the
unlock button on the transmitter.
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.

Black plate (50,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-50 Instruments and Controls
Press the customization button until
Factory Settings appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
menu up/down button to scroll
through the following settings.
Restore All (default):The
customization features will be set
to their factory default settings.
No Change: The customization
features will not be set to their
factory default settings.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Keyless Locking
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this feature allows
you to select whether the doors
automatically lock during normal
vehicle exit. When the ignition is
turned off and all doors become
closed, the vehicle will determine
how many keyless access
transmitters remain in the vehicle interior. If at least one keyless
access transmitter has been
removed from the interior of the
vehicle, the doors will lock after
several seconds.
For example, if there are two
keyless access transmitters in the
vehicle and one is removed, the
other will be locked in. The keyless
access transmitter locked in the
vehicle can still be used to start
the vehicle or unlock the doors,
if needed. A person approaching the
outside of the locked vehicle without
an authorized keyless access
transmitter, however, will not be
able to open the door, even with a
transmitter in the vehicle. See the
keyless access information for
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5
orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6 for more
information.
You may temporarily disable the
keyless locking feature by pressing
the door unlock switch for three seconds on an open door. To
enable keyless locking, transition
the power mode from off.
To select whether the horn sounds
or the lights flash when the vehicle
is locked, see
“Remote Door Lock”
earlier in this section.
Press the customization button until
Keyless Locking appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
menu up/down button to scroll
through the following settings.
Off (default): The keyless locking
feature will be disabled.
On: The keyless locking feature will
be enabled.
The doors will automatically lock
several seconds after you turn the
ignition off, remove a keyless
access transmitter from the interior
of the vehicle, and close all of the
doors.

Black plate (51,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-51
No Change:No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Keyless Unlock
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this feature allows
you to select which doors will
automatically unlock when you
approach the vehicle with the
keyless access transmitter and
open the driver door. See the
keyless access information for
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6 for more
information.
To select whether the lights flash
when the vehicle is unlocked, see
“Remote Door Unlock” earlier in this
section. Press the customization button until
Keyless Unlock appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the menu up/
down button to scroll through the
following settings.
Entry Door Only:
Only the driver
door will automatically unlock when
you approach the vehicle with the
keyless access transmitter and
open the driver door.
All Doors (default): All doors will
automatically unlock when you
approach the vehicle with the
keyless access transmitter and
open the driver door.
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. Chime Volume
This feature allows you to select the
volume level of the chime.
Press the customization button until
Chime Volume appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the menu up/
down button to scroll through the
following settings.
Normal:
The chime volume will be
set to a normal level.
Loud: The chime volume will be
set to a loud level.
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
There is no default for chime
volume. The volume will stay at the
last known setting.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.