
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Trunk Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11 Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-14
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-17
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Mobile Apps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-18
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20 Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-20
Storage Compartments . . . . . . 1-20
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Universal Remote System . . . 1-21
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control
System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-23
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-23
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25

Black plate (20,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
1-20 In Brief
Vehicle Customization
Some vehicle features can be
programmed by using the DIC
buttons on the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel. These
features include:
.Language
.Door Lock and Unlock Settings
.Lighting
.Chime Volume
.Memory Settings
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑46.
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
The rear vision camera displays a
view of the area behind the vehicle
on either the navigation screen or
the inside rearview mirror when the
vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse).
Once shifted out of R (Reverse), the
navigation screen will go back to the last screen that had been displayed,
after a delay or the video image
automatically disappears from the
inside rearview mirror.
To clean the camera lens, located
above the license plate, rinse it with
water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
See
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) on
page 9‑48 for more information.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
If available, Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) uses sensors on the
rear bumper to detect objects while
parking the vehicle. It operates at
speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph).
URPA uses audible beeps to
provide distance and system
information.
Keep the sensors on the vehicle's
rear bumper clean to ensure proper
operation.
SeeUltrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑44 for more information.
Storage Compartments
Press the bottom of the load floor
handle assembly to lift the top on
the handle. Pull up on the handle to
open the cargo management
system.
SeeCargo Management System
(Wagon Only) on page 4‑3 for more
information.

Black plate (20,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-20 Instruments and Controls
Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem is
apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage
to the vehicle. This system assists
the dealer technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If the vehicle is
continually driven with this light
on, the emission controls might
not work as well, the vehicle fuel
economy might not be as good,
and the engine might not run as
smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice: Modifications made to the
engine, transmission, exhaust,
intake, or fuel system of the
vehicle or the replacement of
the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) can
affect the vehicle's emission
controls and can cause this light
to come on. Modifications to these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. This could also
result in a failure to pass a
required Emission Inspection/
Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10‑3.
This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing:
A misfire condition
has been detected. A misfire
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to
the vehicle:
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard accelerations.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
.If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as
soon as it is possible. If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle.
Find a safe place to park. Turn the
vehicle off, wait at least 10 seconds,
and restart the engine. If the light is
still flashing, follow the previous
steps and see your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
Light On Steady:
An emission
control system malfunction has
been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be
required.
The following may correct an
emissions system malfunction:
.Check that the fuel cap is fully
installed. See Filling the Tank on
page 9‑53. The diagnostic
system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap allows fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn the
light off.

Black plate (29,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-29
To reset the timer to zero, press and
hold the set/reset button.
Inst (Instantaneous) Economy
Displays the current fuel economy
in either liters per 100 kilometers
(L/100 km) or miles per gallon
(mpg). This number changes
frequently as driving conditions
change. It cannot be reset.
AVG (Average) Speed
Displays the average speed of the
vehicle in either kilometers per
hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph).
This calculation is based on the
various vehicle speeds recorded
since the last reset of this display.
Press the set/reset button to reset
to zero.
Speedometer
Displays a digital speedometer in
the DIC. The speed displays in
either kilometers per hour (km/h) or
miles per hour (mph). To change the
units from English to metric, see
“Units”later in this section. Blank Display
This display shows no information.
Vehicle Information Display
Menu Items
T(Vehicle Information):
Press
to display the following menu items:
Oil Life Remaining
If the vehicle has this display, it
shows the estimated oil life
remaining. If you see 99% Oil Life
Remaining on the display, that
means that 99% of the current oil
life remains.
When the oil life is depleted, the
Change Engine Oil Soon message
displays. Change the oil as soon
as possible. Additional maintenance
is also recommended in the
Maintenance Schedule in this
manual. See Maintenance Schedule
on page 11‑3 andEngine Oil on
page 10‑10.
The Oil Life must be reset after
each oil change. Avoid accidental
resetting of the Oil Life system. It cannot be reset accurately until
the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system, See
Engine
Oil Life System on page 10‑12. The
system is reset when 100%
displays.
Units
Select to display English or metric
units of measure. Press the set/
reset button to select when units is
displayed.
Parking Assist
If the vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
this display allows the system to
be turned on or off. Once in this
display, press the set/reset button
to select between On or Off. The
URPA system automatically turns
back on after each vehicle start.
When the URPA system is turned
off and the vehicle is shifted out
of P (Park), the DIC displays the
PARKING ASSIST OFF message
as a reminder that the system has
been turned off. See Object
Detection System Messages on

Black plate (30,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-30 Instruments and Controls
page 5‑39andUltrasonic Parking
Assist on page 9‑44 for more
information.
Tire Pressure
Tire pressure is displayed in the DIC
for each tire in either kilopascals
(kPa) or pounds per square inch
(psi). Press the vehicle information
button until the DIC displays Front
Tire kPa (PSI) Left ## Right ##.
Press the vehicle information button
again until the DIC displays Rear
Tire kPa (PSI) Left ## Right ##.
If a low tire pressure condition is
detected by the system while
driving, a message to add air to a
specific tire displays. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑70 andTire
Messages on page 5‑43 for more
information.
Battery Voltage
This display shows the current
battery voltage. The vehicle's
charging system regulates voltage
based on the state of the battery. The battery voltage may fluctuate
when viewing this information on
the DIC. This is normal.
If there is a problem with the battery
charging system, the charging
system light illuminates and/or the
DIC displays a message. See
Charging System Light on
page 5‑19,
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages on page 5‑31
and Battery Load Management on
page 6‑8 for more information.
Side Blind Zone Alert
If your vehicle has the Side Blind
Zone Alert (SBZA) system, this
display allows the system to be
turned on or off. Once in this
display, press the set/reset button to
select between ON or OFF. If you
choose ON, the system will be
turned on. If you choose OFF, the
system will be turned off. When the
SBZA system is turned off, the DIC
will display the SIDE BLIND ZONE
ALERT SYSTEM OFF message as a reminder that the system has
been turned off. See
Object
Detection System Messages on
page 5‑39 andSide Blind Zone Alert
(SBZA) on page 9‑45 for more
information.
Calibrate Compass
The vehicle may have this feature.
The compass can be manually
calibrated. To calibrate the compass
through the DIC, see Compass on
page 5‑7.
Change Compass Zone
The vehicle may have this feature.
To change the compass zone
through the DIC, see Compass on
page 5‑7.
Trans (Transmission) Temp
(Temperature) (CTS-V Only)
This display shows the transmission
fluid temperature in either degrees
Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).

Black plate (33,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-33
PRESS BRAKE TO START
ENGINE (AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION ONLY)
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays if you try to start the engine
without having the brake pressed.
The brake needs to be pressed
when starting the engine. See
Ignition Positions (Key Access) on
page 9‑16orIgnition Positions
(Keyless Access) on page 9‑18 for
more information.
RELEASE PARK BRAKE
SWITCH
For vehicles with the electric parking
brake, this message displays if the
switch is pulled while the vehicle is
moving. See the electric parking
brake information under Parking
Brake (Manual) on page 9‑34 or
Parking Brake (Electric) on
page 9‑35 for more information.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays if there is a
problem with the brake system. The
brake system warning light and the
antilock brake system (ABS)
warning light may also display on
the instrument panel cluster. See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑22andAntilock Brake
System (ABS) Warning Light on
page 5‑23 for more information.
Stop as soon as possible and turn
off the vehicle. Restart the vehicle
and check for the message on the
DIC display. If the message displays
immediately or again after you begin
driving, the brake system needs
service. See your dealer as soon as
possible. See Antilock Brake
System (ABS) on page 9‑33 for
more information.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays, while the
ignition is on, when the brake fluid
level is low. The brake system
warning light on the instrument
panel cluster also comes on. See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑22 for more information. This
message may also be displayed for
other brake system problems. Have
the brake system serviced by your
dealer as soon as possible.
SERVICE PARK BRAKE
For vehicles with the electric parking
brake, this message displays if a
problem is detected with the electric
parking brake system. See your
dealer for service.
STEP ON BRAKE TO
RELEASE PARK BRAKE
For vehicles with the electric parking
brake, this message displays if you
try to release the park brake system
without first pressing the brake
pedal. See the electric parking
brake information under Parking
Brake (Manual) on page 9‑34 or
Parking Brake (Electric) on
page 9‑35 for more information.

Black plate (39,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-39
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6for more
information.
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays when the
battery in the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) or keyless access transmitter
needs to be replaced. To replace
the battery, see “Battery
Replacement” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6.
ROTATE CONTROL TO OFF
POSITION
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays when the ignition is in
ACC/ACCESSORY and the shift
lever has just been moved to
P (Park). The message displays as
a reminder to turn the ignition off. To avoid draining the battery, make
sure the ignition is turned off before
leaving the vehicle.
SERVICE KEYLESS START
SYSTEM
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this message
displays when there is a problem
with this feature. See your dealer.
Lamp Messages
AFL (ADAPTIVE FORWARD
LIGHTING) LAMPS NEED
SERVICE
This message displays when the
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL)
system is disabled and needs
service. See your dealer. See
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) on
page 6‑5
for more information.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT
CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
automatic headlamps are turned off.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT
CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
automatic headlamps are turned on.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays as a
reminder to turn off the turn signal if
you drive the vehicle for more than
about 1.6 km (1 mi) with a turn signal
on. A multiple chime sounds when
this message displays.
Object Detection System
Messages
PARKING ASSIST BLOCKED
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL
If the vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Park Assist (URPA) system,
this message displays if there is
something interfering with the park
assist system. See Ultrasonic
Parking Assist on page 9‑44 for
more information.

Black plate (40,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-40 Instruments and Controls
PARKING ASSIST OFF
After the vehicle has been started,
this message displays to remind the
driver that the URPA system has
been turned off. This message also
displays when there is a temporary
condition causing the system to be
disabled. SeeUltrasonic Parking
Assist on page 9‑44. Press the set/
reset button to acknowledge this
message and clear it from the DIC
display.
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST
This message displays if there is a
problem with the Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist (URPA) system. Do
not use this system to help you
park. See Ultrasonic Parking Assist
on page 9‑44 for more information.
See your dealer for service.
SERVICE SIDE BLIND ZONE
ALERT SYSTEM
If this message appears, both SBZA
displays will remain on indicating
there is a problem with the SBZA system. If these displays remain on
after continued driving, the system
needs service. Take the vehicle to
your dealer.
SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
SYSTEM OFF
This message indicates that the
driver has turned the system off.
SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
SYSTEM TEMPORARILY
UNAVAILABLE
This message indicates that the
SBZA system is disabled because
the sensor is blocked and cannot
detect vehicles in the blind zone.
The sensor may be blocked by
mud, dirt, snow, ice, or slush. This
message may also activate during
heavy rain or due to road spray. The
vehicle does not need service. For
cleaning, see
Exterior Care on
page 10‑110.
Ride Control System
Messages
ALL WHEEL DRIVE OFF
If the vehicle has the All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) system, this message
displays when there is a temporary
condition making the AWD system
unavailable. The vehicle will run in
2WD. This could be caused by:
.Loss of wheel or vehicle speed
.AWD system overheat
.Certain vehicle electrical
conditions
This message turns off when the
above conditions are no longer
present and the warning message is
reset.
To reset the warning message, turn
the ignition off and then back on
again after 30 seconds. If the
message stays on, see your dealer
right away. See All-Wheel Drive on
page 9‑33 for more information.