Black plate (1,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
2015 Cadillac CTS Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-3
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-47
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-55
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 Climate Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-15
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-23
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-30
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 9-45
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-70
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Black plate (3,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
In Brief 1-3
1.Air Vents on page 8-8.
2. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals on
page 6-6.
3. Manual Mode on page 9-25 (If
Equipped).
4. Instrument Cluster on page 5-10.
5. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5-3.
6. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6-5.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) on
page 9-59 (If Equipped).
7. Light Sensor (If Equipped). See Automatic Headlamp System on
page 6-4.
Solar Sensor. See Dual
Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8-1.
8. Infotainment on page 7-1. 9. Glove Box Button. See
Glove
Box on page 4-1.
Automatic Parking Assist (If
Equipped). See Assistance
Systems for Parking or Backing
on page 9-46.
Parking Assist Button. See
Assistance Systems for Parking
or Backing on page 9-46.
10. Parking Brake Release Switch. SeeElectric Parking Brake on
page 9-28.
11. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10-4.
12. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5-19.
13. Head-Up Display (HUD) on
page 5-32 (If Equipped).
14. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6-6. 15.
Cruise Control on page 9-34 (If
Equipped).
Adaptive Cruise Control on
page 9-37 (If Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9-52 (If
Equipped).
Heated Steering Wheel on
page 5-3 (If Equipped).
16. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5-2.
17. Horn on page 5-3.
18. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5-3.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Controls. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5-29.
19. ENGINE START/STOP Button. SeeIgnition Positions on
page 9-16.
20. Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats on page 3-8 (If
Equipped).
Black plate (14,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
1-14 In Brief
Climate Controls
The climate control buttons and the touch screen are used to adjust the
heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Climate Control Buttons
1. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
2. Fan Control
3. OFF (Fan)
4. Driver and Passenger Heated and Ventilated Seats 5. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
6. Defrost
7. Rear Window Defogger
8. Recirculation
Climate Touch Screen Controls
1. Outside Temperature Display
2. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
3. Fan Control
4. SYNC (Synchronized Temperature)
5. A/C Mode (Air Conditioning)
6. Climate Control Selection (Application Tray Button)
7. Rear (Rear Climate Control Touch Screen)
8. Air Delivery Mode Control
Black plate (16,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
1-16 In Brief
increase speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press +RES up to the second
detent.
SET−:Press the control down
briefly to set the speed and activate
cruise control. If cruise control is
already active, use to decrease
vehicle speed. To decrease speed
by 1 km/h (1 mph), press SET−
down to the first detent. To decrease
speed to the next 5 km/h (5 mph)
mark on the speedometer, press
SET− down to the second detent.
*:Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
See Cruise Control on page 9-34 or
Adaptive Cruise Control on
page 9-37 (if equipped).
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is in the instrument
cluster. It shows the status of many
vehicle systems.
yorz:Press to move up or
down in a list.
SorT: Press to move between
the interactive display zones in the
cluster. Press
Sto go back to the
previous menu.
SEL: Press to open a menu or
select a menu item. Press and hold
to reset values on certain screens.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5-29.
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System
If equipped, FCA may help avoid or
reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes. FCA provides a
green indicator,
V, when a vehicle
is detected ahead. This indicator
displays amber if you follow a
vehicle much too closely. When
approaching a vehicle ahead too
quickly, FCA provides a flashing red
alert on the windshield and rapidly
beeps or pulses the driver seat.
See Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9-52.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
If equipped, LKA may help avoid
crashes due to unintentional lane
departures. It may assist by gently
turning the steering wheel if the
vehicle approaches a detected lane
marking without using a turn signal
in that direction. It may also provide
a Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
alert as the lane marking is crossed.
Black plate (17,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
In Brief 1-17
The system will not assist or alert if
it detects that you are actively
steering. Override LKA by turning
the steering wheel. LKA uses a
camera to detect lane markings
between 60 km/h (37 mph) and
180 km/h (112 mph).
SeeLane Keep Assist (LKA) on
page 9-59.
Lane Change Alert (LCA)
If equipped, the LCA system is a
lane-changing aid that assists
drivers with avoiding lane change
crashes that occur with vehicles in
the side blind zone (or spot) areas
or with vehicles rapidly approaching
these areas from behind. The LCA
warning display will light up in the
corresponding outside side mirror
and will flash if the turn signal is on.
The Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
system is included as part of the
LCA system.
See Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
on page 9-56 andLane Change
Alert on page 9-56.
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
If equipped, RVC displays a view of
the area behind the vehicle on the
center stack display when the
vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse) to
aid with parking and low-speed
backing maneuvers.
See Assistance Systems for Parking
or Backing on page 9-46.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
(RCTA) System
If equipped, the RCTA system uses
a triangle with an arrow displayed
on the RVC screen to warn of traffic
behind your vehicle that may cross
your vehicle's path while in
R (Reverse). In addition, beeps will
sound, or the driver seat will pulse.
See Assistance Systems for Parking
or Backing on page 9-46.
Parking Assist
If equipped, Rear Parking
Assist (RPA) uses sensors on the
rear bumper to assist with parking
and avoiding objects while in
R (Reverse). It operates at speeds
less than 8 km/h (5 mph). RPA may
display a warning triangle on the
Rear Vision Camera screen and a
graphic on the instrument cluster to
provide the object distance. In
addition, multiple beeps or seat
pulses may occur if very close to an
object.
The vehicle may also have the Front
Parking Assist system.
See Assistance Systems for Parking
or Backing on page 9-46.
Automatic Parking
Assist (APA)
If equipped, the APA system helps
to search for and maneuver the
vehicle into parallel or perpendicular
parking spots using automatic
steering, DIC displays, and beeps.
Black plate (20,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
1-20 In Brief
The passenger side switch (2)
operates the sunshade. Press and
release the front or rear of the
switch (2) to express open or
express close the sunshade. To
stop the sunshade partway, press
the switch (2) again.
SeeSunroof on page 2-25.Performance and
Maintenance
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
The Traction Control System (TCS)
limits wheel spin. The system turns
on automatically every time the
vehicle is started.
StabiliTrak assists with directional
control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions. The system turns
on automatically every time the
vehicle is started.
.To turn off TCS, press and
release the TCS/StabiliTrak
button
Yon the center
console.
iilluminates in the
instrument cluster. The
appropriate DIC message is
displayed. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5-43.
.Press the TCS/StabiliTrak
button
Yagain to turn traction
control back on.
.To turn off both TCS and
StabiliTrak, press and hold the
TCS/StabiliTrak button
Yon the
center console until
gandi
illuminate in the instrument
cluster. The appropriate DIC
message displays. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5-43.
.Press the TCS/StabiliTrak
button
Yagain to turn on both
systems.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control on page 9-30.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
Black plate (21,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
In Brief 1-21
The low tire pressure warning light
alerts to a significant loss in
pressure of one of the vehicle's
tires. If the warning light comes on,
stop as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9-11.
The warning light will remain on until
the tire pressure is corrected.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
may be an early indicator that the
tire pressures are getting low and
the tires need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. Maintain
the correct tire pressures.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10-52.Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message when it is time
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Using the DIC buttons, display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the
DIC. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5-29 and
Engine Oil Messages on
page 5-39. 2. Press the SEL button and hold
to clear the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message and reset
the oil life at 100%.
Be careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than after the oil is
changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows:
1. Turn the ignition on with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message is not on, the
system is reset.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10-12.
Black plate (5,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-5
transmitter inside the vehicle.
If passive locking is enabled, the
doors may lock with the RKE
transmitter inside the vehicle. Do
not leave the RKE transmitter in an
unattended vehicle.
Temporary Disable Passive
Locking Feature
Temporarily disable the passive
locking by pressing and holding
K
on the interior door switch with a
door open for at least four seconds,
or until three chimes are heard.
Passive locking will then remain
disabled until
Qon the interior door
is pressed, or until the vehicle is
turned on.
To customize the doors to
automatically lock when exiting the
vehicle, see “Remote Lock, Unlock,
Start” under Vehicle Personalization
on page 5-47.
Keyless Trunk Opening
Press the touch pad on the trunk
handle to open the trunk if the RKE
transmitter is within 1 m (3 ft).
Programming Transmitters to
the Vehicle
Only RKE transmitters programmed
to the vehicle will work. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a
replacement can be purchased and
programmed through your dealer.
The vehicle can be reprogrammed
so that lost or stolen transmitters no
longer work. Each vehicle can have
up to eight transmitters matched
to it.
Programming with a Recognized
Transmitter
A new transmitter can be
programmed to the vehicle when
there is one recognized transmitter.
To program, the vehicle must be off
and all transmitters, both currently
recognized and new, must be
with you.
1. Remove the vehicle key from the recognized transmitter.
2. Place the recognized transmitter(s) in the cupholder. 3. Remove the key lock cylinder
cap on the driver door handle.
See Door Locks on page 2-10.
Insert the vehicle key into the
key lock cylinder on the driver
door handle, then turn the key
counterclockwise to the unlock
position five times within
10 seconds.
The Driver Information Center
(DIC) displays READY FOR
REMOTE #2, 3, 4, ETC.
4. Place the new transmitter into the transmitter pocket. The
center console storage area will