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 (1,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Steering Wheel
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-13
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-15
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . 1-16
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . 1-17
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17 Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Automatic Parking
Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Rear Automatic Braking (RAB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Active Emergency Braking System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Universal Remote System . . . 1-19
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-20
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-21
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Black plate (8,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
1-8 In Brief
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback:
.Tilt the top of the control
rearward to recline.
.Tilt the top of the control forward
to raise.
See Reclining Seatbacks on
page 3-5.
Memory Features
The SET, "1," "2," andB(Exit)
buttons on the driver door are used
to manually save and recall memory
settings for the driver seat, outside
mirrors, and power tilt and
telescoping steering column (if
equipped).
See Memory Seats on page 3-6 and
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-47.
Heated and Ventilated
Seats
Front Seats
If equipped, the buttons are near the
climate controls on the center stack.
To operate, the ignition must be in
ON/RUN/START.
Press
Jorzto heat the driver or
passenger seat cushion and
seatback.
Black plate (10,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
1-10 In Brief
Passenger Sensing
System
United States
Canada and Mexico
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and knee
airbag under certain conditions. No
other airbag is affected by the
passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3-29. The passenger airbag status
indicator lights on the overhead
console are visible when the vehicle
is started. See
Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 5-18.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior
Controls for the outside power
mirrors are on the driver door.
To adjust each mirror:
1. Press (L) or (R) to select the driver or passenger side mirror. 2. Press the arrows on the control
pad to move the mirror up,
down, right, or left.
3. Adjust each mirror so that a little of the vehicle and the area
behind it can be seen.
4. Return the selector switch to the center position.
See Power Mirrors on page 2-19.
Interior
The vehicle has an automatic
dimming inside rearview mirror.
Automatic dimming reduces the
glare of headlamps from behind.
The dimming feature comes on
when the vehicle is started.
SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2-20.
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-1
Keys, Doors, and
Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . 2-13
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Doors
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Vehicle Security
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . 2-16
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . . 2-18
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Interior Mirrors
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . 2-20
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Rear Window Sunshade . . . . . 2-24
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Keys and Locks
Keys
{Warning
Leaving children in a vehicle with
a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter is dangerous and
children or others could be
seriously injured or killed. They
could operate the power windows
or other controls or make the
vehicle move. The windows will
function with the RKE transmitter
in the vehicle, and children or
others could be caught in the path
of a closing window. Do not leave
children in a vehicle with an RKE
transmitter.
Black plate (19,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-19
It is possible for the immobilizer
system to learn new or replacement
RKE transmitters. Up to eight
transmitters can be programmed for
the vehicle. To program additional
transmitters, see“Programming
Transmitters to the Vehicle” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-2.
Do not leave the key or device that
disarms or deactivates the
theft-deterrent system in the vehicle.Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors
{Caution
A convex mirror can make things,
like other vehicles, look farther
away than they really are. If you
cut too sharply into the right lane,
you could hit a vehicle on the
right. Check the inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex
shaped. A convex mirror's surface is
curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
Power Mirrors
Controls for the outside power
mirrors are on the driver door.
To adjust each mirror:
1. Press (L) or (R) to select the driver or passenger side mirror.
2. Press the arrows on the control pad to move the mirror up,
down, right, or left.
3. Adjust each mirror so that a little of the vehicle and the area
behind it can be seen.
Black plate (7,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Seats and Restraints 3-7
3. Immediately press and holdB
until two beeps sound.
Manually Recalling Memory
Positions
If the vehicle is OFF or not in
P (Park), press and hold "1," "2,"
or
Bto manually recall the
previously stored memory positions.
Releasing "1,” "2," or
Bbefore the
stored positions are reached stops
the recall.
If the vehicle is ON and in P (Park),
press and release “1,” “2,”or
Bto
manually recall the previously
stored memory positions. Placing
the ignition in OFF before the stored
positions are reached stops the
recall.
Automatically Recalling Memory
Positions
The Auto (Automatic) Memory
Recall feature automatically recalls
the current driver ’s previously stored
“1” or“2” position when entering the
vehicle. Depending upon the Auto Memory
Recall feature enabled in the vehicle
personalization menu, memory
“1”
or “2” positions are recalled in the
following ways:
To activate the recall when On -
Driver Door Open is selected in the
vehicle personalization menu:
.PressKon the RKE transmitter
and open the driver door.
.PressKon the RKE transmitter
when the driver door is
already open.
.Press the lock/unlock button on
the outside driver door handle
and open the driver door. The
RKE transmitter must be present
for the recall to activate.
To activate the recall when On - At
Ignition On is selected in the vehicle
personalization menu:
.Place the ignition in ON/RUN/
START.
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-47. To stop recall movement, press one
of the memory, power mirror,
or power seat controls; or press the
power tilt and telescoping steering
column control (if equipped). If On -
At Ignition On is selected in the
vehicle personalization menu,
placing the ignition in OFF also
stops the recall.
Easy Exit Recall
If programmed on in the vehicle
personalization menu, the easy exit
feature automatically moves the
driver seat, power tilt and
telescoping steering column (if
equipped), and outside mirrors on
some vehicles to the memory
positions saved to the
B(Exit)
button. See “Storing Memory
Positions” listed previously. See
also Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-47.
Black plate (41,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Instruments and Controls 5-41
Object Detection System
Messages
24 GHz RADARS OFF
This message displays when driving
in certain areas where there may be
radar interference. Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), and the Active
Emergency Braking System may not
work or may not work as well. The
vehicle does not need service.
AUTOMATIC COLLISION
PREP OFF
This message displays when the
Active Emergency Braking System
has been turned off. SeeActive
Emergency Braking System on
page 9-54.
AUTOMATIC COLLISION PREP
REDUCED
This message displays when the
Active Emergency Braking System
has been set to the Alert setting.
This setting disables most automatic braking functions of the Auto
Collision Preparation feature. Some
last-second automatic braking
capability is still provided with the
Alert setting, but braking is less
likely to occur. See
Active
Emergency Braking System on
page 9-54.
AUTOMATIC COLLISION PREP
UNAVAILABLE
This message displays when the
Active Emergency Braking System
has been unavailable for some time.
The Active Emergency Braking
System does not need service.
This can occur under the following
conditions:
.The radar is not clean. Keep the
radar sensors free of mud, dirt,
snow, ice, and slush. Clean the
entire front and/or rear of the
vehicle. For cleaning
instructions, see Exterior Care
on page 10-71.
.Heavy rain or snow is interfering
with the radar object detection or
camera performance.
This message may also be
displayed if there is a problem with
the StabiliTrak system.
FORWARD COLLISION
ALERT OFF
This message displays when the
Forward Collision Alert has been
turned off.
FRONT CAMERA BLOCKED
CLEAN WINDSHIELD
This message displays when the
camera is blocked. Cleaning the
outside of the windshield behind the
rearview mirror may correct the
issue. The Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
and the Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) system will not operate.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC),
Forward Collision Alert (FCA), and
the Active Emergency Braking
System may not work or may not
work as well.