
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 73
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
center of the steering wheel.
The front outboard passenger frontal
airbag is in the passenger side
instrument panel.
The driver knee airbag is below the
steering column. The front outboard
passenger knee airbag is below the
glove box.Driver Side Shown, Passenger SideSimilar
The seat-mounted side impact airbags
for the driver and front outboard
passenger are in the side of the
seatbacks closest to the door.
The roof-rail airbags for the driver,
front outboard passenger, and second
row outboard passengers are in the
ceiling above the side windows.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 75
In addition, the vehicle has advanced
technology frontal airbags. Advanced
technology frontal airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
Knee airbags are designed to inflate in
moderate to severe frontal or near
frontal impacts. Knee airbags are not
designed to inflate during vehicle
rollovers, in rear impacts, or in many
side impacts.
The vehicle also has a seat position
sensor that enables the sensing
system to monitor the position of the
front outboard passenger seat. The
passenger seat position sensor and the
passenger safety belt buckle provide
information that is used to determine
if the passenger knee airbag should
inflate.
Seat-mounted side impact airbags are
designed to inflate in moderate to
severe side crashes depending on the
location of the impact. Seat-mounted
side impact airbags are not designed
to inflate in frontal impacts, near
frontal impacts, rollovers, or rear
impacts. A seat-mounted side impact
airbag is designed to inflate on the
side of the vehicle that is struck.Roof-rail airbags are designed to
inflate in moderate to severe side
crashes depending on the location of
the impact. In addition, these roof-rail
airbags are designed to inflate during
a rollover or in a severe frontal
impact. Roof-rail airbags are not
designed to inflate in rear impacts.
Both roof-rail airbags will inflate when
either side of the vehicle is struck,
if the sensing system predicts that the
vehicle is about to roll over on its
side, or in a severe frontal impact.
In any particular crash, no one can
say whether an airbag should have
inflated simply because of the vehicle
damage or repair costs.
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing
system sends an electrical signal
triggering a release of gas from the
inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the
airbag causing the bag to break out of
the cover. The inflator, the airbag, and
related hardware are all part of the
airbag module.
For airbag locations, see
Where Are the
Airbags? 073.
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near
frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering
wheel or the instrument panel. In
moderate to severe side collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the
inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts by
distributing the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant's body.
Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are
designed to help contain the head and
chest of occupants in the outboard
seating positions in the first and
second rows. The rollover capable
roof-rail airbags are designed to help
reduce the risk of full or partial
ejection in rollover events, although
no system can prevent all such
ejections.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
80 SEATS AND RESTRAINTS
properly in the seat. Use the following
steps to allow the system to detect
that person and enable the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag and
knee airbag:1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional material from the seat, such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers. Also,
remove laptops, or other
electronic devices.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat
cushion, with legs comfortably
extended.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position
for two to three minutes after
the on indicator is lit.{Warning
If the front outboard passenger
airbag is turned off for an
adult-sized occupant, the airbag will
not be able to inflate and help
protect that person in a crash,
resulting in an increased risk of
serious injury or even death. An
adult-sized occupant should not
ride in the front outboard passenger
seat, if the passenger airbag off
indicator is lit.
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Safety belts help keep the passenger
in position on the seat during vehicle
maneuvers and braking, which helps
the passenger sensing system
maintain the passenger airbag status.
See “Safety Belts” and“Child
Restraints ”in the Index for additional
information about the importance of
proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates.
We recommend that you not use seat
covers or other aftermarket equipment
except when approved by GM for your
specific vehicle. See
Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 081 for
more information about modifications
that can affect how the system
operates.
A wet seat can affect the performance
of the passenger sensing system. Here
is how:
. The passenger sensing system may
turn off the passenger frontal
airbag and passenger knee airbag
when liquid is soaked into the
seat. If this happens, the off
indicator will be lit, and the airbag
readiness light on the instrument
panel will also be lit.
. Liquid pooled on the seat that has
not soaked in may make it more
likely that the passenger sensing
system will turn on the passenger
frontal airbag and passenger knee
airbag while a child restraint or
child occupant is on the seat.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 81
If the passenger frontal airbag and
passenger knee airbag are turned
on, the on indicator will be lit.
If the passenger seat gets wet, dry the
seat immediately. If the airbag
readiness light is lit, do not install a
child restraint or allow anyone to
occupy the seat. See Airbag Readiness
Light 0122 for important safety
information.
The on indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other electronic
device, is put on an unoccupied seat.
If this is not desired, remove the
object from the seat.
{Warning
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should
be serviced. There are parts of the
airbag system in several places around
the vehicle. Your dealer and the
service manual have information
about servicing the vehicle and the
airbag system.
{Warning
For up to 10 seconds after the
vehicle is turned off and the battery
is disconnected, an airbag can still
inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an
airbag when it inflates. Avoid
yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the airbag system.
Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the
person performing work for you is
qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the
vehicle's frame, bumper system,
height, front end, or side sheet metal,
may keep the airbag system from
working properly. The operation of the
airbag system can also be affected by
changing any parts of the front seats,
safety belts, airbag sensing and
diagnostic module, steering wheel,
instrument panel, any of the airbag
modules, ceiling or pillar garnish trim,
overhead console, front sensors, side
impact sensors, or airbag wiring.
Your dealer and the service manual
have information about the location of
the airbag sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, and airbag wiring.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the front
outboard passenger position, which
includes sensors that are part of the
passenger seat. The passenger sensing
system may not operate properly if
the original seat trim is replaced with
non-GM covers, upholstery, or trim; or
with GM covers, upholstery, or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
100 STORAGE
Storage
Storage Compartments
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . 100
Instrument Panel Storage . . . . . . . . 100
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . 101
Additional Storage Features
Cargo Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Safety Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Storage Compartments
{Warning
Do not store heavy or sharp objects
in storage compartments. In a
crash, these objects may cause the
cover to open and could result in
injury.
Instrument Panel Storage
Touch the bottom of the climate
control system panel until the door
automatically starts to open. The
storage area may contain a USB port.
See the infotainment manual.
Keep the storage area door closed
while driving.
Touch the bottom of the climate
control system again until the door
automatically starts to close.
Glove Box
To open, press the button. Close the
glove box manually.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
110 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Caution
Hanging heavy equipment from the
power outlet can cause damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
The power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such as
cell phone charge cords.
Power Outlet 220/230 Volt
Alternating Current
If equipped, this power outlet is inside
the center console. It can be used to
plug in electrical equipment that uses
a maximum limit of 150 watts.
An indicator light on the outlet turns
on to show it is in use. The light
comes on when the ignition is in ON/
RUN/START, equipment requiring less
than 150 watts is plugged into the
outlet, and no system fault is
detected.
The indicator light does not come on
when the ignition is in LOCK/OFF or if
the equipment is not fully seated into
the outlet.
If equipment is connected using more
than 150 watts or a system fault is
detected, a protection circuit shuts off
the power supply and the indicator
light turns off. To reset the circuit,
unplug the item and plug it back in or
turn the Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) off and then back on. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)0200.
The power restarts when equipment
using 150 watts or less is plugged into
the outlet and a system fault is not
detected. The power outlet is not designed for
the following and may not work
properly, if this equipment is
plugged in:
.
Equipment with high initial peak
wattage such as:
compressor-driven refrigerators
and electric power tools.
. Other equipment requiring an
extremely stable power supply
such as: microcomputer-controlled
electric blankets, touch sensor
lamps, etc.
. Medical equipment.
Wireless Charging
The vehicle may have wireless
charging in the storage behind the
climate control system. See Instrument
Panel Storage 0100. The system
wirelessly charges one PMA or Qi
compatible mobile device. To check
for phone or other device
compatibility, see your dealer for
details.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 111
{Warning
Wireless charging can affect the
operation of an implanted
pacemaker or other medical devices.
If you have one, it is recommended
to consult with your doctor before
using the wireless charging system.
The vehicle must be in ON/RUN/
START, ACC/ACCESSORY, or Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). The wireless
charging feature may not correctly
indicate charging when the vehicle is
in RAP. See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0200.
The operating temperature is −20 °C
(−4 °F) to 60 °C (140 °F) for the
charging system and 0 °C (32 °F) to
35 °C (95 °F) for the phone.
{Warning
Remove all metal objects from the
charging pad before charging your
mobile device. Metal objects, such
as coins, keys, rings, or paper clips,
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
between the phone and charging
pad will become very hot. On the
rare occasion that the charging
system does not detect a metal
object, and the object gets wedged
between the phone and charger,
remove the phone and allow the
metallic object to cool before
removing it from the charging pad,
to prevent burns.
To charge a mobile device:
1. Open the climate control system panel.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
124 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not meet
the original tire specifications, can
cause this light to come on. This
could lead to costly repairs not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also affect the vehicle’s
ability to pass an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications0248.
If the light is f lashing : A
malfunction has been detected that
could damage the emission control
system and increase vehicle
emissions. Diagnosis and service may
be required.
To help prevent damage, reduce
vehicle speed and avoid hard
accelerations and uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the amount
of cargo being hauled as soon as
possible. If the light continues to flash, find a
safe place to park. Turn the vehicle off
and wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting the engine. If the light is
still flashing, follow the previous
guidelines and see your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
If the light is on steady :
A
malfunction has been detected.
Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
. If fuel has been added to the
vehicle using the capless funnel
adapter, make sure that it has
been removed. See “Filling the
Tank with a Portable Gas Can ”
under Filling the Tank 0243. The
diagnostic system can detect if the
adapter has been left installed in
the vehicle, allowing fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the
adapter removed may turn off the
light.
. Poor fuel quality can cause
inefficient engine operation and
poor driveability, which may go
away once the engine is warmed up. If this occurs, change the fuel
brand. It may require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn
the light off. See
Fuel0242.
If the light remains on, see your
dealer.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
If the vehicle requires an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test, the test
equipment will likely connect to the
vehicle's Data Link Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering wheel.
Connecting devices that are not used
to perform an Emissions Inspection/
Maintenance test or to service the
vehicle may affect vehicle operation.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment 0246.
See your dealer if assistance is needed.