2018 CADILLAC ESCALADE ABS

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
INTRODUCTION 3
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do Not,”
“Do not do this,” or“Do not let this
happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message, gauge,
or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner’s manual
has additional instructions or
information.
*: Shown when the service manual
has additional instructions or
information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.” Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that
may be found on the vehicle and what
they mean. See the features in this
manual for information.
9:
Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS 39
To replace the slotted cap:1. Position the bottom edge of the cap under the lower edge of the
metal piece (6). The tabs (7)
attach to metal piece (6) at the
positions (5).
2. Rotate the cap upward to install into place.
3. Check that the cap is secure.
4. Release the door handle.
Free-Turning Locks
The door key lock cylinder turns freely
when either the wrong key is used,
or the correct key is not fully inserted.
The free turning door lock feature
prevents the lock from being forced
open. To reset the lock, turn it to the
vertical position with the correct key
fully inserted. Remove the key and
insert it again. If this does not reset
the lock, turn the key halfway around
in the cylinder and repeat the reset
procedure.Power Door Locks
PressQorKon the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation
0 29.
Q:Press to lock the doors.
K:Press to unlock the doors.
Delayed Locking
This feature delays the locking of the
doors until five seconds after all doors
are closed. Delayed locking can only be turned on
when the Unlocked Door Anti-Lockout
feature has been turned off.
When
Qis pressed on the power door
lock switch while a door or the liftgate
is open, a chime will sound three
times indicating delayed locking is
active.
The doors will lock automatically
five seconds after all doors are closed.
If a door is reopened before that time,
the five-second timer will reset when
all doors are closed again.
Press
Qon the door lock switch again
or press
Qon the RKE transmitter to
lock doors immediately.
This feature can also be programmed.
See Vehicle Personalization 0152.
Automatic Door Locks
The doors will lock automatically
when all doors are closed, the ignition
is on, and the vehicle is shifted out of
P (Park).

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
120 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . 121
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . 121
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . 121
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . 121
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . 123
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . 135
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Brake System Warning Light . . . . 138
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . 139
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Sport Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Winter Driving Mode Light . . . . . . 140
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . 140
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . 141
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . 143
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 143
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . . . . 147
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . 151
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . 152
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . 152
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . 160
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
140 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
stop as soon as it is safely possible
and turn off the vehicle. Then start
the engine again to reset the system.
If the ABS light stays on, or comes on
again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. A chime may also sound when
the light comes on steady.
If the ABS light is the only light on,
the vehicle has regular brakes, but the
antilock brakes are not functioning.If both the ABS and the brake system
warning light are on, the vehicle's
antilock brakes are not functioning
and there is a problem with the
regular brakes. See your dealer for
service.
See
Brake System Warning Light 0138.
Sport Mode Light
This light comes on when Sport mode
is selected. See Magnetic Ride Control
0 221.
Tow/Haul Mode Light
For vehicles with the Tow/Haul Mode
feature, this light comes on when the
Tow/Haul Mode has been activated.
See Tow/Haul Mode 0210.
Winter Driving Mode Light
This light comes on when Snow/Ice
mode is selected. See Magnetic Ride
Control 0221.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Light
This light is green if LKA is available
to assist.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
CLIMATE CONTROLS 181
4. Release the two tabs holding theservice door. Open the service
door and remove the old filter.
5. Install the new air filter.
6. Close the service door and secure the tabs.
7. Reverse the steps to reinstall the glove box.
See your dealer if additional
assistance is needed.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
182 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 191
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 205
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 206
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 215
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Automatic Level Control . . . . . . . . . 222
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 225
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 233
Assistance Systems for Parking
or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 244
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 244
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 246
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
California Fuel Requirements . . . . 249
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 249
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 185
Steering
Electric Power Steering
This vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance is
not required.
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can
be steered, but may require increased
effort.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel, and is
held in that position for an extended
period of time, power steering assist
may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the system
cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of the
curve before accelerating gently
into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may be
more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while driving. Follow these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way,
steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
192 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills; something
could be in your lane (e.g., stalled
car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick. .
Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0218.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should
be applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See Antilock Brake
System (ABS) 0215.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas. The
surface of a curve or an overpass
can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stay with the vehicle unless there is
help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Service 0366.
To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers. .
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
(Continued)