
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
INTRODUCTION 3
{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.
u: Air Conditioning System
G:Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components
Properly
P: Do Not Apply High Pressure
Water
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
H: Flammable
[:Forward Collision Alert
R: Fuse Block Cover Lock Location
+:Fuses
j:ISOFIX/LATCH System Child
Restraints
Q: Keep Fuse Block Covers Properly
Installed
|: Lane Change Alert
@:Lane Departure Warning
A:Lane Keep Assist
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
X:Park Assist
~:Pedestrian Ahead Indicator
O:Power
7: Rear Cross Traffic Alert
I:Registered Technician

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
18 KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS
Driver Door Key Lock Cylinder
Access (Slotted Cap Access) (In
Case of Dead Battery)
To access the driver door key lock
cylinder:1. Pull the door handle (1) to the open position and hold it open
until cap removal is complete.
2. Insert the key (4) into the slot (3) on the bottom of the
cap (2) and lift the key upward.
3. Remove the cap (2).
4. Use the key (4) in the cylinder.
To replace the slotted cap: 1. Pull the door handle (1) to the open position and hold it open
until cap installation is complete. 2. 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).
3. Rotate the cap upward to install into place.
4. Check that the cap is secure.
5. 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.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
104 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . 105
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . 105
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . 105
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . 105
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . 107
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . 120
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Brake System Warning Light . . . . 123
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . 124
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Sport Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Winter Driving Mode Light . . . . . . 125
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . 125
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . 126
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . 128
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 128
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . . . . 132
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . 136
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . 136
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . 136
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . 145
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
124 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Electric Parking Brake
Light
MetricEnglish
This light comes on when the parking
brake is applied. If the light continues
flashing after the parking brake is
released, or while driving, there is a
problem with the Electric Parking
Brake system. A message may also
display in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the light does not come on,
or remains flashing, see your dealer.
Service Electric Parking
Brake Light
If this light comes on and stays on,
there is a problem with a system on
the vehicle that is causing the parking
brake system to work at a reduced
level. The vehicle can still be driven,
but should be taken to a dealer as
soon as possible. See Electric Parking
Brake 0201. A message may also
display in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This warning light should come on
briefly when the vehicle is turned on.
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,
safely stop as soon as it is possible
and turn off the vehicle. Then turn on
the vehicle again to reset the system.
If the ABS warning light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the
vehicle needs service. A chime may
also sound when the light stays on.
If the ABS warning light is the only
light on, the vehicle has regular
brakes, but ABS is not functioning.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 125
If both the ABS warning light and the
brake system warning light are on,
ABS is not functioning and there is a
problem with the regular brakes. See
your dealer for service.
SeeBrake System Warning Light 0123.
Sport Mode Light
This light comes on when Sport mode
is selected. See Magnetic Ride Control
0 206.
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 0195.
Winter Driving Mode Light
This light comes on when Snow/Ice
mode is selected. See Magnetic Ride
Control 0206.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Light
After the vehicle is started, this light
turns off and stays off if LKA has not
been turned on or is unavailable.
If available, this light is white if LKA
is turned on but not ready to assist.
This light is green if LKA is turned on
and ready to assist if the vehicle
crosses detected markings on one or
both sides of the lane.
LKA may assist by gently turning the
steering wheel if the vehicle
approaches a detected lane marking.
The LKA light is amber when
assisting.
This light flashes amber as a Lane
Departure Warning (LDW) alert, to
indicate that the lane marking has
been crossed.
LKA will not assist or alert if the turn
signal is active in the direction of the
lane departure, or if LKA detects that
you are accelerating, braking,
or actively steering.
See Lane Keep Assist (LKA) 0232.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
CLIMATE CONTROLS 165
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.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood
that identifies the refrigerant used in
the vehicle. The refrigerant system should only be serviced by trained and
certified technicians. The air
conditioning evaporator should never
be repaired or replaced by one from a
salvage vehicle. It should only be
replaced by a new evaporator to
ensure proper and safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants should
be reclaimed with proper equipment.
Venting refrigerants directly to the
atmosphere is harmful to the
environment and may also create
unsafe conditions based on inhalation,
combustion, frostbite, or other
health-based concerns.
The air conditioning system requires
periodic maintenance. See
Maintenance Schedule
0339.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
166 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 176
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 190
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 191
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 200
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Automatic Level Control . . . . . . . . . 207
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 210
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 218
Assistance Systems for Parking
or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 230
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 230
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 232
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 235
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
170 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.