
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
22 KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS
Caution
Manually forcing the liftgate to
open or close during a power cycle
can damage the vehicle. Allow the
power cycle to complete.
The power liftgate may be temporarily
disabled in extremely low
temperatures, or after repeated power
cycling over a short period of time.
If this occurs, the liftgate can still be
operated manually.
If the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park)
while the power function is in
progress, the liftgate will continue to
completion. If the vehicle is
accelerated before the liftgate has
completed moving, the liftgate may
stop or reverse direction. Check for
Driver Information Center (DIC)
messages and make sure the liftgate is
closed and latched before driving.
Falling Liftgate Detection
If the power liftgate automatically
closes after a power opening cycle, it
indicates that the system is reacting
to excess weight on the liftgate or a
possible support strut failure. A repetitive chime will sound while
the falling liftgate detection feature is
operating. Remove any excess weight.
If the liftgate continues to
automatically close after opening, see
your dealer for service before using
the power liftgate.
Interfering with the power liftgate
motion or manually closing the
liftgate too quickly after power
opening may resemble a support strut
failure. This could also activate the
falling liftgate detection feature. Allow
the liftgate to complete its operation
and wait a few seconds before
manually closing the liftgate.
Obstacle Detection Features
If the liftgate encounters an obstacle
during a power open or close cycle,
the liftgate will automatically reverse
direction and move a short distance
away from the obstacle. After
removing the obstruction, the power
liftgate operation can be used again.
If the liftgate encounters multiple
obstacles on the same power cycle,
the power function will deactivate.
After removing the obstructions,
manually close the liftgate. This will
allow normal power operation
functions to resume.
If the vehicle is locked while the
liftgate is closing, and an obstacle is
encountered that prevents the liftgate
from completely closing, the horn will
sound as an alert that the liftgate did
not close.
Setting the 3/4 Mode
To change the position the liftgate
stops at when opening:
1. Select MAX or 3/4 mode and power open the liftgate.
2. Stop the liftgate movement at the desired height by pressing any
liftgate button. Manually adjust the
liftgate position if needed.
3. Press and hold
lon the bottom
edge of the liftgate next to the
latch on the outside of the liftgate
until the turn signals flash and a
beep sounds. This indicates the
setting has been recorded.

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KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS 23
The liftgate cannot be set below a
minimum programmable height.
If there is no light flash or sound,
then the height adjustment may be
too low.
Manual Operation
Select OFF to manually operate the
liftgate.
Caution
Attempting to move the liftgate too
quickly and with excessive force
may result in damage to the
vehicle.
Operate the liftgate manually with a
smooth motion and moderate speed.
The system includes a feature which
limits the manual closing speed to
protect the components.
To open the liftgate, pressKon the
power door lock switch or press
Kon
the remote key twice to unlock all
doors, then press the emblem. Once
opened, raise the liftgate using the
handle on the interior bottom edge.
Press the button above the license
plate to open the liftglass, or press
c
twice quickly on the remote key. Do
not leave the liftglass open when
raising the liftgate.
There will be a delay in the release of
the liftglass if there is an attempt to
open it while the rear wiper is in
motion.
Use the pull cup to lower and close
the liftgate. Do not press the emblem
while closing the liftgate. This will
cause the liftgate to be unlatched.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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24 KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS
The liftgate can be opened when
locked if the remote key is within 1 m
(3 ft) of the emblem. SeeRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation
0 7.
The liftgate has an electric latch.
If the battery is disconnected or has
low voltage, the liftgate will not open.
The liftgate will resume operation
when the battery is reconnected and
charged.
Hands-Free Operation
If equipped, the liftgate may be
operated with a kicking motion near
the center of the rear bumper at the
location of the projected logo. The
remote key must be within 1 m (3 ft)
of the rear bumper to operate the
power liftgate hands-free.
The hands-free feature will not work
while the liftgate is moving. To stop
the liftgate while in motion use one of
the liftgate switches.
The hands-free feature can be
customized. See Vehicle Personalization
0 138. Choose from the following: On-Open and Close :
The kicking
motion is activated to both open and
close the liftgate.
On-Open Only : The kicking motion is
activated to only open the liftgate.
Off : The feature is disabled.
Kick Zone
To operate, move your foot in a
forward kicking motion near the
center of the rear bumper at the
location of the projected logo, then
pull it back. The kick must come
within 14 cm (6 in) of the rear
bumper to activate. Then step back.
.Do not sweep your foot side to side.
.Do not keep your foot under the
bumper; the liftgate will not
activate.
.Do not touch the liftgate until it has
stopped moving.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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28 KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS
Power Assist Steps
{Warning
To avoid personal injury or property
damage, before entering or exiting
the vehicle, be sure the power assist
step is fully extended. Do not step
on the power assist step while it is
moving. Never place hands or other
body parts between the extended
power assist step and the vehicle.
If equipped, the power assist steps will
deploy when the door is opened and
automatically retract three seconds
after the door is closed. The power
assist steps will retract immediately if
the vehicle starts moving.
Disable the power assist steps before
jacking or placing any object under
the vehicle. Too much ice buildup
may prevent deployment of the power
assist steps. Check the step position
before exiting the vehicle. If this
happens, disable the power assist
steps, clear the ice, then enable the
assist steps and confirm normal
function prior to use. Keep hands, children, pets, objects,
and clothing clear of the power assist
steps when in motion. The steps will
reverse direction if they encounter an
obstruction when opening or closing.
Remove the obstruction, then open
and close the door on the same side
to complete the motion of the assist
steps. If the obstruction is not cleared,
the assist steps remain extended while
driving.
To extend or retract both power assist
steps for cleaning, see
Vehicle
Personalization 0138.
Enable/Disable
To enable or disable the power assist
steps, see Vehicle Personalization
0 138.
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
the vehicle impossible to steal.
Vehicle Alarm System
The indicator light, on the driver door
near the window, indicates the status
of the system. See Power Door Locks
0 18
Arming the Alarm System
1. Turn off the vehicle.
2. Lock the vehicle in one of
three ways:
.Use the remote key.
.Use the Keyless Access system.
.With a door open, pressQon
the interior of the door.

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3. After 30 seconds the alarm systemwill arm, and the indicator light
will begin to slowly flash. Pressing
Qon the remote key a second time
will bypass the 30-second delay
and immediately arm the alarm
system.
The vehicle alarm system will not arm
if the doors are locked with the
mechanical key.
If the driver door is opened without
first unlocking with the remote key,
the horn will chirp and the lights will
flash to indicate pre-alarm. If the
vehicle is not started, or the door is
not unlocked by pressing
Kon the
remote key during the 10-second
pre-alarm, the alarm will be activated.
The alarm will also be activated if a
passenger door, the liftgate, or the
hood is opened without first
disarming the system. When the
alarm is activated, the turn signals
flash and the horn sounds for about
30 seconds. The alarm system will
then re-arm to monitor for the next
unauthorized event.
Disarming the Alarm System
To disarm the alarm system or turn
off the alarm if it has been activated:
.PressKon the remote key.
.Unlock the vehicle using the Keyless
Access system.
.Start the vehicle.
To avoid setting off the alarm by
accident:
.Lock the vehicle after all occupants
have exited.
.Always unlock a door with the
remote key, or use the Keyless
Access system.
Unlocking the driver door with the
mechanical key will not disarm the
system or turn off the alarm.
How to Detect a Tamper
Condition
IfKis pressed on the remote key and
the horn chirps three times, an alarm
occurred previously while the alarm
system was armed.
If the alarm has been activated, a
message will appear on the DIC.
Power Sounder, Inclination
Sensor, and Intrusion Sensor
In addition to the standard
theft-deterrent system features, this
system may also have a power
sounder, inclination sensor, and
intrusion sensor.
The power sounder provides an
audible alarm which is distinct from
the vehicle’s horn. It has its own
power source, and can sound an alarm
if the vehicle’s battery is
compromised.
The inclination sensor can set off the
alarm if it senses movement of the
vehicle, such as a change in vehicle
orientation.
The intrusion sensor monitors the
vehicle interior, and can activate the
alarm if it senses unauthorized entry
into the vehicle’s interior. Do not
allow passengers or pets to remain in
the vehicle when the intrusion sensor
is activated.
Before arming the theft-deterrent
system and activating the intrusion
sensor:

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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30 KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS
.Make sure all doors and windows
are completely closed.
.Secure any loose items such as a
sunshades.
.Make sure there are no obstructions
blocking the sensors in the front
overhead console.
.Close DVD screens before leaving
the vehicle.
Intrusion and Inclination
Sensors Disable Switch
It is recommended that the intrusion
and inclination sensors be deactivated
if pets are left in the vehicle or the
vehicle is being transported.With the vehicle off, press
oin the
front overhead console to turn off the
feature.
The indicator light may come on
momentarily, or a message may
display on the instrument cluster,
indicating that these sensors have
been disabled until the next time the
alarm system is armed.
Steering Column Lock
If equipped, the steering column lock
is a theft-deterrent device. This
feature locks the steering column
when the vehicle is turned off and the
driver door is opened, or when the
driver door is opened and then the
vehicle is turned off. The steering
column unlocks when the vehicle is
turned on.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
may display one of these messages:
.A message to service the steering
column lock indicates that an issue
has been detected with the column
lock feature and the vehicle should
be serviced.
.A message that the steering column
is locked indicates that the engine
is running, but the steering column
is still locked. It is normal for the
column to be locked during a
remote start, but the column should
unlock after the brake pedal is
pressed and the vehicle is started.
No message will display during a
remote start.
.A message that the steering wheel
must be turned and the vehicle
must be started again indicates that
the column lock mechanism is
bound, the column locking device
was unable to unlock the steering
column, and the vehicle did not
start. If this happens, immediately
turn the steering wheel from side to
side to unbind the column lock.
If this does not unlock the steering
column, turn the vehicle off and
open the driver door to reset the
system. Then turn the vehicle on
and immediately turn the steering
wheel side to side for about
15 seconds. In some cases, it may
take significant force to unbind the
column.

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Resetting the Power Folding
Mirrors
Reset the power folding mirrors if:
.The mirrors are accidentally
obstructed while folding.
.They are accidentally manually
folded/unfolded.
.The mirrors do not stay in the
unfolded position.
.The mirrors vibrate at normal
driving speeds.
Fold and unfold the mirrors one time
using the mirror controls to reset
them to their normal position. A noise
may be heard during the resetting of
the power folding mirrors. This sound
is normal after a manual folding
operation.
Remote Mirror Folding
If equipped with power folding mirrors
and the mirrors have been folded with
the power folding mirror switch, they
may not be automatically unfolded.
If equipped with power folding mirrors
and the mirrors have not been folded
with the power folding mirror switch and the vehicle is in P (Park), they
may be automatically folded/unfolded
as follows:
1. If doors are locked by pressing
H
on the remote key, the mirrors will
fold. If doors are unlocked by
pressing
Ion the remote key, the
mirrors will unfold. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 07.
2. If doors are locked by pressing the door handle lock/unlock button,
the mirrors will fold. If doors are
unlocked by pressing the door
handle button, the mirrors will
unfold. See “Keyless Unlocking/
Locking from the Driver Door” in
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 07.
3. If passive locking is enabled and doors are locked by that feature,
the mirrors will fold. See “Passive
Locking” inRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation 07.
This feature is turned on or off
through vehicle personalization. See
Vehicle Personalization 0138.
Heated Mirrors
The rear window defogger also heats
the outside mirrors.
K:Press to heat the outside mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
0 220.
Automatic Dimming Mirror
If equipped, the driver outside mirror
automatically adjusts for the glare of
the headlamps from behind. This
feature comes on when the vehicle is
started.
Reverse Tilt Mirrors
If equipped with reverse tilt mirrors
and memory seats, the passenger and/
or driver mirror tilts to a preselected
position when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse). This allows the curb to be
seen when parallel parking.
The mirror(s) may move from their
tilted position when:
.The vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or remains in
R (Reverse) for about 30 seconds.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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36 KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS
See your dealer for service if a blue
screen and
3are displayed in the
mirror, and the display shuts off. Also,
push the tab as indicated to return to
the automatic dimming mode.
The Rear Camera Mirror may not work
properly or display a clear image if:
.There is glare from the sun or
headlamps. This may obstruct
objects from view. If needed, push
the tab to turn off the display.
.Dirt, snow, or other debris blocks
the camera lens. Clean the lens with
a soft damp cloth, or, if equipped,
with the Rear Camera Washer. See
Rear Window Wiper/Washer 0107.
.The camera’s mounting on the
vehicle has been damaged, and/or
the position or the mounting angle
of the camera has changed.
Windows
{
Warning
Never leave a child, a helpless adult,
or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows closed
in warm or hot weather. They can
be overcome by the extreme heat
and suffer permanent injuries or
even death from heat stroke.
The vehicle aerodynamics are
designed to improve fuel economy
performance. This may result in a
pulsing sound when either rear
window is down and the front
windows are up. To reduce the sound,
open either a front window or the
sunroof, if equipped.
Power Windows
{Warning
Children could be seriously injured
or killed if caught in the path of a
closing window. Never leave the
remote key in a vehicle with
children. When there are children in
the rear seat, use the window
lockout switch to prevent operation
of the windows. See Keys06.