2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE seats

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
58 SEATS AND RESTRAINTS
Folding the Third Row Seats from
the Overhead Console
To fold the seats from the overhead
console, if equipped:
The vehicle must be in P (Park) for
this feature to work.1. Press and hold the switch to fold the third row seatback.
The left switch folds the left
seatback, and the right switch folds
the right seatback.
2. Repeat the steps for the other seatback, if desired. 3. Press and hold the switch to return
the seatback to the seating
position.
If the red light on the switch is
illuminated, the third row seatback
is not in the seating position.
If the red light on the switch is off,
the third row seatback is in the
seating position.
There are additional switches which
can be used to fold the third row
seatbacks from the cargo area. See
Third Row Seats 055.Seat Belts
This section describes how to use seat
belts properly, and some things not
to do.
{Warning
Do not let anyone ride where a seat
belt cannot be worn properly. In a
crash, if you or your passenger(s)
are not wearing seat belts, injuries
can be much worse than if you are
wearing seat belts. You can be
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
seriously injured or killed by hitting
things inside the vehicle harder or
by being ejected from the vehicle.
In addition, anyone who is not
buckled up can strike other
passengers in the vehicle.
It is extremely dangerous to ride in
a cargo area, inside or outside of a
vehicle. In a collision, passengers
riding in these areas are more likely
to be seriously injured or killed. Do
not allow passengers to ride in any
area of the vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and seat belts.
Always wear a seat belt, and check
that all passenger(s) are restrained
properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the seat belts. See
Seat Belt Reminders 0119.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 59
Why Seat Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel as
fast as the vehicle does. If the vehicle
stops suddenly, you keep going until
something stops you. It could be the
windshield, the instrument panel,
or the seat belts!
When you wear a seat belt, you and
the vehicle slow down together. There
is more time to stop because you stop
over a longer distance and, when worn
properly, your strongest bones take
the forces from the seat belts. That is
why wearing seat belts makes such
good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicleafter a crash if I am wearing a
seat belt?
A: You could be— whether you are
wearing a seat belt or not. Your
chance of being conscious during
and after a crash, so you can
unbuckle and get out, is much
greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear seat belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems
only. They work withseat belts —
not instead of them. Whether or
not an airbag is provided, all
occupants still have to buckle up to
get the most protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in all
Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing seat belts.
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's
protection. There are additional things to know
about seat belts and children,
including smaller children and infants.
If a child will be riding in the vehicle,
see
Older Children 077 or
Infants and Young Children 078.
Review and follow the rules for
children in addition to the following
rules.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are wearing
seat belts.
There are important things to know
about wearing a seat belt properly.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
60 SEATS AND RESTRAINTS
.Sit up straight and always keep your
feet on the floor in front of you (if
possible).
.Always use the correct buckle for
your seating position.
.Wear the lap part of the belt low
and snug on the hips, just touching
the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones and
you would be less likely to slide
under the lap belt. If you slid under
it, the belt would apply force on
your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
.Wear the shoulder belt over the
shoulder and across the chest.
These parts of the body are best
able to take belt restraining forces.
The shoulder belt locks if there is a
sudden stop or crash.
{Warning
You can be seriously injured,
or even killed, by not wearing your
seat belt properly.
Never allow the lap or shoulder belt to
become loose or twisted.Never wear the shoulder belt under
both arms or behind your back.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 61
Always use the correct buckle for your
seating position.
Never route the lap or shoulder belt
over an armrest.
{Warning
The seat belt can be pinched if it is
routed under plastic trim on the
seat, such as trim around the rear
seatback folding handle or side
airbag. In a crash, pinched seat
belts might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Never allow
seat belts to be routed under plastic
trim pieces.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle
have a lap-shoulder belt.
If you are using a rear seating position
with a detachable seat belt and the
seat belt is not attached, seeThird
Row Seats 055 for instructions on
reconnecting the seat belt to the
mini-buckle.
The following instructions explain
how to wear a lap-shoulder belt
properly.
1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see “Seats”in
the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get
twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if
you pull the belt across you very
quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then
pull the belt across you more
slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a
passenger belt is pulled out all the
way, the child restraint locking
feature may be engaged. See Child
Restraint Systems 080. If this
occurs, let the belt go back all the
way and start again. If the locking
feature stays engaged after letting

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
62 SEATS AND RESTRAINTS
the belt go back to stowed position
on the seat, move the seat rearward
or recline the seat until the
shoulder belt retractor lock
releases.
Engaging the child restraint locking
feature in the front outboard
seating position may affect the
passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing System071.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle
until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make
sure it is secure.
If the belt is not long enough, see
Seat Belt Extender 064. If the latch plate will not go fully
into the buckle, check if the correct
buckle is being used.
Position the release button on the
buckle so that the seat belt could
be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the
height that is right for you. See
“Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster” in
this section for instructions on use
and important safety information.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.
To unlatch the belt, push the button
on the buckle. The belt should return
to its stowed position.
Always stow the seat belt slowly. If the
seat belt webbing returns quickly to
the stowed position, the retractor may
lock and cannot be pulled out. If this
happens, pull the seat belt straight out
firmly to unlock the webbing, and
then release it. If the webbing is still
locked in the retractor, see your
dealer.
Before a door is closed, be sure the
seat belt is out of the way. If a door is
slammed against a seat belt, damage
can occur to both the seat belt and
the vehicle.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 63
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a shoulder belt height
adjuster for the driver and front
outboard passenger positions.
Adjust the height so the shoulder
portion of the belt is on the shoulder
and not falling off of it. The belt
should be close to, but not contacting,
the neck. Improper shoulder belt
height adjustment could reduce the
effectiveness of the seat belt in a
crash. SeeHow to Wear Seat Belts
Properly 059.
Push the release button to move the
height adjuster to the desired position. After the adjuster is set to the desired
position, try to move it down without
pushing the release button to make
sure it has locked into position.
Automatic Seat Belt Tightening
System
The vehicle may have the Automatic
Seat Belt Tightening System.
Each time the front seat belts are
buckled while the vehicle is in P (Park)
or D (Drive) and the engine is running
or in Auto Stop (if equipped), the
system may activate to tighten the
seat belts.
The system also activates during
emergency braking and/or sudden
driving maneuvers and releases when
driving conditions return to normal.
The system will not activate if the
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control system is not functioning
properly. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0264.
If there is a problem with the
Automatic Seat Belt Tightening
System, a message displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). If a
system unavailable message displays repeatedly or if a service message
displays, see your dealer. Other seat
belt functions are not affected by the
Automatic Seat Belt Tightening
System.
Seat Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has seat belt
pretensioners for the front outboard
occupants.
Although the seat belt pretensioners
cannot be seen, they are part of the
seat belt assembly. They can help
tighten the seat belts during the early
stages of a moderate to severe frontal
or near frontal crash if the threshold
conditions for pretensioner activation
are met.
Seat belt pretensioners can also help
tighten the seat belts in a side crash
or rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners activate in a crash, the
pretensioners and probably other
parts of the vehicle's seat belt system
will need to be replaced. See
Replacing
Seat Belt System Parts after a Crash
0 65.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
64 SEATS AND RESTRAINTS
Do not sit on the outboard seat belt
while entering or exiting the vehicle or
at any time while sitting in the seat.
Sitting on the seat belt can damage
the webbing and hardware.
Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides
Rear seat belt comfort guides may
provide added seat belt comfort for
older children who have outgrown
booster seats and for some adults.
When installed on a shoulder belt, the
comfort guide positions the shoulder
belt away from the neck and head.
Comfort guides are available through
your dealer for the rear outboard
seating positions. Instructions are
included with the comfort guides.
Seat Belt Use During
Pregnancy
Seat belts work for everyone,
including pregnant women. Like all
occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they do not wear
seat belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a
lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion
should be worn as low as possible,
below the rounding, throughout the
pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to
protect the mother. When a seat belt
is worn properly, it is more likely that
the fetus will not be hurt in a crash.
For pregnant women, as for anyone,
the key to making seat belts effective
is wearing them properly.
Seat Belt Extender
If the vehicle's seat belt will fasten
around you, you should use it.But if a seat belt is not long enough,
your dealer will order you an extender.
When you go in to order it, take the
heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you.
To help avoid personal injury, do not
let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. The
extender has been designed for adults.
Never use it for securing child
restraints. For more information on
the proper use and fit of seat belt
extenders see the instruction sheet
that comes with the extender.
Safety System Check
Periodically check the seat belt
reminder, seat belts, buckles, latch
plates, retractors, shoulder belt height
adjusters (if equipped), and seat belt
anchorages to make sure they are all
in working order. Look for any other
loose or damaged seat belt system
parts that might keep a seat belt
system from performing properly. See
your dealer to have it repaired. Torn,
frayed, or twisted seat belts may not
protect you in a crash. Torn or frayed
seat belts can rip apart under impact
forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, have

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 65
it replaced immediately. If a belt is
twisted, it may be possible to untwist
by reversing the latch plate on the
webbing. If the twist cannot be
corrected, ask your dealer to fix it.
Make sure the seat belt reminder light
is working. SeeSeat Belt Reminders
0 119.
Keep seat belts clean and dry. See Seat
Belt Care 065.
Seat Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
Seat belts should be properly cared for
and maintained.
Seat belt hardware should be kept dry
and free of dust or debris. As
necessary, exterior hard surfaces and
seat belt webbing may be lightly
cleaned with mild soap and water.
Ensure there is not excessive dust or
debris in the mechanism. If dust or
debris exists in the system please see
the dealer. Parts may need to be
replaced to ensure proper
functionality of the system.
{Warning
Do not bleach or dye seat belt
webbing. It may severely weaken
the webbing. In a crash, they might
not be able to provide adequate
protection. Clean and rinse seat belt
webbing only with mild soap and
lukewarm water. Allow the webbing
to dry.
Replacing Seat Belt
System Parts after a Crash
{Warning
A crash can damage the seat belt
system in the vehicle. A damaged
seat belt system may not properly
protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or even
death in a crash. To help make sure
the seat belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible. After a minor crash, replacement of
seat belts may not be necessary. But
the seat belt assemblies that were
used during any crash may have been
stressed or damaged. See your dealer
to have the seat belt assemblies
inspected or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the seat belt system
was not being used at the time of the
crash.
Have the seat belt pretensioners
checked if the vehicle has been in a
crash, or if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start the vehicle or
while you are driving. See
Airbag
Readiness Light 0120.
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following airbags:
.A frontal airbag for the driver
.A frontal airbag for the front
outboard passenger
.A front center airbag for the driver
and front outboard passenger
.A seat-mounted side impact airbag
for the driver