Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS 21
Caution
Driving with an open and
unsecured liftgate may result in
damage to the power liftgate
components.
The power liftgate switch is on the
overhead console. The vehicle must be
in P (Park).
The modes are:
MAX :Opens to maximum height.
3/4 : Opens to a reduced height that
can be set from 3/4 to fully open. Use
to prevent the liftgate from opening
into overhead obstructions such as a garage door or roof-mounted cargo.
The liftgate can be manually opened
all the way.
OFF :
Opens manually only.
To power open or close the liftgate,
select MAX or 3/4 mode and then:
.Pressbtwice quickly on the
remote key until the liftgate moves.
.Press8on the overhead console.
The driver door must be unlocked
or locked without the security
armed.
.Press the emblem under the
liftglass, after unlocking all doors.
A locked vehicle can be opened if
the remote key is within 1 m (3 ft)
of the emblem.
.Presslon the bottom edge of the
liftgate next to the latch to close.
Press any liftgate button, the emblem,
or
bon the remote key while the
liftgate is moving to stop it. Pressing
any liftgate button or pressing
b
twice quickly on the remote key
restarts the operation in the reverse
direction. Pressing the emblem will
restart the motion, but only in the
opening direction.
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.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
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-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 41
Head Restraints
The vehicle’s front seats have
adjustable head restraints in the
outboard seating positions.
{Warning
With head restraints that are not
installed and adjusted properly,
there is a greater chance that
occupants will suffer a neck/spinal
injury in a crash. Do not drive until
the head restraints for all occupants
are installed and adjusted properly.
If your vehicle has rear head
restraints that fold down, always
return them to the full upright
position whenever an occupant is
seated in the seat.
Adjust the head restraint so that the
top of the restraint is at the same
height as the top of the occupant's
head. This position reduces the
chance of a neck injury in a crash.
Front Seats
The vehicle's front seats have
adjustable head restraints in the
outboard seating positions.
The height of the head restraint can
be adjusted.
To raise or lower the head restraint,
press the button located on the side of
the head restraint and pull up or push
the head restraint down, and release
the button. Pull and push on the head
restraint after the button is released
to make sure that it is locked in place.
The front seat outboard head
restraints are not removable.
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 75
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. SeeAdding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 075 for
more information about modifications
that can affect how the system
operates.
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 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. To purchase a service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0467.
{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,
including improperly repairing or
replacing, any parts of the following:
.Airbag system, including airbag
modules, front or side impact
sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module, airbag wiring, or front
center console
.Front seats, including stitching,
seams or zippers
.Seat belts
.Steering wheel, instrument panel,
overhead console, ceiling trim,
or pillar garnish trim
.Inner door seals, including speakers
Your dealer and the service manual
have information about the location of
the airbag modules and sensors,