
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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238 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Do not rely on this feature. It does not
replace the need to pay attention and
drive safely. You may not hear or feel
alerts or warnings provided by this
system. Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage.
When Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) is
turned on and the vehicle is braked to a
stop, AVH prevents the vehicle from moving
during the transition from brake pedal
release to accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the accelerator pedal is
applied. The brakes may also release under
other conditions. Do not rely on AVH to
hold the vehicle.
If the accelerator pedal is not applied within
a few minutes, the Electric Parking Brake
will apply. The parking brake will also apply
if the driver door is opened or the driver
seat belt is unfastened while AVH is holding
the vehicle.
AVH can be turned on by pressing AUTO
HOLD. The indicator light on the switch will
come on. The AVH light on the instrument panel will come on while AVH is actively
holding the vehicle. See
Automatic Vehicle
Hold (AVH) Light 0117.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control System
(TCS) and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC). These systems help limit
wheel spin and assist the driver in
maintaining control, especially on slippery
road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses any of the drive
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, TCS applies the
brakes to the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the vehicle
senses a difference between the intended
path and the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to one or more of the
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the driver in
keeping the vehicle on the intended path. Trailer Sway Control (TSC) is also on
automatically when the vehicle is started.
See
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) 0322.
If cruise control is being used and traction
control or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit
wheel spin, cruise control will disengage.
Cruise control may be turned back on when
road conditions allow.
Both systems come on automatically when
the vehicle is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while performing
diagnostic checks. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with the
vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both systems on
for normal driving conditions, but it may be
necessary to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0215 and “Turning the
Systems Off and On” later in this section.
When the transfer case (if equipped) is in
Four-Wheel Drive Low, the TCS and
StabiliTrak/ESC are automatically disabled,
g
comes on, and the appropriate message will
appear on the Driver Information
Center (DIC).

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 239
The indicator light for both systems is to
the right of the center stack and below the
screen. This light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting wheel spin
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is activated
.Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working
See Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
Light 0119.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. Adjust driving
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine. Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on and stays
on, see your dealer as soon as possible.
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn Traction (TSC) or Stability (ESC) off
and on, access the Traction and Stability
screen from the Vehicle Information main
screen in the infotainment system. See
Vehicle Information 0127 for instructions on
navigating and selecting items.
Traction and Stability Screen The current status of each system is
displayed next to the Traction and Stability
icons. To turn either system off or on, select
or touch the Traction and Stability screen to
access the Traction and Stability menu
screen.
Traction and Stability Menu
To turn off TCS, select or touch the Traction
virtual button on the screen. The traction off
light
idisplays in the instrument cluster.
See Traction Off Light 0118.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when disabled,
the system will not turn off until the wheels
stop spinning.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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240 Driving and Operating
To turn TCS back on, select or touch the
Traction virtual button on the screen. The
traction off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off.
To turn StabiliTrak/ESC off, first turn off TCS
to enable the Stability virtual button on the
screen, then select or touch the Stability
virtual button. The StabiliTrak/ESC off light
gwill display in the instrument cluster. See
StabiliTrak OFF Light 0119.
To turn StabiliTrak/ESC back on, select or
touch the Stability virtual button on the
screen. StabiliTrak/ESC will turn on, but TCS
will remain off.
TCS cannot be on when StabiliTrak/ESC is
off. If both systems are turned off, selecting
or touching the Traction virtual button will
turn both systems back on.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically turn on if
the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h (35 mph) and
cannot be turned off again until speed is
reduced. Traction control will remain off.
Vehicles equipped with the four corner air
suspension re-enable StabiliTrak/ESC at
32 km/h (20 mph). The vehicle has a Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
feature and a Hill Start Assist (HSA) feature.
See
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) 0322 or
Hill Start Assist (HSA) 0237.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0336.Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control (DMC) allows the driver
to adjust the overall driving experience to
better suit preference by adjusting multiple
subsystems simultaneously. Drive mode
availability and affected vehicle subsystems
are dependent upon vehicle trim level,
region, and optional features.
Tour will be the default mode at every
ignition cycle. A unique and persistent
indicator will be displayed in the instrument
cluster for each mode.
Depending on trim level, Tour mode, Sport
mode, Snow/Ice mode, Off-Road mode, Tow/
Haul mode, Terrain mode, My mode, and V
mode may be available.
To activate each mode, press the MODE
button on the instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel. To activate Terrain
mode, press
gbutton located next to
the MODE button.
Tour Mode : Use this mode for normal city
and highway driving to provide a smooth
ride. This setting provides balance between
comfort and handling. This is the standard/
default mode. There is no persistent
indicator in the instrument cluster for
this mode.
8Sport Mode : Use this mode where road
conditions or personal preference demand a
more controlled response. When in Sport
mode the vehicle automatically down shifts.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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242 Driving and Operating
Active Braking during lift throttle will be
engaged. This feature automatically applies
light braking to simulate heavy engine
braking of four-wheel-drive low. It also
applies light braking in D (Drive) until the
vehicle is at idle speeds. In L1 and L2 light
braking will typically bring the vehicle to a
stop. Active Braking during lift throttle also
reduces trailer braking.
Terrain mode automatically exits to Tour
mode if the brake temperatures become too
hot, electronic parking brake becomes
inoperable, or the vehicle cannot perform
braking or vehicle hold.
For more information on off-road driving,
seeOff-Road Driving 0209 and
Hill and Mountain Roads 0213. V Mode
If equipped, to activate V mode, press the V
mode button on the center console.
V Mode and My Mode
V mode and My mode is used to personalize
everyday driving. This mode allows the
driver to configure the vehicle system
settings to their driving preferences. My
mode will remain active every time the
vehicle is started. To customize V mode or
My mode, see
“Drive Mode Customization.”
Launch Control (V-Series Only)
Launch Control is available within V mode
only to allow high levels of vehicle
acceleration in a straight line. Launch Control is a form of traction control that
manages tire spin while launching the
vehicle. This feature is intended for use
during closed course race events where up
to 97 km (60 mph) are desirable. Launch
Control is only available when the following
criteria are met:
‐
V mode is selected.
‐ The vehicle is not moving.
‐ The steering wheel is pointing straight.
‐ The brake pedal is firmly pressed to the
floor, equivalent to a panic brake event.
‐ The accelerator pedal is rapidly applied to
wide open throttle. If the vehicle rolls due
to wide open throttle, release the
throttle, press the brake pedal more
firmly, and reapply the accelerator to
wide open throttle.
Launch Control will initially limit vehicle
speed as rapidly applying the accelerator
pedal to a wide open throttle. Allow the
engine rpm to stabilize and wait for the
traction control light to begin flashing –this
indicates that the vehicle is ready to launch.
A smooth, quick release of the brake pedal,
while maintaining the fully pressed
accelerator pedal, will manage wheel slip.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 247
When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, the cruise control can be
turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise control
disengages.
J:Press to turn the system on and off.
A white indicator appears in the instrument
cluster when cruise is turned on.
RES+ : If there is a set speed in memory,
press the control up briefly to resume that
speed or press and hold to accelerate. If the
cruise control is already active, use to
increase vehicle speed. SET−
:Press the control down briefly to set
the speed and activate cruise control. If the
cruise control is already active, use to
decrease vehicle speed.
*: Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET− or RES+
could get pressed and go into cruise when
not desired. Keep
Joff when cruise is not
being used.
To set cruise control:
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET−.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator.
When the cruise control has been set to the
desired speed, a green cruise control
indicator appears on the instrument cluster
and a cruise set speed message appears on
the Driver Information Center (DIC) and
Head-Up Display (HUD), if equipped. Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired speed
and then the brakes are applied or
*is
pressed, the cruise control is disengaged
without erasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle speed reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, press RES+ up
briefly. The vehicle returns to the previous
set speed.
Increasing Speed While Cruise Control is at a
Set Speed
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.Press and hold RES+ up until the vehicle
accelerates to the desired speed, then
release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in small
increments, press RES+ up briefly to the
first detent. For each press, the vehicle
goes about 1 km/h (1 mph) faster.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster 0107. The increment
value used depends on the units displayed.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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248 Driving and Operating
Reducing Speed While Cruise Control is at a
Set Speed
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.Press and hold SET−down until the
desired lower speed is reached, then
release it.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in small
increments, press SET− down briefly. For
each press, the vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) slower.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster 0107. The increment
value used depends on the units displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise
Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the
vehicle speed. When you take your foot off
the pedal, the vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator pedal or
shortly following the release to override
cruise, briefly applying the SET− control will
result in cruise set to the current vehicle
speed. Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works on hills
depends on the vehicle speed, the load, and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, pressing the accelerator pedal
may be necessary to maintain vehicle speed.
When going downhill, Cruise Grade Braking
helps maintain the driver selected speed.
Cruise Grade Braking is enabled when the
vehicle is started and cruise control is active.
It is not enabled in Range Selection Mode.
It assists in maintaining driver selected
speed when driving on downhill grades by
using the engine and transmission to slow
the vehicle.
To disable and enable Cruise Grade Braking
for the current ignition cycle, press and hold
the Tow/Haul button for five seconds.
A Driver Information Center (DIC) message
displays.
For other forms of Grade Braking, see
Automatic Transmission
0225 and
Driver Mode Control 0240.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
.To turn off cruise control, pressJ.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased from
memory if
Jis pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
(Advanced)
If equipped, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
allows the cruise control set speed and
following gap to be selected. Read this
entire section before using this system. The
following gap is the following time (or
distance) between your vehicle and a vehicle
detected directly ahead in your path,
moving in the same direction. If no vehicle
is detected in your path, ACC works like
regular cruise control. ACC uses camera and
radar sensors. See Radio Frequency
Statement 0435.
If a vehicle is detected in your path, ACC can
speed up the vehicle or apply limited,
moderate braking to maintain the selected
following gap. To disengage ACC, apply the
brake. If the Traction Control System (TCS)
or StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) activates while ACC is engaged, ACC

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 249
may automatically disengage. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0238.
When road conditions allow ACC to be
safely used, ACC can be turned back on.
Disabling the TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC system
will disengage and prevent engagement
of ACC.
ACC can reduce the need for you to
frequently brake and accelerate, especially
when used on expressways, freeways, and
interstate highways. When used on other
roads, you may need to take over the
control of braking or acceleration more
often.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability and may
not have time to slow the vehicle down
enough to avoid a collision with another
vehicle you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or stop
ahead, or enter your lane. Also see
“Alerting the Driver” later in this section.
Complete attention is always required
while driving and you should be ready to
take action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0207.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for children,
pedestrians, animals, or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:
.On winding and hilly roads or when
the sensors are blocked by snow, ice,
or dirt. The system may not detect a
vehicle ahead. Keep the entire front of
the vehicle clean.
.Visibility is poor due to rain, snow,
fog, dirt, insect residue, or dust; when
other foreign objects obscure the
camera and/or radar; or when the
vehicle in front or oncoming traffic
causes additional environmental
obstructions, such as road spray. ACC
performance is limited under these
conditions.
.On slippery roads where fast changes
in tire traction can cause excessive
wheel slip.
5:Press to turn the system on or off. The
indicator turns white on the instrument
cluster when ACC is turned on.
RES+ : Press briefly to resume the previous
set speed or to increase vehicle speed if ACC
is already activated. To increase speed by
about 1 km/h (1 mph), press RES+ to the first
detent. To increase speed to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press RES+ to the second detent.
SET– :Press briefly to set the speed and
activate ACC or to decrease vehicle speed if
ACC is already activated. To decrease speed
by about 1 km/h (1 mph), press SET– to the
first detent. To decrease speed to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press SET– to the second detent.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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250 Driving and Operating
*:Press to disengage ACC without erasing
the selected set speed.
[: Press to select a following gap time
(or distance) setting for ACC of Far, Medium,
or Near.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster 0107. The increment
value used depends on the units displayed.
Switching Between ACC and Regular Cruise
Control
To switch between ACC and regular cruise
control, press and hold
*. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message displays.
ACC Indicator (Base
Level)ACC Indicator (Uplevel)
Regular Cruise Control Indicator
When ACC is engaged, a green
oor\
indicator will be lit on the instrument cluster
and the following gap will be displayed.
When the regular cruise control is engaged,
a green
Jindicator will be lit on the
instrument cluster; the following gap will
not display.
When the vehicle is turned on, the cruise
control mode will be set to the last mode
used before the vehicle was turned off.
{Warning
Always check the cruise control indicator
on the instrument cluster to determine
which mode cruise control is in before
using the feature. If ACC is not active, the
vehicle will not automatically brake for
other vehicles, which could cause a crash
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
if the brakes are not applied manually.
You and others could be seriously injured
or killed.
Setting Adaptive Cruise Control
If
5is on when not in use, it could get
pressed and go into ACC when not desired.
Keep
5off when cruise is not being used.
Select the set speed desired for ACC. This is
the vehicle speed when no vehicle is
detected in its path.
While the vehicle is moving, ACC will not set
at a speed less than 5 km/h (3 mph),
although the minimum allowable set speed
is 25 km/h (15 mph).
To set ACC while moving: 1. Press
5.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET–.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
After ACC is set, it may immediately apply
the brakes if a vehicle ahead is detected
closer than the selected following gap.