FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

At Cadillac, we believe our owners deserve it all. That’s why every 2011 or newer vehicle is backed by Cadillac Shield, the most comprehensive suite of owner benefits by any luxury automotive brand in the world. From innovations like Remote Vehicle Diagnostics and advanced mobile apps to our Premium Care Maintenance program, Cadillac Shield gives luxury owners everything they need.

It's a maintenance program that provides more peace of mind by covering certain required maintenance services during the first 4 years or 50,000 miles¹ of every 2011 or newer vehicle's operation. It aligns with the terms of our 4 years or 50,000 miles¹ bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty. And, it's fully transferable.

CADILLAC PREMIUM CARE MAINTENANCE COVERS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SERVICES, (WHEN SCHEDULED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNER'S MANUAL), INCLUDING:

• Oil Changes: based on your Cadillac's Oil Life Monitor system

• Tire Rotation every 7,500 miles

• Engine Air Cleaner filter replacement

• Passenger compartment air filter replacement

• Multi Point Vehicle Inspections (MPVI)²

All 2007 and newer Cadillac vehicles are covered. The Powertrain Limited Warranty is 5 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). It is fully transferable and there are no fees and no deductibles. The Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation programs are also 5 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). For more details, please visit your Cadillac dealer or click here.

The bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty on new Cadillac cars and light-duty trucks remains in effect for four years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first). For more details, please visit your Cadillac dealer or click here.

Courtesy Transportation is also included for 5years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) on all 2007 and newer Cadillac vehicles. Whenever warranty repairs are required, several transportation options and/or reimbursement of certain transportation expenses are available for your convenience at participating dealers.

The bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers vehicles registered in the U.S. and Canada from the date the vehicle is first delivered until it reaches 4 years or 50,000 miles (whichever occurs first). It covers the vehicle from bumper to bumper on any vehicle defect related to materials or workmanship. For further details, look in the Warranty book under "What Is Covered" and "What Is Not Covered."

Cadillac vehicles are designed and built to resist corrosion. All body and sheet metal components are warranted against rust for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Any sheetmetal that actually rusts through, causing an actual hole in the sheetmetal, is covered for up to 6 years, unlimited miles. Application of additional rust-inhibiting materials is neither necessary nor required under the Sheet Metal Coverage. Cadillac makes no recommendations concerning the usefulness or value of such products. Application of after-manufacture rustproofing products may create an environment which reduces the corrosion resistance built into your vehicle. Repairs to correct damage caused by such applications are not covered under your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. See your Cadillac dealer for terms of this limited warranty.

While most customers prefer to have this type of work performed at their selling dealer, it can be performed at any Cadillac dealership.

These repairs must be performed by an Authorized Cadillac dealer, except in an emergency situation when a covered part or a Cadillac dealer is not reasonably available to the vehicle owner. It's in your best interest to take your Cadillac vehicle to a Cadillac dealer for all repairs since they are the most knowledgeable about the particulars of your vehicle.

Cadillac is a division of General Motors Corporation.

Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your dealer and to Cadillac. Normally, any concerns with the sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be resolved by your dealer's sales or service departments. The first step is to discuss your concern with a member of dealership management. Normally, concerns can be quickly resolved at that level. To locate a Cadillac dealer, please visit the Cadillac Dealer Locator.

From changing oil to changing engines, these automotive experts use only Genuine Cadillac Parts & Accessories that are designed specifically for your vehicle. They're also tested for performance and reliability. So no matter what Cadillac you own, trust it to the Cadillac Certified trained technicians at your Cadillac dealer. You'll spend less time in the shop and more time on the road. For more details, click here.

There are two ways to obtain a copy:

1. Click here to view and download a pdf version of a manual and also watch how-to videos about certain product features of a vehicle.

2. To receive a paper copy (for a fee) you may contact Helm, Inc. Manuals are available from the late 1960s or early 1970s for most GM vehicles. You can reach Helm Publications Ordering at
1-800-551-4123.

Should a recall on your vehicle ever occur, Cadillac will notify you by mail. You can also contact any Cadillac Dealer, visit the Cadillac Owner Center, or you may call 1-800-333-4223

You can find this answer by looking in your Owner's Manual under "Oil, Engine." If you do not have a manual, and you currently own a Cadillac, simply click here to view and download a pdf version of an Owner’s Manual,

Cadillac has a Roadside Assistance program to aid owners with emergency and other services. It is a complimentary service that comes with each new Cadillac vehicle. Services provided include:



• 24 hour, 7 day/week toll free 800 phone assistance
  
• Towing to the closest Cadillac dealer (from a legal roadway)
• 

Flat tire change (using vehicle's spare)
• 

Battery jump-start. 

Vehicle unlock service (costs for a new key and the labor to create not covered)
  
• Trip interruption assistance 


• Trip routing
• 

Emergency fuel delivery

If your Cadillac vehicle is equipped with an active OnStar subscription, you can simply press the blue button for roadside service. If it is not equipped, please call 1-800-224-1400 to initiate roadside assistance for your vehicle.

Roadside Assistance is included for 5 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) on all 2007 and newer Cadillac vehicles. For model years prior to 2007, your vehicle is provided Roadside Assistance for the term that matches its bumper-to-bumper warranty. Please refer to the Owner's Manual for the specific warranty on your vehicle.

There is generally no charge for any of the services listed while the vehicle is covered by the complimentary Roadside Assistance service. However, additional charges may be incurred for some services, including towing the vehicle beyond the closest Cadillac dealer; for non-warranty parts and labor; or for lost key replacement. For details and additional information, please refer to Section 7 of your Owner's Manual.

E85 Ethanol, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, is a renewable fuel made mostly from U.S.-grown corn. E85 Ethanol Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) are designed to run on E85, gasoline, or any blend of the two.

To learn about the specific items on your vehicle, please refer to Section 1 in your Cadillac Owner's Manual, "Seats and Restraint Systems."

A vehicle equipped with all-wheel drive temporarily transfers power to all four driving wheels automatically when the need is sensed by the vehicle. A vehicle equipped with four-wheel drive (4x4) can transfer power from two wheels to all four wheels upon driver demand, usually by pushing a button or turning a switch.

OnStar is the in-vehicle safety and security system created to help protect you and your family on the road. OnStar offers:



• 24-hour access to expertly trained, caring advisors
  
• 

A connection to emergency assistance


• Access to OnStar Hands-Free Calling in covered areas (prepaid calling charges apply)
• Call 1-888-4-ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) or visit onstar.com for system limitations and details.

OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics is an exclusive service that runs diagnostic checks on a vehicle's key operating systems and sends the customer monthly reports by e-mail. It's available only from OnStar and GM—just one more way OnStar helps give you peace of mind on the road. Visit onstar.com for more information.

In a frontal or near-frontal impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is suddenly stopping as a result of a crash. The sensing system triggers a release of inflation gas. This gas inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag, and related hardware are all part of the air bag module packed inside the steering wheel for the driver air bag and in the instrument panel for the right front passenger air bag.

The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level." If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is about 14 to 18 mph (23 to 29 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and the vehicle's deceleration.

If the vehicle is equipped with seat mounted side impact or roof rail mounted head curtain air bags, those will deploy in a side impact. If the vehicle is equipped with a roll over capable head curtain air bags, a roll over sensor will deploy the head curtain air bags in a roll over incident. 
The frontal air bags will not deploy in a side impact or roll over, unless there is also a front or front-corner impact of sufficient severity to trigger the frontal airbags.
 The airbags will not deploy in a rear impact.

Yes! The air bag supplements the protection provided by the shoulder belts. Remember, the air bag is designed to inflate in moderate-to-severe frontal and near-frontal crashes. Safety belts can provide protection in impacts other than frontal and near-frontal collisions.

To learn about the specific items on your vehicle, please refer to Section 1 in your Cadillac Owner's Manual, "Seats and Restraint Systems."

There are no specific child restraints that Cadillac recommends or endorses, but we do have some information that might be helpful to you. Cadillac's seats and safety belt systems are designed to accommodate child restraints. However, we cannot be certain that all child restraints will be compatible with Cadillac vehicles. Our cars conform to SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) J1819 standard, which is a recommended guideline for automotive safety belt and child restraint compatibility. Therefore, child restraints that conform to this standard will be more compatible with the seats and safety belt systems used in Cadillac vehicles. Also, your Cadillac Dealer can install a tether anchor kit (at no charge to you) that will anchor front-facing child seats. First, we recommend you work with a child-safety seat manufacturer, or a local retail outlet that sells child restraint seats, for possible suggestions on what type of seat would be most appropriate for your needs. You could also take your child restraint to a checkup event or contact a local CPS technician for additional assistance. There are a couple of websites that have some good information on this topic. Try these:
 NHTSA at www.nhtsa.dot.gov;

 National Safe Kids www.safekids.org; Safety Beltsafe USA www.carseat.org; American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm. 
In addition, you might want to try checking with your local hospital, police department and fire department for any information they might have.

Simply depress the parking brake.

To order a catalog or actual merchandise, please visit cadillaccollection.com.

Currently, Cadillac parts can only be purchased through your local Cadillac Dealer. However, some Cadillac retail websites do allow for the purchase of parts from their facilities via their websites. Therefore, please review your local Cadillac Dealer's websites for this information.

Incentive offers vary throughout the year. Please see the Local Offers page for Cadillac national or regional incentives or contact a dealer at the Cadillac Dealer Locator to inquire about any potential local offers. If you would prefer to contact us by phone, we can be reached at 1-800-333-4223 between 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM EST 7 days a week.

Because the available options and their prices vary from model to model, it's best to ask your dealer for the specifics. He or she will be glad to explain the options available for the model you're interested in. To locate a Cadillac dealer please visit the Cadillac Dealer Locator.

Ask your local Cadillac dealer for specifics about the model you're interested in. He or she will be glad to provide you with a schedule. To locate a Cadillac dealer please visit the Cadillac Dealer Locator.

Your trade-in value is determined by the Dealer and could vary based on many factors, including mileage, the overall condition of your vehicle, the popularity of your vehicle and current regional market conditions. Check with your Dealer for details.

No. However, you may order a vehicle from the factory through an authorized Cadillac dealer. To locate a Cadillac dealer please visit the Cadillac Dealer Locator.

Whether you want to lease or buy, your Cadillac dealership has some smart ways to fit a new Cadillac into your life and your budget. To locate a Cadillac dealer, please visit the Cadillac Dealer Locator.

To view your vehicle’s maintenance schedule online, visit the Cadillac Owner Center and register your vehicle. You can also consult your Cadillac Owner's Manual for the correct maintenance schedule. Click here to download or view select Owner's Manuals.

When the “Change Engine Oil Soon” message displays, service is required for the vehicle as soon as possible, within the next 600 miles. Driving under the best conditions, the Engine Oil Life System might not indicate the need for vehicle service for more than a year. The engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year and the oil life system must be reset. The Certified Service experts at your Cadillac dealer are trained to perform this work and reset the system.

Consult your vehicle’s Owner Manual or visit the Certified Service experts at your Cadillac dealer to be sure you get the proper oil for your vehicle. For 2011 or newer vehicles, dexos^TM1 Synthetic Blend is the recommended oil specification. Advantages of dexos1 Synthetic Blend include improved oil performance and protection, increased piston cleanliness, reduced oil consumption and greater viscosity control.

When the “Change Engine Oil Soon” message displays, certain services, checks and inspections are required. For 2004-2010 model year vehicles, required services are referred to as “Maintenance I” and “Maintenance II”.

Generally, it is recommended that your first service be Maintenance I, your second service be Maintenance II, and that you alternate Maintenance I and Maintenance II thereafter. However, in some cases, Maintenance II may be required more often.

Maintenance I — Use Maintenance I if the “Change Engine Oil Soon” message comes on within 10 months of the vehicle purchase or after Maintenance II was performed.

Maintenance II — Use Maintenance II if the previous service performed was Maintenance I. Always use Maintenance II whenever the message comes on 10 months or more since the last service or if the message has not come on at all for one year.

Beginning with the 2011 model year, Cadillac owners are advised to see their dealer for a tire rotation every 7,500 miles as part of a newly revised maintenance schedule. Regular rotations allow tires to wear evenly, maximizing tire life and allowing tires to be replaced in sets of four, which is preferable.

Irregular tread wear occurs fastest when tires are new and at full tread depth, thus the first tire rotation has been found to be of the greatest importance.

Yes, it is okay, particularly if you notice signs of irregular wear appearing on the tires.

While the 2000 Owner’s Manual recommends a range of 5,000 to 8,000 miles, the 7,500-mile tire rotation interval is a good rule of thumb. However, any time you notice unusual wear, you should rotate your tires as soon as possible. Check to ensure that your vehicle is properly aligned and that there are no suspension issues causing irregular tire wear.

Yes. For your convenience, you can have both the tire rotation and oil change service completed at the same time, as long as you are rotating the tires approximately every 7,500 miles.

The majority of today’s Cadillac vehicles are equipped with the Engine Oil Life System, which has made the 3,000-mile oil change obsolete. Depending on the age of the vehicle, driving habits and road conditions, vehicles with today’s advanced engines can go much longer than 3,000 miles between oil changes. Always be sure to check your engine oil level regularly, even with an Engine Oil Life System.

Improperly inflated tires are a leading cause of tire failure. Proper tire inflation helps a tire have optimum tread contact with the road, which improves traction and braking and reduces tire wear. Underinflated tires generate heat, which is the tire’s worst enemy, so maintaining the right amount of air keeps temperatures where they should be and results in fewer blowouts. Also, keeping tires properly inflated and wheels aligned can help you improve your gas mileage up to 3.3 percent. Source: fueleconomy.gov

You can check your Owner's Manual for specific information on your vehicle, but once a month is a good guideline. Be sure the tires are cold (driven less than one mile), and don’t forget to check your spare tire. You should always use a good-quality tire gauge to check pressure—don’t ever try to “eyeball” tires because they can look fine even when they are underinflated. And remember that tires can lose air pressure in cold weather.

Most Cadillac dealerships sell brand-name tires such as Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin and many more. The Certified Service technicians at your dealership can recommend the tires that are right for your vehicle and your driving habits. And, participating dealers offer a 30-day price-match guarantee, so if you find the same tires at a better price within 30 days of purchase, they’ll refund the difference. Click here for current offers and additional details.

One sure way to know when to replace your tires is when the treadwear indicators—called “wear bars”—appear. These wear bars look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread and appear when it’s time to replace the tires. You should replace the tires if you can see three or more treadwear indicators around the tire. Other ways to know when you need to replace your tires include cord or fabric showing through the rubber, cracks or cuts in the tread or sidewall deep enough to show cord or fabric, bulges or splits in the tire, and punctures or damage that cannot be repaired correctly.

If you have questions about whether your tires need replacing, see the Certified Service experts at your nearest Cadillac dealer.