
Q:If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A:Airbags are in many vehicles today and will
be in most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they workwith
safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has
airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
Q:If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A:You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in an
accident — even one that is not your fault — you
and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good
driver does not protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of
home. And the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less
than 40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be
riding in your vehicle, seeOlder Children on page 1-29
orInfants and Young Children on page 1-32. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you will want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We will start with the driver position.
1-16

Remote Start Ready
If your vehicle does not have the remote vehicle start
feature, it may have the remote start ready feature. This
feature allows your dealer to add the manufacturer’s
remote vehicle start feature.
If your vehicle has the remote start ready feature, your
remote keyless entry transmitter will have extended
range that will allow you to lock or unlock your vehicle
from approximately 195 feet (60 m) away.
See your dealer if you would like to add the
manufacturer’s remote vehicle start feature to your
vehicle.
Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers, especially children, can easily
open the doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle
will not open it. You increase the chance
of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors are not locked. So, wear
safety belts properly and lock the doors
whenever you drive.
Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent this from happening.
There are several ways to lock and unlock the vehicle.
2-9

Trunk Release
To open the trunk from the outside, press the open
trunk button on the remote keyless entry transmitter,
if equipped.
Remote Trunk Release
You can also open the trunk from inside the vehicle.
G(Remote Trunk Release):Press the button with
the open trunk symbol on it. The button is located
next to the exterior lamps control on the left side of the
instrument panel. The shift lever must be in PARK (P)
for the remote trunk release button to work.
If your vehicle ever loses power, you can open the trunk
by lowering the rear seat and pulling the emergency
trunk release handle located inside the trunk. SeeSplit
Folding Rear Seat on page 1-9and “Emergency
Trunk Release Handle” following.
Emergency Trunk Release Handle
Notice:Do not use the emergency trunk release
handle as a tie-down or anchor point when securing
items in the trunk as it could damage the handle.
The emergency trunk release handle is only
intended to aid a person trapped in a latched trunk,
enabling them to open the trunk from the inside.There is a glow-in-the-dark trunk release handle located
on the latch inside the trunk. This handle will glow
following exposure to light. Pull the release handle to
open the trunk from the inside.
2-12

Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the extreme heat
and suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a
helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows closed in warm or
hot weather.
2-13

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may have the optional content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
To activate the theft-deterrent system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the
remote keyless entry transmitter. If you are using the
remote keyless entry transmitter, the door does not
need to be open.
3. Close all doors.
Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to
enter the vehicle without using the remote keyless entry
transmitter or a key or turns the ignition on with an
incorrect key. The horn will sound and the turn signal
lamps will ash for approximately two minutes.
When the alarm is armed, the trunk may be opened with
the remote keyless entry transmitter. The power door lock
switches are disabled and the doors remain locked. You
must use your remote keyless entry transmitter or your
key to unlock the doors when the system is armed.
Arming with the Power Lock Switch
The alarm system will arm when you use either power
lock switch to lock the doors while any door or the trunk
is open and the key is removed from the ignition.
Arming with the Remote Keyless Entry
Transmitter
The alarm system will arm when you use your remote
keyless entry transmitter to lock the doors, if the
key is not in the ignition.
Disarming with the Remote Keyless
Entry Transmitter
The alarm system will disarm when you use your
remote keyless entry transmitter to unlock the doors.
The rst time a remote unlock command is received,
three ashes will be seen and three horn chirps
heard to indicate an alarm condition has occurred since
last arming.
Disarming with Your Key
The alarm system will disarm when you use your key to
unlock the doors or insert your key in ignition and
turn it from the OFF position.
2-15

OnStar®Steering Wheel Controls
Your vehicle may be
equipped with a Talk/Mute
button that can be used
to interact with OnStar
®.
SeeAudio Steering Wheel
Controls on page 3-83
for more information.
When calling into voice-mail systems, or to dial directory
numbers, press this button once, wait for the response,
say the number(s) to be dialed, wait for the number(s)
to be repeated and then say “dial”. See the OnStar
®
User’s Guide for more information.
Universal Home Remote
System
The Universal Home Remote System, provides a way to
replace up to three hand-held transmitters used to
activate devices such as gate operators, garage door
openers, entry door locks, security systems, and
home lighting.
If your vehicle has the Universal Home Remote
Transmitter, it complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
2-34

Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave the area around your
vehicle. The feature is activated when the headlamps
are on due to the automatic headlamps control
feature later described in this section, and when the
ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will then remain on
until the exterior lamps control is moved to the parking
lamps position or until either a 30 second or 60 second
lighting period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamps switch in
the parking lamps or headlamps position, the delayed
headlamps cycle will not occur.
To disable the delayed headlamps feature or change
the time of delay, see “Exit Lighting” underDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 3-53.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system’s automatic headlamp control will
make the low-beam headlamps come on at a reduced
brightness when the following conditions are met:
The ignition is in RUN.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The engine is running.
When the DRL are on, only the low-beam headlamps, at
a reduced level of brightness, will be on. The headlamps,
taillamps, sidemarker, and other lamps will not be on.
The instrument panel and cluster will also not be lit.
When it is dark enough outside, your low-beam
headlamps will turn off and the headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on. The other lamps that come on
with the headlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps will go
off and the DRL will come on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
3-14

Feature Settings Menu Items
The following are customization features that allow you
to program settings to the vehicle:
DISPLAY IN ENGLISH
This feature will only display if a language other than
English has been set. This feature allows you to change
the language in which the DIC messages appear to
English.
Press the customization button until the PRESS
VTO
DISPLAY IN ENGLISH screen appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button to display all
DIC messages in English.
DISPLAY LANGUAGE
This feature allows you to select the language in which
the DIC messages will appear.
Press the customization button until the DISPLAY
LANGUAGE screen appears on the DIC display. Press
the set/reset button to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the customization button to scroll
through the following choices:
ENGLISH (default):All messages will appear in
English.
FRANCAIS (French):All messages will appear in
French.ESPANOL (Spanish):All messages will appear in
Spanish.
NO CHANGE:No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
Select one of the available choices and press the
set/reset button while it is displayed on the DIC to
select it.
AUTO DOOR UNLOCK
This feature allows you to select whether or not to turn
off the automatic door unlocking feature. It also
allows you to select which doors and when the doors
will automatically unlock. SeeProgrammable Automatic
Door Unlock on page 2-11for more information.
Press the customization button until AUTO DOOR
UNLOCK appears on the DIC display. Press the
set/reset button to access the settings for this feature.
Then press the customization button to scroll through
the following choices:
OFF:None of the doors will automatically unlock.
DRIVER AT KEY OUT:Only the driver’s door will
unlock when the key is taken out of the ignition.
DRIVER IN PARK:Only the driver’s door will unlock
when the vehicle is shifted into PARK (P).
3-54