
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Keys, Doors and Windows . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-2
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-34
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6 Driving and Operating
. . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-17
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-26
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-33
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-38
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-52
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-84
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-90

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-3
A.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
Front Fog Lamps on page 6‑4
(If Equipped).
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5.
B. Air Vents on page 8‑6.
C. Headlamps High-Low Beam. See Headlamps High-Low
Beam on page 6‑2.
Turn and Lane‐Change Lever.
See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑4.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑24.
D. Instrument Cluster on page 5‑8.
E. Horn on page 5‑3.
F. Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑24.
G. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2. H.
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑3.
I. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
Satellite Radio on page 7‑13
(If Equipped).
J. Infotainment Display Screen.
K. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System on page 6‑3.
L. Passenger Airbag. See Where
Are the Airbags? on page 3‑27.
M. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑4.
N. Data Link Connector (DLC). See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 5‑13.
O. Instrument Panel Fuse Block on
page 10‑41.
P. Cruise Control on page 9‑36. Q.
Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
R. Driver Airbag. See Where Are
the Airbags? on page 3‑27.
S. Ignition Switch. See Ignition
Positions on page 9‑18.
T. Driver Knee Airbag. See Where
Are the Airbags? on page 3‑27.
U. Power Door Locks on page 2‑7.
V. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑3.
W. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9‑26 or
Manual Transmission on
page 9‑29.
X. Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑33.
StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑34.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
1-12 In Brief
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control
This feature controls the brightness
of the instrument panel controls and
infotainment display screen. The
thumbwheel is located to the left of
the steering column on the
instrument panel.
D(Instrument Panel
Brightness): Turn the thumbwheel
up or down and hold, to brighten or
dim the instrument panel controls
and infotainment display screen.
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the
outboard side of the steering
column.
O: Briefly turn to this position to
turn the automatic light control off or
on again.
AUTO: Turns the headlamps on
automatically at normal brightness,
together with the parking lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamps, side
marker lamps, and instrument panel
lights.
;: Turns on the parking lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamps, side
marker lamps, and instrument panel
lights.
5: Turns on the headlamps,
parking lamps, taillamps, license
plate lamps, side marker lamps, and
instrument panel lights. A warning
chime sounds if the driver door is
opened when the ignition switch is
off and the headlamps are on.
#: For vehicles with fog lamps,
press to turn the lamps on or off.
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
on page 6‑2.
.Front Fog Lamps on page 6‑4.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
1-20 In Brief
Performance and
Maintenance
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The traction control system limits
wheel spin. The system is on when
the vehicle is started.
.To turn off traction control, press
and release
glocated on the
console.
iilluminates and the
appropriate DIC message
displays. See Vehicle Messages
(Canada Base Level) on
page 5‑27 orVehicle Messages
(Canada Uplevel and United
States) on page 5‑28.
.Press and releasegagain to
turn traction control back on.
For more information, see Traction
Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑33.
StabiliTrak®System
The StabiliTrak system assists with
directional control of the vehicle in
difficult driving conditions. The
system is on when the vehicle is
started.
.To turn off both Traction Control
and StabiliTrak, press and hold
guntilgandiilluminate and
the appropriate DIC message
displays. See Vehicle Messages
(Canada Base Level) on
page 5‑27 orVehicle Messages
(Canada Uplevel and United
States) on page 5‑28.
.Pressgagain to turn on both
systems.
For more information, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑34.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑12. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-21
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑52.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
This vehicle may come with a jack
and spare tire or a tire sealant and
compressor kit. The kit can be used
to temporarily seal small punctures
in the tread area of the tire.
See Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit on page 10‑68 for complete
operating information. If the vehicle came with a jack and
spare tire, see
If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑65.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON DIC message or
Code 82 DIC message when it is
necessary to change the engine oil
and filter.
Remember, the Oil Life display must
be reset after each oil change. It will
not reset itself. Also, be careful not
to reset the Oil Life display
accidentally at any time other than
when the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until
the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system press the SET
button while the Oil Life display is
active. Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Using the DIC MENU button and
thumbwheel, scroll until you
reach REMAINING OIL LIFE on
the DIC (oil can symbol with
% sign for Canada).
2. Press the SET button to reset the oil life at 100%. When
prompted, use the thumbwheel
to highlight YES or NO. Press
the SET/CLEAR button to
confirm.
Be careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than after the oil is changed.
It cannot be reset accurately.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑12.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-11
If the engine still does not start, and
the key appears to be undamaged
or the light continues to stay on, try
another ignition key. If the engine
does not start with the other key, the
vehicle needs service. If the vehicle
does start, the first key may be
damaged. See your dealer who can
service the theft-deterrent system
and have a new key made.
Do not leave the key or device that
disarms or deactivates the
theft-deterrent system in the vehicle.Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors
{WARNING
A convex mirror can make things,
like other vehicles, look farther
away than they really are. If you
cut too sharply into the right lane,
you could hit a vehicle on the
right. Check the inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex
shaped. A convex mirror's surface is
curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
Manual Mirrors
Some vehicles have outside mirrors
that can be manually adjusted.
Controls for the outside manual
mirrors are located next to each
mirror.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-13
Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror
The vehicle may have an automatic
dimming inside rearview mirror.
Automatic dimming reduces the
glare from the headlamps of the
vehicle behind you. The dimming
feature and the indicator light come
on each time the vehicle is started.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have three
additional control buttons located at
the bottom of the mirror. See your
dealer for more information about
OnStar and how to subscribe to it.
See the OnStar Owner's Guide for
more information about the services
OnStar provides.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly
on the mirror. Use a soft towel
dampened with water.
Windows
{WARNING
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.
The vehicle aerodynamics are
designed to improve fuel economy
performance. This may result in a
pulsing sound when either rear
window is down and the front
windows are up. To reduce the
sound, open either a front window
or the sunroof (if equipped).