
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
2011 Chevrolet Traverse Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Keys, Doors and Windows . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-3
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-41
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-48
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-35
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46 Climate Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-16
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-24
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-30
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-34
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-57

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Traverse 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
g:Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
}: Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_: Tow/Haul Mode
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-9
Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 Sensing System for
Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-13
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-18
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-18
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (With DIC Buttons) . . . 1-19
Storage Compartments . . . . . . 1-20
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-21
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-22
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-11
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior Mirrors
Controls for the outside power
mirrors are located on the driver
door armrest.
1. Press (A) or (B) to select thedriver or passenger side mirror.
2. Press one of the four arrows located on the control pad to
adjust the mirror.
3. Press either (A) or (B) again to deselect the mirror. Manually fold the mirrors inward
to prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash.
To fold, push the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward to
return it to the original position.
Interior Mirror
If equipped, a manual inside
rearview mirror can be adjusted so
that the driver can see behind the
vehicle more clearly. Hold the mirror
in the center to move it up or down
and side to side. Use the day/night
adjustment to help prevent glare
from the headlamps behind you.
Move the lever located at the
base of the mirror, to the right for
nighttime use and to the center for
daytime use.
For vehicles with an automatic
dimming rearview mirror, the mirror
will move automatically to reduce
the glare from the headlamps of the
vehicle behind you. The dimming
feature comes on and the indicator
light illuminates each time the
ignition is turned to start.
See
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑18.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
1-12 In Brief
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever (A) down.
2. Move the steering wheel upor down.
3. Pull or push the steering wheel closer or away from you.
4. Push the lever (A) up to lock the steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Interior Lighting
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps are located in the
overhead console and above the
rear seat passengers.
The dome lamps come on when a
door is opened, unless the dome
lamp override button is pressed in.
To manually turn them on, turn the
instrument panel brightness control
clockwise to the farthest position. Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is
next to the exterior lamps control.
E:
Press the button in and the
dome lamps remain off when a door
is opened. Press the button again to
the extended position so the dome
lamps come on when a door is
opened.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-13
Reading Lamps
Press the button near each lamp to
turn them on or off.
For more information, see:
.Dome Lamps on page 6‑5.
.Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑4.
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel, to the left
of the steering wheel.
O:Turns the automatic light
control on or off.
AUTO : Automatic operation
of the headlamps at normal
brightness and other exterior lamps.
;: Manual operation of the parking
lamps and other exterior lamps.
2: Manual operation of the
headlamps and other exterior
lamps.
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controlson
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp Systemon
page 6‑3.
.Delayed Headlampson
page 6‑3.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is located on the left side of the
steering column.
Turn the band with the wiper symbol
to control the windshield wipers.
8: Use for a single wiping cycle.
9:Turns the wipers off.
6:Delays wiping cycle. Turn the
band up for more frequent wipes or
down for less frequent wipes.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-21
Sunroof
The ignition must be in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY to operate the
sunroof and power sunshade. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9‑18.
The switch to operate the front
sunroof is on the headliner above
the rearview mirror.
Vent:Press the front or rear of the
switch to vent or close the sunroof.
Express-open/Express-close:
From the closed position, press and
release the rear or front of the
switch to express-open or
express-close the sunroof.
For more information see Sunroof
on page 2‑21.
Performance and
Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has a traction control
system that limits wheel spin, and
the StabiliTrak system that assists
with directional control of the vehicle
in difficult driving conditions. Both
systems turn on automatically every
time the vehicle is started.
.To turn off traction control, press
and release
5located on the
instrument panel and the
appropriate DIC message
displays. See Vehicle Messages
on page 5‑31.
.Press and release5again to
turn on traction control system.
For more information, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑30.
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 (22,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
1-22 In Brief
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 10‑45.
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 seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire.
SeeTire Sealant and Compressor
Kit
on page 10‑61for complete
operating information. If the vehicle came with a jack and
spare tire, see
If a Tire Goes Flat
on
page 10‑58.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message when it is time
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN, with the engine off.
2. If the vehicle has Driver Information Center (DIC)
buttons: Press the vehicle
information button until OIL LIFE
REMAINING displays.
If the vehicle does not have
Driver Information Center (DIC)
buttons: The vehicle must be in
P (Park) to access this display. Press the trip odometer reset
stem until OIL LIFE REMAINING
displays.
3. If the vehicle has Driver Information Center (DIC)
buttons: Press and hold the set/
reset button until “100%”is
displayed. Three chimes sound
and the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message goes off.
If the vehicle does not have
Driver Information Center (DIC)
buttons: Press and hold the trip
odometer reset stem until OIL
LIFE REMAINING shows
“100%.” Three chimes sound
and the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message goes off.
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
See Engine Oil Life System
on
page 10‑11.