
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 (21,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-21
Sun Visors
Pull the sun visor down to block
glare. Detach the sun visor from the
center mount to pivot to the side
window, or to extend along the rod if
available.
Roof
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 vehicle may have a sunroof
over the front seats and a rear
sunroof over the second row seats.
The rear sunroof does not open.
The switch to operate the front
sunroof is on the headliner above
the rearview mirror.
Do not keep the sunroof open for
long periods of time while the
vehicle is not in use. Dirt and debris
may collect on the sunroof seal or
in the tracks that could cause an
issue with sunroof operation, noise
or plug the water drainage system.
Periodically open the sunroof and
remove any obstacles or loose
debris. Wipe the sunroof seal and
roof sealing area using a clean
cloth, mild soap, and water.
Do not remove grease from sunroof.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Storage 4-1
Storage
Storage Compartments
Instrument Panel Storage . . . . 4-1
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Center Console Storage . . . . . . 4-2
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . 4-2
Additional Storage Features
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Cargo Tie Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Cargo ManagementSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Roof Rack System
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Storage
Compartments
Instrument Panel Storage
This vehicle has an instrument
panel storage area located above
the radio. To open the cover, press
the button.
Glove Box
Lift the glove box handle to open it.
Use the key to lock and unlock the
glove box.
Cupholders
There are two cupholders, with
removable liners, located in front of
the center console. There may be
cupholders located in the second
row seat armrest. To access, pull
the armrest down. There are
additional cupholders located on
each side of the third row seat and
in each door. There may be
cupholders located at the rear of the
center console. To access, pull the
handle down.
Armrest Storage
Vehicles with a rear seat armrest,
have two cupholders. Pull the
armrest down from the rear
seatback to access the cupholders.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Storage 4-5
Roof Rack System
{WARNING
If something is carried on top of
the vehicle that is longer or wider
than the roof rack—like paneling,
plywood, or a mattress— the wind
can catch it while the vehicle is
being driven. The item being
carried could be violently torn off,
and this could cause a collision,
and damage the vehicle. Never
carry something longer or wider
than the roof rack on top of the
vehicle unless using a GM
Certified accessory carrier. For vehicles with a roof rack, the
rack can be used to load items.
For roof racks that do not have
crossrails included, GM Certified
crossrails can be purchased as an
accessory. See your dealer for
additional information.
Notice:
Loading cargo on the
roof rack that weighs more than
91 kg (200 lbs) or hangs over the
rear or sides of the vehicle may
damage the vehicle. Load cargo
so that it rests evenly between
the crossrails, making sure to
fasten cargo securely. To prevent damage or loss of cargo
when driving, check to make sure
crossrails and cargo are securely
fastened. Loading cargo on the roof
rack will make the vehicle’
s center
of gravity higher. Avoid high speeds,
sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden
braking or abrupt maneuvers,
otherwise it may result in loss of
control. If driving for a long distance,
on rough roads, or at high speeds,
occasionally stop the vehicle to
make sure the cargo remains in its
place. Do not exceed the maximum
vehicle capacity when loading
the vehicle.
For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading, see Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑12.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
7-12 Infotainment System
or simply having the phone on. This
interference can cause an increased
level of static while listening to the
radio. If static is received while
listening to the radio, unplug the
cellular phone and turn it off.
Multi-Band Antenna
The multi-band antenna is
located on the roof of the vehicle.
This type of antenna is used with
the AM/FM radio, as well as
OnStar
®and the XM™Satellite
Radio Service System, if the vehicle
has these features. Keep this
antenna clear of snow and
ice build up for clear radio reception.
If the vehicle has a sunroof, the
performance of the radio system
may be affected if the sunroof is
open. Loading items onto the roof of
the vehicle can interfere with the
performance of the radio system
and, if the vehicle has this feature,
OnStar
®. Make sure the multi-band
antenna is not obstructed.
Audio Players
CD Player
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot,
label side up. The player pulls it in
and the CD should begin playing.
ZEJECT : Press and release
to eject the disc that is currently
playing. A beep sounds and
Ejecting Disc displays. Once the
disc is ejected, Remove Disc
displays. The disc can be removed.
If the disc is not removed, after
several seconds, the disc
automatically pulls back into
the player.
f(Tune): Turn to select tracks on
the CD that is currently playing.
©SEEK¨: Press©to go to the
start of the current track, if more
than ten seconds on the CD have
played. Press
¨to go to the
next track. If either arrow is held, or pressed
multiple times, the player continues
moving backward or forward
through the tracks on the CD.
sREV (Fast Reverse):
Press
and hold to reverse playback quickly
within a track. Sound will be heard
at a reduced volume. Release to
resume playing the track. The
elapsed time of the track displays.
\FWD (Fast Forward): Press
and hold to advance playback
quickly within a track. Sound will be
heard at a reduced volume. Release
to resume playing the track. The
elapsed time of the track displays.
RDM (Random): CD tracks can be
listened to in random, rather than
sequential order with the random
setting. To use random, press the
softkey under the RDM label until
Random Current Disc displays.
Press the softkey again to turn off
random play.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
11-4 Service and Maintenance
Additional Required Services
Every 12 000 km/7,500 Miles
.Rotate tires. Tires should be
rotated every 12 000 km/
7,500 miles. SeeTire Rotation
on page 10‑50.
At Each Fuel Stop
.Engine oil level check. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑8.
.Engine coolant level check. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑14.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluidon
page 10‑22.
Once a Month
.Tire inflation check. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑44.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑50.
.Sunroof track and seal
inspection, if equipped.
See Sunroof on page 2‑21. Once a Year
.See
Starter Switch Checkon
page 10‑26.
.See Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control Function
Check on page 10‑27.
.See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10‑27.
.See Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Checkon
page 10‑28.
.Accelerator pedal check for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.If the vehicle has a Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit, check the
sealant expiration date printed
on the instruction label of
the kit. See Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit on page 10‑61.
.Underbody flushing service. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 80 000 km/50,000 Miles
.Engine air cleaner filter
replacement. See
Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10‑12.
.Automatic transmission fluid
change (severe service) for
vehicles mainly driven in heavy
city traffic in hot weather, in hilly
or mountainous terrain, when
frequently towing a trailer,
or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service.
See Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10‑12.
.All‐wheel drive only: Transfer
case fluid change (severe
service) for vehicles mainly
driven when frequently towing a
trailer, or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service. During any
maintenance, if a power washer
is used to clean mud and dirt
from the underbody, care
should be taken to not directly
spray the transfer case
output seals.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-9
Rear Climate ControlSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10, 8-11
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
Rear Seat Entertainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) . . . . . . . 7-44
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 9-36
Rear Window Washer/Wiper . . . . 5-6
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Records
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Reimbursement Program,
GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-3
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31 Replacement Parts
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . 3-46
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 3-63
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts After a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . 13-16
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-17
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-16
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Ride Control Systems
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-8, 13-10
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . 12-3
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23S
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Replacing After a Crash . . . . . . 3-30
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 3-29
Safety Defects Reporting
Canadian Government . . . . . . 13-16
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-17
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-16
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . . 11-2
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 13-10
Sealant Kit, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Seats Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Heated and VentilatedFront . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Heated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
i-10 INDEX
Seats (cont.)Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . 3-6
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 3-4
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Third Row Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Secondary Latch System . . . . . 10-78
Securing Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-63, 3-66
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Service Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 11-9
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 12-1
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15 Service (cont.)
Scheduling Appointments . . . 13-10
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 3-44
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Shifting
Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Sidemarker and Stoplamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Signals, Turn and
Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Specifications and
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light . . . . 5-21
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Fluid, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Storage Areas
Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Cargo Management System . . . 4-4
Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Floor Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
System Roof Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5