Seating and Safety Restraints 160
Seating 160
Personal Safety System™ 180
Safety belt system 184
Airbags 197
Child restraints 211
Tires, Wheels and Loading 232
Tire information 235
Tire inflation 237
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 250
Vehicle loading 255
Trailer towing 262
Recreational towing 265
Driving 267
Starting 267
Brakes 274
AdvanceTrac277
Hill descent control 283
Transmission operation 288
Reverse sensing system 294
Rear-view camera system 296
Roadside Emergencies 325
Getting roadside assistance 325
Hazard flasher control 326
Fuel pump shut-off 327
Fuses and relays 327
Changing tires 336
Temporary mobility kit 344
Wheel lug nut torque 352
Jump starting 354
Wrecker towing 357
Table of Contents
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Settings (cont’d)
MyKey Create MyKey™ Hold OK to Create MyKey
Traction Control Always On or User Selectable
Max Speed 80 MPH (130 km/h) or Off
Speed Warning 45 mph (75 km/h), 55 mph
(90 km/h), 65 mph (105 km/h) or
Off
Volume Limiter
Clear MyKeys Hold OK to Clear MyKeys
System Reset Hold OK to
Reset System to
Factory DefaultFactory Default
System Check*
Oil Life
Washer Fluid
Doors
Liftgate
Blind spot
Cross Traffic
Brakes
Fuel
The number of warnings will be listed first. All active warnings will
display first if applicable. The system check menu may appear different
based upon equipment options and current vehicle status. Use the
up/down arrow buttons to scroll through the list; press the right arrow
button to display specific information on the highlighted warning.
System warnings and status messages
System warnings alert you to possible problems or malfunctions in your
vehicle’s operating systems.
In the event of a multiple warning situation, the message center will
cycle the display to show all warnings by displaying each one for four
seconds.
The message center will display the last selected feature if there are no
more warning messages.
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Units
Distance Miles & Gallons / Kilometers & Liters
Temperature Fahrenheit (°F) / Celsius (°C)
Restore defaults
Hold OK to Restore Settings to Factory Defaults
Information
In this mode, you can view different vehicle system information and
perform a system check.
When Press OK for info is displayed, pressing OK will give you
information on the currently selected/displayed options. Information is
only available when traveling less than 3 mph (5 km/h).
MyKey
Admin Keys (Number of admin keys)
MyKeys (Number of MyKeys programmed)
MyKey Miles (km) (Distance traveled using a programmed MyKey)
System Check*
Oil Life
Wash Fluid
Doors
Liftgate
Blind spot
Cross Traffic
Brakes
Fuel (distance to empty)
*Some items will only display during a system check if a problem has
been detected. If an issue exists on one of the monitored systems, the
message center will display the number of warnings that need immediate
attention in amber. Use the up/down arrow buttons to scroll through the
list.
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Setting speed control
To set speed control:
1. Press ON upward and release.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed.
3. Press SET upward and release.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
5. The indicator
light on the instrument cluster will turn on.
Note:
•Vehicle speed may vary momentarily when driving up and down a
steep hill.
•If the vehicle speed increases above the set speed on a downhill, you
may want to apply the brakes to reduce the speed.
•If the vehicle speed decreases more than 10 mph (16 km/h) below
your set speed on an uphill, your speed control will disengage.
Disengaging speed control
To disengage the speed control, press the brake pedal or press and release
CNCL. Disengaging the speed control will not erase the previous set speed.
Resuming a set speed
Press and release RES. This will automatically return the vehicle to the
previously set speed.
Increasing speed while using speed control
To set a higher speed:
•Press SET upward and hold until you get to the desired speed, then
release. You can also use SET to operate the tap-up function. Press
SET upward and release to increase the vehicle set speed in 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) increments.
•Use the accelerator pedal to get to the desired speed then press SET
upward and release.
Reducing speed while using speed control
To reduce a set speed:
•Press SET downward and hold until you get to the desired speed,
then release. You can also use SET to operate the tap-down function.
Press SET downward and release to decrease the vehicle set speed in
1 mph (1.6 km/h) increments.
•Press the brake pedal until the desired vehicle speed is reached then
press SET downward and release.
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Following a vehicle
WARNING:When following a vehicle in front of you, the vehicle
will not decelerate automatically to a stop, nor will the vehicle
always decelerate quickly enough to avoid a collision without driver
intervention. Always apply the brakes when necessary. Failing to do so
may result in a collision, serious injury or death.
When a vehicle ahead of you enters the same lane or a slower vehicle is
ahead in the same lane, the vehicle speed will adjust automatically to
maintain a preset gap distance. The distance setting is adjustable, refer
toSetting the gap distancein this section.
The lead vehicle graphic will be illuminated.
The vehicle will maintain a constant distance between the vehicle ahead
until:
•The vehicle in front of you accelerates to a speed above the set speed.
•The vehicle in front of you moves out of your lane or out of view.
•The vehicle speed falls below 16 mph (26 km/h).
•A new gap distance is set.
The vehicle brakes will be automatically applied to slow the vehicle to
maintain a safe distance between the vehicle in front. The maximum
braking which is applied by the ACC system is limited and can be
overridden by the driver applying the brakes.
If the ACC system predicts that its
maximum braking level will not be
sufficient, an audible warning will
sound while the ACC continues to
brake. This is accompanied by a
heads-up display; a red warning bar
illuminating on the windshield. The driver should takeimmediate
action.
Note:The brakes may emit a sound when they are being modulated by
the adaptive cruise control system.
WARNING:Adaptive cruise control only warns of vehicles
detected by the radar sensor. In some cases there may be no
warning or the warning may be delayed. The driver should always
apply the brakes when necessary. Failing to do so may result in a
collision, serious injury or death.
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Setting the gap distance
The distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you can
be decreased or increased by
pressing the GAP control up or
down. The selected gap will be
displayed in the message center as shown by the bars in the graphic.
Four gap distance settings are available.
Graphic
display (bars
between
vehicles)Following
distanceFollowing
distance at
60 mph
(100 km/h)Dynamic
behavior
1 bar 1 second 29 yards (28 m) Sporty
2 bars 1.5 seconds 44 yards (42 m) Normal
3 bars 1.9 seconds 56 yards (53 m) Normal
4 bars 2.3 seconds 66 yards (64 m) Comfort
Each time the vehicle is restarted, the last chosen gap for the current
driver will be automatically selected.
Note:It is the driver’s responsibility to select a gap appropriate to the
driving conditions.
Disengaging adaptive cruise control
Press the brake pedal or press CNCL to disengage the adaptive cruise
control. The last set speed will be displayed with a strikethrough.
Disengaging the adaptive cruise control will not erase your previous set
speed.
Overriding adaptive cruise control
WARNING:Whenever the driver is overriding the ACC by
pressing the accelerator pedal, the ACC will not automatically
apply the brakes to maintain separation from any vehicle ahead.
The set speed and gap distance can be overridden by pressing the
accelerator pedal.
When the driver is overriding ACC, the green
ACC light is
illuminated, and the follow vehicle is not displayed in the message
center. When the accelerator is released, the ACC function will operate
again and vehicle speed will decrease to the set speed, or a lower speed
if following a slower vehicle.
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Changing the set speed
There are three ways to change the set speed:
•Accelerate or brake to the desired speed and press SET upward and
release.
•Increase or decrease the speed by holding SET upward or downward
until the desired set speed is shown on the message center. The
vehicle speed will gradually change to the selected speed.
•Increase or decrease the speed in increments of 1 mph (2 km/h) by
briefly pressing the SET upward or downward.
The ACC may apply the brakes to slow the vehicle down to the new set
speed. The set speed will display continuously in the message center
while ACC is active.
Resuming the set speed
Press and release RES/CNCL. This will automatically return the vehicle
to the previously set speed. The set speed will display continuously in
the message center while ACC is active.
Note:Resume should only be used if the driver is aware of the set speed
and intends to return to it.
Low speed automatic cancellation
ACC is not functional at vehicle speeds below 16 mph (26 km/h). Once
the vehicle speed drops below 16 mph (26 km/h), an audible alarm will
sound and the automatic braking will be released.
Hilly condition usage
It is recommended that the driver select a lower gear position when ACC
is active in situations such as prolonged downhill driving on steep grades
(i.e., driving in mountainous areas). In these situations, additional engine
braking is needed to reduce the load on the vehicle’s regular brake
system to prevent them from overheating. For more information,
referenceAutomatic transmission operationin theDrivingchapter.
Note:If ACC is applying brakes for an extended period of time, an
audible alarm will sound and ACC will shut down. This is to allow the
brakes to cool down. When the brakes have cooled down, the ACC will
again function normally.
Turning off cruise control
Press OFF to turn off the cruise control.
Note:When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your cruise
control set speed memory is erased.
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Cause Action
The surface of the radar in the grille
is dirty or obstructed in some wayClean the grille surface in front of
the radar or remove the object
causing the obstruction
The surface of the radar in the grille
is clean but the message remains in
the displayWait a short time. It may take
several minutes for the radar to
detect that it is no longer obstructed
Heavy rain or snow is interfering
with the radar signalsDo not use ACC in these condition
because it may not detect, warn, or
respond to potential collisions.
Swirling water, or snow or ice on the
surface of the road may interfere
with the radar signalsDo not use ACC in these condition
because it may not detect, warn, or
respond to potential collisions.
WARNING:Do not use ACC when towing a trailer with brake
controls. Aftermarket trailer brakes will not function properly
when ACC is activated because the brakes are electronically controlled.
Failing to do so may result in loss of vehicle control, which could result
in serious injury.
WARNING:Do not use tires sizes other than those
recommended because this can affect the normal operation of
ACC. Failing to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control, which
could result in serious injury.
Switching to normal cruise control
You can manually change from adaptive cruise control (ACC) to normal
cruise control through the message center. Refer toMessage centerin
theInstrument Clusterchapter. If normal cruise control is selected, the
ACC indicator light will be replaced with a
cruise control indicator
light. The gap setting will not be displayed, the system will not
automatically respond to lead vehicles and automatic braking will not be
activated. The system will default to ACC when the engine is started.
WARNING:Normal cruise control will not brake due to slower
vehicles. Always be aware of which mode is selected and apply
the brakes when necessary.
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