
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11 Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-16
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-22
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-22
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23 Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-24
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Universal Remote System . . . 1-25
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-26
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-27
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-27
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-23
b/g:Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn
the sound on. Press and hold longer
than two seconds to interact with
OnStar
®or Bluetooth systems,
if equipped.
+
e: Press to increase volume.
−
e: Press to decrease volume.
SRCE: Press to switch between
the radio and CD, and for equipped
vehicles, the DVD, front auxiliary,
and rear auxiliary.
¨: Press to seek the next radio
station, the next track or chapter
while sourced to the CD or DVD
slot, or to select tracks and folders
on an iPod or USB device.
For more information, see Steering
Wheel Controls on page 5‑2.
Cruise Control
T: Press to turn the system on
or off. The indicator light is on when
cruise control is on and turns off
when cruise control is off.
+ RES : Press briefly to make the
vehicle resume to a previously
set speed, or press and hold to
accelerate.
SET −: Press to set the speed and
activate cruise control or make the
vehicle decelerate.
[: Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
See Cruise Control on page 9‑49.
Navigation System
If the vehicle has a navigation
system, there is a separate
navigation system manual that
includes information on the radio,
audio players, and navigation
system.
The navigation system provides
detailed maps of most major
freeways and roads. After a
destination has been set, the
system provides turn-by-turn
instructions for reaching the
destination. In addition, the system
can help locate a variety of points
of interest (POIs), such as banks,
airports, restaurants, and more.
See the navigation system manual
for more information.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
1-24 In Brief
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA)
If available, this feature will alert you
to vehicles located in the vehicle's
side blind zone. When the system
detects a vehicle in the side blind
zone, the SBZA display will light up
in the corresponding outside side
mirror.
The system is enabled at every
vehicle startup. It can be disabled
through the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the message SIDE BLIND ZONE
SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE appears
on the DIC, the system has been
disabled because the sensor is
blocked and cannot detect vehicles
in the blind zone. The sensor may
be blocked by mud, dirt, snow, ice,
slush, or even heavy rainstorms.
This message may also activate
during heavy rain or due to road
spray. The vehicle does not need
service.See
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
on page 9‑53 for more information.Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
If available, the RVC displays a
view of the area behind the vehicle
when the vehicle is shifted into
R (Reverse). The display will appear
on either the inside rearview mirror
or navigation screen, if equipped.
To clean the camera lens, located
above the license plate, rinse it with
water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
SeeRear Vision Camera (RVC) on
page 9‑55.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
If available, Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) system uses sensors
on the rear bumper to assist with
parking and avoiding objects while
in R (Reverse). It operates at
speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph). URPA uses audible beeps to
provide distance and system
information.
Keep the sensors on the vehicle's
rear bumper clean to ensure proper
operation.
See
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑51 for more information.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
There are two under the climate
controls, one inside the center floor
console, one on the rear of the
center floor console and one
accessory power outlet in the rear
cargo area on the passenger side.
The accessory power outlets are
powered, even with the ignition
off. Continuing to use accessory
power outlets while the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF may cause the vehicle's
battery to run down.
SeePower Outlets on page 5‑8.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
1-28 In Brief
.When road and weather
conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Roadside Assistance
Program
U.S.:1-800-243-8872
TTY Users (U.S.): 1-888-889-2438
Canada: 1-800-268-6800
Mexico: 01-800-466-0800
As the owner of a new Chevrolet,
you are automatically enrolled in the
Roadside Assistance program.
See Roadside Assistance Program
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑7
or Roadside Assistance Program
(Mexico) on page 13‑9 for more
information.
Roadside Assistance and OnStar
(U.S. and Canada)
If you have an active OnStar
subscription, press the
Qbutton
and the current GPS location will
be sent to an OnStar advisor who
will assess your problem, contact
Roadside Assistance, and relay
your exact location to get the help
you need. Online Owner Center
(U.S. and Canada)
The Online Owner Center is
a complimentary service that
includes online service reminders,
vehicle maintenance tips, online
owner manual, special privileges,
and more.
Sign up today at:
www.chevyownercenter.com
(U.S.) or
www.gm.ca (Canada).
OnStar®
If equipped, this vehicle has
a comprehensive, in-vehicle
system that can connect to a live
Advisor for Emergency, Security,
Navigation, Connection, and
Diagnostic Services. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1 for more
information.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-3
c/x(Phone On Hook):Press
to go to the previous favorite radio
station, track on a CD, or folder on
an iPod
®or USB device. Press to
reject an incoming call, or end a
current call.
Radio
To select preset or favorite radio
stations:
Press and release
worc/xto
go to the next or previous radio
station stored as a preset or
favorite.
CD/DVD
To select tracks on a CD/DVD:
Press and release
worc/xto
go to the next or previous track. Selecting Tracks on an iPod or
USB Device (Vehicles without a
Navigation System)
1. Press and hold
worc/x
while listening to a song until the
contents of the current folder
display on the radio display.
2. Press and release
worc/x
to scroll up or down the list, then
press and hold
w, or press¨to
play the highlighted track.
Navigating Folders on an iPod or
USB Device (Vehicles without a
Navigation System):
1. Press and hold
worc/x
while listening to a song until the
contents of the current folder
display on the radio display.
2. Press and hold
c/xto go
back to the previous folder list. 3. Press and release
worc/x
to scroll up or down the list.
.To select a folder,
press and hold
w, or
press
¨when the folder is
highlighted.
.To go back further in
the folder list, press and
hold
c/x.
Navigating an iPod or USB Device
on the Main Audio Screen
(Vehicles with a Navigation
System)
1. Press and release
worc/x
to select the next or previous
track within the selected
category.
2. Press and hold
worc/xto
move quickly through the tracks.
3. Press and release
¨to move up
one track within the selected
category.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
5-4 Instruments and Controls
Navigating an iPod or USB Device
on the Music Navigator Screen
(Vehicles with a Navigation
System)
1. Press and release
worc/x
to select the next or previous
track within the selected
category.
2. Press and hold
worc/xto
move quickly through the tracks
within the selected category.
3. Press and release
¨to move up
one track within the selected
category.
b/g(Mute/Push to Talk): Press
to silence the vehicle speakers only.
Press again to turn the sound on.
For vehicles with Bluetooth or
OnStar systems, press and hold for
longer than two seconds to interact
with those systems. See Bluetooth
on page 7‑47 andOnStar Overview
on page 14‑1 for more information. SRCE (Source/Voice
Recognition):
Press to switch
between the radio and CD, and for
equipped vehicles, the DVD, front
auxiliary, and rear auxiliary.
For vehicles with the navigation
system, press and hold this button
for longer than one second to
initiate voice recognition. See “Voice
Recognition” in the Navigation
System manual for more
information.
¨(Seek): Press to go to the
next radio station while in AM,
FM, or XM™.
For vehicles with or without a
navigation system:
Press
¨to go to the next track or
chapter while sourced to the CD or
DVD slot.
Press
¨to select a track or a folder
when navigating folders on an iPod
or USB device. For vehicles with a navigation
system:
1. Press and hold
¨until a beep is
heard, to place the radio into
SCAN mode. A station will play
for five seconds before moving
to the next station.
2. To stop the SCAN function, press
¨again.
While listening to a CD/DVD, press
and hold
¨to quickly move forward
through the tracks. Release to stop
on the desired track.
+
e: Press to increase volume.
−
e: Press to decrease volume.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center
pad on the steering wheel.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
7-2 Infotainment System
.Set up the tone, speaker
adjustments, and preset radio
stations.
For more information, see Defensive
Driving on page 9‑3.
This vehicle's audio system may be
equipped with a noise reduction
system which can work improperly
if the audio amplifier, engine
calibrations, exhaust system,
microphones, radio, or speakers are
modified or replaced. This could
result in more noticeable engine
noise at certain speeds. Notice:
Contact your dealer
before adding any equipment.
Adding audio or communication
equipment could interfere with
the operation of the engine, radio,
or other systems, and could
damage them. Follow federal
rules covering mobile radio and
telephone equipment. The vehicle has Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP,
the audio system can be played
even after the ignition is turned off.
See
Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑26 for more
information.
Navigation/Radio System
For vehicles with a navigation radio
system, see the separate Navigation
System manual.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual - 2012
7-26 Infotainment System
To exit music navigator mode, press
the softkey below the Back tab to
return to normal MP3 playback.
Using the DVD Player
The DVD player can be controlled
by the buttons on the remote
control, the RSA system, or by the
buttons on the radio faceplate. See
“Remote Control”underRear Seat
Entertainment (RSE) System on
page 7‑35 andRear Seat Audio
(RSA) System on page 7‑45 for
more information.
The DVD player is only compatible
with DVDs of the appropriate region
code printed on the jacket of
most DVDs.
The DVD slot of the radio is
compatible with most audio CDs
and CD-R/RW, DVD-Video,
DVD-Audio, DVD-R/RW, and DVD
+R/RW media, along with MP3 and
WMA formats. If an error message displays on the
video screen or the radio, see
“DVD
Display Error Messages” under
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE)
System on page 7‑35, and “CD/DVD
Player Messages” later in this
section for more information.
Inserting a Disc
Insert a disc partway into the top
slot, label side up. The player pulls
it in and the disc should begin
playing. “Loading Disc” shows on
the radio display. At the same time,
the radio displays a softkey menu of
option(s). Some discs automatically
play the movie while others default
to the softkey menu display,
which requires the Play, Enter,
or Navigation softkeys to be
pressed, either by softkey or by
the rear seat passenger using the
remote control.
Loading a disc into the system,
depending on media type and
format, ranges from 5 to 20 seconds
for a CD, and up to 30 seconds for
a DVD.
Ejecting a Disc
ZDVD (Eject): Press and
release to eject the disc currently
playing in the top slot. A beep
sounds and Ejecting Disc displays.
If loading and reading of a disc
cannot be completed, due to
unknown format, etc., and the disc
fails to eject, press and hold for
more than five seconds to force the
disc to eject.
Playing a DVD
DVD/CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press to
cycle through DVD, CD, or Auxiliary
when listening to the radio. The
DVD/CD text tab and a message
showing the track or chapter
number will display when a disc is in
either slot. Press the DVD/CD AUX
button again and the system
automatically searches for an
auxiliary input device; see Auxiliary
Devices on page 7‑30 for more
information. If a portable audio
player is not connected, “No Aux
Input Device” displays. If a disc is in
both the DVD slot and the CD slot,