2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE airbag

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
2012 Chevrolet Traverse Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22 Seats and Restraints
. . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-4
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 . . . . . . . 5-40
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-48 Lighting
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-36
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
iv Introduction
{WARNING
These mean there is something
that could hurt you or other
people.
Notice: This means there is
something that could result in
property or vehicle damage. This
would not be covered by the
vehicle's warranty.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means “Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: This symbol is shown when
you need to see your owner manual
for additional instructions or
information.
*: This symbol is shown when
you need to see a service manual
for additional instructions or
information. 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)
%: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

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-3
A. Turn and Lane‐Change Lever.See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑4.
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑5.
B. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑11.
C. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2.
D. Instrument Panel Storage on
page 4‑1.
USB Port (Inside IP Storage).
Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑34
E. Infotainment on page 7‑2.
Navigation/Radio System
(If Equipped). See the separate
navigation manual.
F. Air Vents on page 8‑11.
G. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
H. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5. I. Data Link Connector (DLC)
(Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑17.
J. Cruise Control on page 9‑31.
K. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
L. Horn on page 5‑4.
M. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons (If Equipped). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(With DIC Buttons) on
page 5‑24 orDriver Information
Center (DIC) (Without DIC
Buttons) on page 5‑29.
N. Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1 (If Equipped).
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑4
(If Equipped).
O. Shift Lever. See Shifting Into
Park on page 9‑19. P.
Power Outlets on page 5‑8.
Q. Rear Window Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑5.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Disable Button. See
StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑28.
Tow/Haul Button (If Equipped).
See Tow/Haul Mode on
page 9‑25.
Power Liftgate Button
(If Equipped). See Liftgate on
page 2‑10.
R. Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats on page 3‑8
(If Equipped).
S. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑4.
T. Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑16.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-11
Passenger Sensing
System
United States
Canada and Mexico
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbag,
seat‐mounted side impact airbags,
and roof‐rail airbags are not affected
by the passenger sensing system.
The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
instrument panel when the vehicle is started. See
Passenger Sensing
System on page 3‑31 for more
information.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior Mirrors
Base Model
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Press
oorpto select a mirror.
2. Press the control pad to adjust the mirror.
3. Return the switch to the center to deselect the mirror.
Uplevel Model
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Press (A) or (B) to select a mirror.
2. Press the control pad to adjust the mirror.
3. Press (A) or (B) again to deselect the mirror.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-1
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . 3-4
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Heated and Ventilated FrontSeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . 3-22 Safety System Check . . . . . . . . 3-22
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . 3-25
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . 3-36
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . 3-37
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-38
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
Infants and YoungChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . 3-43
Where to Put the Restraint . . . 3-45
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-54
Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
Securing Child Restraints (Right Front
Passenger Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-15
Why Safety Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel
as fast as the vehicle does. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you keep
going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the safety belts!
When you wear a safety belt, you
and the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because
you stop over a longer distance and,
when worn properly, your strongest
bones take the forces from thesafety belts. That is why wearing
safety belts makes such good
sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be—whether you
are wearing a safety belt or not.
Your chance of being conscious
during and after a crash, so you
can unbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear safety
belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they work with
safety belts —not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag
is provided, all occupants still
have to buckle up to get the
most protection. Also, in nearly all states and in
all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing safety belts.
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly
This section is only for people of
adult size.
There are special things to know
about safety belts and children. And
there are different rules for smaller
children and infants. If a child will
be riding in the vehicle, see
Older
Children on page 3‑38 orInfants
and Young Children on page 3‑41.
Follow those rules for everyone's
protection.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-19
Safety Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has safety belt
pretensioners for the front outboard
occupants. Although the safety belt
pretensioners cannot be seen, they
are part of the safety belt assembly.
They can help tighten the safety
belts during the early stages of a
moderate to severe frontal, near
frontal, or rear crash if the threshold
conditions for pretensioner
activation are met. And, for vehicles
with side impact airbags, safety belt
pretensioners can help tighten the
safety belts in a side crash or a
rollover event.Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners activate in a crash,
they will need to be replaced, and
probably other new parts for the
vehicle's safety belt system. See
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts
after a Crash on page 3‑23.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort
Guides
This vehicle may have rear safety
belt comfort guides. If not, they are
available through your dealer. The
guides may provide added safety
belt comfort for older children who
have outgrown booster seats and
for some adults. When installed and
properly adjusted, the comfort guide
positions the shoulder belt away
from the neck and head.Here is how to install a comfort
guide to the safety belt:
Outboard Positions
1. For the outboard positions, remove the guide from its
storage clip on the interior body.
For the third row center
position, locate the comfort
guide which is located in a
storage pocket, at the top of
the seat, under the headrest on
the driver's side of the vehicle.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-23
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts after a
Crash
{WARNING
A crash can damage the safety
belt system in the vehicle.
A damaged safety belt system
may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in
serious injury or even death in a
crash. To help make sure the
safety belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.After a minor crash, replacement of
safety belts may not be necessary.
But the safety belt assemblies that
were used during any crash may
have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the safety
belt assemblies inspected or
replaced.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the safety belt
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Have the safety belt pretensioners
checked if the vehicle has been in a
crash, or if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start the vehicle
or while you are driving. See
Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑15.
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbags:
.A frontal airbag for the driver.
.A frontal airbag for the front
outboard passenger.
.A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the driver.
.A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the front outboard
passenger.
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver
and for the second and third row
passengers seated directly
behind the driver.
.A roof-rail airbag for the front
outboard passenger and the
second and third row
passengers seated directly
behind the front outboard
passenger.