Page 1 of 450

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
Page 7 of 450

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-14
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-18
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-19
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (With DIC Buttons) . . . 1-20
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-21
Storage Compartments . . . . . . 1-21
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-23
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Page 8 of 450
Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
1-2 In Brief
Instrument Panel
Page 9 of 450

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.
Page 17 of 450
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.
Page 19 of 450
Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-13
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
DOME OFF: Press the top of
the button in and the dome lamps
remain off when a door is opened. An indicator light on the button
comes on to show that the dome
lamps are off. Press near the bottom
of the button so the dome lamps
come on when a door is opened.
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 6‑5.
Page 20 of 450

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
1-14 In Brief
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.
5: Manual operation of the
headlamps and other exterior
lamps.
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System on
page 6‑3.
.Delayed Headlamps on
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:Use to turn the wipers off.
6:Delays wiping cycle. Turn the
band up for more frequent wipes or
down for less frequent wipes.
1 : Slow wipes.
2 : Fast wipes.
Page 21 of 450
Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-15
Windshield Washer
J:Press the button at the end
of the turn signal/lane change
lever to spray washer fluid on the
windshield.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
The rear wiper and rear wash button
is located on the instrument panel
below the climate control system.
Z: Press to turn the rear wiper on
and off. The wiper speed cannot be
changed.
Y: Press to spray washer fluid on
the rear window. The window wiper
will also come on.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑5 andRear Window Wiper/
Washer on page 5‑5.
Climate Controls
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Air Conditioning E. REAR (Rear Climate Control)
F. Recirculation
G. Rear Window Defogger