Page 12 of 404
Black plate (6,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
1-6 In Brief
Tailgate
Open the tailgate by pulling up on
the outside handle while pulling the
tailgate down.
On vehicles with a locking tailgate,
use the ignition key to unlock it.
For more information seeTailgate
on page 2‑8.
Windows
Manual Windows
Use the window crank to open and
close each window.
Power Windows
Regular Cab Shown, Crew Cab
Similar
Push the switch down to open the
window. Pull the front of the switch
up to close it.
See Manual Windows on page 2‑16
or Power Windows on page 2‑17.
Page 14 of 404

Black plate (8,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
1-8 In Brief
Use the vertical control to adjust the
seatback.
SeePower Seat Adjustment on
page 3‑4 andReclining Seatbacks
on page 3‑5 for more information.
Power Lumbar
If available, press and hold the front
or rear of the control to increase or
decrease lumbar support. Release
the control when the level of support
is reached.
SeeLumbar Adjustment on
page 3‑4 for more information.
Heated Seats
If available, the switches are on the
outboard sides of the front seats.
To operate, the ignition must be on.
.Press the top of the switch for
the high setting.
.Press the bottom of the switch
for the low setting.
.Put the switch in the center
position to turn this feature off.
See Heated Front Seats on
page 3‑8 for more information.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the head
restraint height in the proper
position.
For more information see Head
Restraints on page 3‑2 andSeat
Adjustment on page 3‑3.
Page 22 of 404

Black plate (16,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
1-16 In Brief
Setting the Clock
To set the time and date for the
radio with CD (MP3/WMA):
Press and hold the HR button until
the correct hour displays. Press and
hold the MN button until the correct
minute displays. The time can be
set with the ignition on or off.
To synchronize the time with an
FM station broadcasting Radio Data
System (RDS) information, press
and hold the HR and MN buttons at
the same time until RDS TIME
displays. To accept this time, press
and hold the HR and MN buttons, at
the same time, for another
two seconds. If the time is not
available from the station,
NO UPDAT (update) displays.
RDS time is broadcast once a
minute. After tuning to an RDS
broadcast station, it could take a
few minutes for the time to update.
For detailed instructions on setting
the clock for your specific audio
system, seeClock on page 5‑4.
Satellite Radio
XM is a satellite radio service based
in the 48 contiguous United States
and 10 Canadian provinces.
XM satellite radio has a wide variety
of programming and
commercial-free music, coast to
coast, and in digital-quality sound.
A fee is required to receive the
XM service.
For more information, refer to:
.www.xmradio.com or call
1-800-929-2100 (U.S.)
.www.xmradio.ca or call
1-877-438-9677 (Canada)
See Satellite Radio on page 7‑12.
Cruise Control
The cruise controls are located at
the end of the multifunction lever.
9:Turns the system off.
R:Turns the system on.
+ (Resume/Accelerate): Use to
make the vehicle accelerate or
resume a previously set speed.
r T(Set): Press the button at
the end of the lever to set the
speed.
For more information, see Cruise
Control on page 9‑47.
Page 25 of 404

Black plate (19,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-19
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays a DIC message when
it is necessary to change the engine
oil and filter.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN,with the engine off.
2. Press and release the stem in the lower center of the
instrument cluster until the OIL
LIFE message is displayed.
3. Once the alternating OIL LIFE and RESET messages appear,
press and hold the stem until
several beeps sound. This
confirms that the oil life system
has been reset.
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑12.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.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.: 1-888-881-3302
TTY Users (U.S.): 1-888-889-2438
Canada: 1-800-268-6800
Mexico: 01-800-466-0801
As the owner of a new GMC, you
are automatically enrolled in the
Roadside Assistance program.
See Roadside Assistance Program
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑8 or
Roadside Assistance Program
(Mexico) on page 13‑10 for more
information.
Page 30 of 404

Black plate (2,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
2-2 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys
{WARNING
Leaving children in a vehicle with
the ignition key is dangerous for
many reasons. Children or others
could be badly injured or even
killed. They could operate the
power windows or other controls
or even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function with the
keys in the ignition and children
could be seriously injured or killed
if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave the keys in
a vehicle with children.
The key can be used for the ignition,
all door locks, and the tailgate.
The key has a bar-coded key tag
that the dealer or qualified locksmith
can use to make new keys. Store
this information in a safe place, not
in your vehicle.If locked out of your vehicle, call the
Roadside Assistance Center. See
Roadside Assistance Program (U.S.
and Canada) on page 13‑8
or
Roadside Assistance Program
(Mexico) on page 13‑10.
With an active OnStar subscription,
an OnStar Advisor may remotely
unlock the vehicle. See OnStar
®on
page 1‑20.
Page 34 of 404

Black plate (6,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
2-6 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Power Door Locks
Vehicles with power door locks, the
switches are located on the front
door armrests.
Press L to lock the doors.
Press U to unlock the doors.
Automatic Door Locks
If the vehicle has power door locks
and the remote keyless entry
system, it has an automatic lock/
unlock feature.
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, it is programmed
from the factory to lock all doors
automatically when the shift lever is
moved out of P (Park). All the doors
will unlock when the shift lever is
moved back into P (Park).
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, it is programmed from
the factory to lock all the doors
when the vehicle speed is greater
than 24 km/h (15 mph). The doors
will unlock when the key is removed
from the ignition.
To change the automatic door lock
and unlock settings, see“Automatic
Door Locks” underDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑20.
Lockout Protection
If the vehicle has power door locks,
this feature protects you from
locking the key in the vehicle when
the key is in the ignition and a door
is open.
If the power door lock switch is
pressed when a door is open and
the key is in the ignition, all of the
doors will lock and then the driver
door will unlock.
Safety Locks (Crew Cab)
If the vehicle is a crew cab model, it
may have rear door safety locks.
With this feature, the rear doors are
locked so they cannot be opened
from the inside.
Page 35 of 404
Black plate (7,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-7
The rear door safety lock is located
on the inside edge of each rear door
below the safety lock label.
To engage the safety locks:
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. Using the ignition key, turn thesafety lock to the horizontal
position.
3. Close the door.
4. Repeat these steps on the other rear door. To open a rear door when the safety
lock is on, unlock the door and open
the door from the outside.
To disengage the safety locks:
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. Using the ignition key, turn the
safety lock to the vertical
position.
3. Close the door.
4. Repeat these steps on the other rear door.
Doors
Rear Doors
To open the door, open the front
door. Then, use the handle to open
the rear door. The rear door must be
closed before closing the front door.
Page 36 of 404

Black plate (8,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
2-8 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Tailgate
{WARNING
It is extremely dangerous to ride
on the tailgate, even when the
vehicle is operated at low speeds.
People riding on the tailgate can
easily lose their balance and
fall in response to vehicle
maneuvers. Falling from a moving
vehicle may result in serious
injuries or death. Do not allow
people to ride on the tailgate. Be
sure everyone in your vehicle is in
a seat and using a safety belt
properly.
Open the tailgate by pulling up on
the outside handle while pulling the
tailgate down.
When the tailgate is shut, be sure it
is latched securely.
On vehicles with a locking tailgate,
use the ignition key. Turn the key
counterclockwise to lock the
tailgate. Turn the key clockwise to
unlock the tailgate.
Tailgate Removal
To remove the tailgate:
1. With the tailgate fully open, liftup slightly on the entire tailgate
assembly.
2. Remove the retaining cables
from both sides of the tailgate by
pulling the clips away from the
bolt heads while pushing the
cable bracket forward.
When the larger part of the hole
on the bracket is over the bolt,
slide the bracket off of the bolt.