2012 GMC SIERRA 1500 rear

Black plate (1,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
2012 GMC Sierra Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-8
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-35
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10 Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-48
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-56
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9 Infotainment System
. . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-37
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-35
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53

Black plate (1,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel (Base/UplevelVersion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Instrument Panel (Premium Version) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15 Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-21
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-28
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-29
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30 Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-31
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-31
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32
Universal Remote System . . . 1-32
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-33
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-35
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-35
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-35
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-36
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-36
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-36
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-37

Black plate (11,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
In Brief 1-11
is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY, or Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9‑29.
Press the switch to lower the
window. Pull the switch up to
raise it.
For more information, see:
.Windows on page 2‑19.
.Power Windows on page 2‑20.
Power Sliding Rear Window
If equipped, the power sliding rear
window works when the ignition has
been turned to ACC/ACCESSORY
or ON/RUN, or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active.
SeeRetained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑29
.Push the switch to open the
window.
.Pull the switch to close the
window.
The power sliding rear window
cannot be operated manually.
Seat Adjustment
Manual Seats
To adjust the seat:
1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar.
3. Try to move the seat back and forth to be sure the seat is
locked in place.
See Seat Adjustment on page 3‑3.

Black plate (12,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
1-12 In Brief
Power Seats
To adjust a power seat, if equipped:
.Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward.
.If available, raise or lower the
front or rear part of the seat
cushion by moving the front or
rear of the control up or down.
.If available, raise or lower the
entire seat by moving the entire
control up or down.
See Power Seat Adjustment on
page 3‑4.
Lumbar Adjustment
Manual Lumbar
If equipped, increase or decrease
manual lumbar support by turning
the knob forward or rearward.
See Lumbar Adjustment on
page 3‑4. Power Lumbar
To adjust the power lumbar support,
if equipped:
.On vehicles with two-way
lumbar, press and hold the top
or bottom of the control to
increase or decrease lumbar
support.

Black plate (13,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
In Brief 1-13
.On vehicles with four-way
lumbar, press and hold the front
or rear of the control to increase
or decrease lumbar support. To
raise or lower the height of the
support, press and hold the top
or bottom of the control.
See Lumbar Adjustment on
page 3‑4.Reclining Seatbacks
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
To recline a manual seatback:
1. Lift the lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, and then
release the lever to lock the
seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. To return the seatback to the upright
position:
1. Lift the lever fully without
applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback will
return to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
See Reclining Seatbacks on
page 3‑5.

Black plate (14,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
1-14 In Brief
Power Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust a power seatback,
if equipped:
.Tilt the top of the control
rearward to recline.
.Tilt the top of the control forward
to raise.
See Reclining Seatbacks on
page 3‑5.
Memory Features
On vehicles with the memory
feature, the controls on the driver
door are used to program and recall
memory settings for the driver seat,
outside mirrors, and the adjustable
throttle and brake pedals,
if equipped. Storing Memory Positions
To save into memory:
1. Adjust the driver seat and
seatback recliner, both outside
mirrors, and the throttle and
brake pedals, if equipped.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑15
and Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal on page 9‑25.
Not all mirrors and adjustable
throttle and brake pedals will
have the ability to save and
recall their positions.
2. Press and hold “1”until
two beeps sound.
3. Repeat for a second driver position using “2.”
To recall, press and release “1”
or “2.” The vehicle must be in
P (Park). A single beep will sound.
The seat, outside mirrors, and
adjustable throttle and brake pedals,
if equipped, will move to the position
previously stored for the identified
driver.

Black plate (15,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
In Brief 1-15
SeeMemory Seats on page 3‑7 and
Vehicle Personalization (With DIC
Buttons) on page 5‑48.
Easy Exit Driver Seat
This feature can move the seat
rearward to allow extra room to exit
the vehicle.
B: Press to recall the easy exit
seat position. The vehicle must be
in P (Park).
See Memory Seats on page 3‑7 and
Vehicle Personalization (With DIC
Buttons) on page 5‑48.
Heated and Ventilated
Seats
Heated and Cooled Seat Buttons
Shown, Heated Seat Buttons Similar
If available, the buttons are on the
front doors. To operate, the ignition
must be in ON/RUN.
H: If available, press to cool
the seat.
I: Press to heat the
seatback only.
J: Press to heat the seat and
seatback.
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the button, the seat will change to
the next lower setting, and then to
the off setting. The lights indicate
three for the highest setting and one
for the lowest.
See Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats on page 3‑9.
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.
See Head Restraints on page 3‑2
and Seat Adjustment on page 3‑3.

Black plate (18,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
1-18 In Brief
SeePower Mirrors on page 2‑15.
Keep the selector switch in the
center position when not adjusting
either outside mirror.
Manual Mirrors
If the vehicle has manual mirrors,
they can be adjusted by moving the
mirror up and down or left to right to
see a little of the side of the vehicle,
and have a clear view behind the
vehicle.
Manual Folding Mirrors
If the vehicle has manual folding
mirrors, push the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward, to
return to its original position.
Manually fold the mirrors inward
to prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash.
See Folding Mirrors on page 2‑16. Trailer-Tow Mirrors
If the vehicle has towing mirrors,
they can be adjusted for a clearer
view of the objects behind you.
Manually pull out the mirror head to
extend it for better visibility when
towing a trailer. See
Trailer-Tow
Mirrors on page 2‑15.
Heated Mirrors
For vehicle with heated mirrors:
Press
1to heat the mirrors. If the
vehicle has a towing mirror, only the
upper glass of the mirror is heated.
The lower convex part of the towing
mirrors is not heated.
See “Rear Window Defogger”
under Climate Control Systems
(with Air Conditioning) on page 8‑1
or Climate Control Systems (with
Heater Only) on page 8‑4 orDual
Automatic Climate Control System
on page 8‑5 for more information. Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory
package, the exterior mirrors tilt
to a preselected position when the
vehicle is in R (Reverse). This
feature lets the driver view the curb
when parallel parking. The mirrors
return to the original position
when the vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned
off or to OFF/LOCK.
This feature can be programed
through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See
Vehicle
Personalization (With DIC Buttons)
on page 5‑48 for more information.
Interior Mirror
Adjustment
Hold the rearview mirror in the
center and move it to view the area
behind the vehicle.