
Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Driving and Operating 229
Stop/Start System
This vehicle has a Stop/Start system to shut
off the engine to help conserve fuel. It has
components designed for the increased
number of starts.
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start feature
causes the engine to shut off while the
vehicle is still on. Do not exit the vehicle
before shifting to P (Park). The vehicle
may restart and move unexpectedly.
Always shift to P (Park), and then turn
the ignition off before exiting the vehicle.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and the vehicle
is at a complete stop, the engine may turn
off. When stopped, the tachometer displays
AUTO STOP. See Tachometer0105. When
the brake pedal is released or the
accelerator pedal is pressed, the engine will
restart.
To maintain vehicle performance, other
conditions may cause the engine to
automatically restart before the brake pedal
is released. Auto Stops may not occur and/or Auto
Starts may occur because:
.The climate control settings require the
engine to be running to cool or heat the
vehicle interior.
.The vehicle battery charge is low.
.The vehicle battery has recently been
disconnected.
.Minimum vehicle speed has not been
reached since the last Auto Stop.
.The accelerator pedal is pressed.
.The engine or transmission is not at the
required operating temperature.
.The outside temperature is not in the
required operating range.
.The vehicle is shifted out of D (Drive) to
any gear other than P (Park).
.Tow/Haul Mode or other driver modes
have been selected.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill or grade.
.The driver door has been opened or the
driver seat belt has been unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached the maximum
allowed time.
Auto Stop Disable Switch
Uplevel Shown, Others Similar
The automatic engine Stop/Start feature can
be disabled and enabled by pressing
h.
Auto Stop is enabled each time you start
the vehicle.
When
his illuminated, the system is
enabled.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on to off,
the following features (if equipped) will
continue to function for up to 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the ignition is
in RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY:

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Driving and Operating 247
Terrain Mode DriveSelect Expected Vehicle Behavior Ideal Terrain
Drive (L3-Lx) Minor deceleration when off
throttle and mild ability to
modulate throttle; mimics
performance of 4
nwithout torque
multiplication. Grassy fields,
mild two tracks,
rutted roads,
large rolling hills,
L2 Moderate deceleration when off
throttle and moderate ability to
modulate throttle; will bring vehicle
to a stop in most cases. Mild rock crawling,
heavy ruts,
short, steeper grades,
L1 Significant deceleration when off
throttle and significant ability to
modulate throttle; will bring vehicle
to a stop in most cases. Rock crawling downhill
Vehicle Hold Features:
.When the vehicle comes to a stop on an
incline grade in forward gear or on a
decline grade in reverse gear, Vehicle
Hold is engaged until the accelerator
pedal is pressed.
.When the vehicle is in forward gear on a
decline, the vehicle is allowed to creep
down the hill when the brake pedal is released without pressing the accelerator
pedal. The vehicle will also creep forward
on flat ground.
.If the driver seat belt is removed and the
driver door is opened while the vehicle is
being held, EPB will be engaged.
.EPB will engage if the vehicle is held for
an extended period.Terrain Mode is only available on vehicles
equipped with the single speed
transfer case.
Terrain Mode can only be active when:
.Vehicle speed is less than 80 km/h
(50 mph).
.The transfer case is in 4m.
Frequent use of this mode may cause brake
wear due to the light braking.
The vehicle will automatically exit the mode
if the brakes get too hot. Terrain Mode can
be turned back on after the brakes have
cooled.
When Terrain Mode is selected:
.Auto Engine Start/Stop will be disabled.
.The Terrain Mode indicator displays on
the instrument cluster.
Magnetic Ride Control
This vehicle may have a semi-active damping
system called Magnetic Ride Control. With
this feature, improved vehicle ride and
handling is provided under a variety of
passenger and loading conditions.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
258 Driving and Operating
Irregular Objects Affecting ACC
ACC may have difficulty detecting the
following objects:
.Vehicles with cargo extending from the
back end.
.Non-standard shaped vehicles, such as
vehicle transport, vehicles with a side car
fitted, or horse carriages.
.Objects that are close to the front of your
vehicle.
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage and the
driver will need to manually apply the
brakes to slow the vehicle if:
.The sensors are blocked.
.The Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/ESC system has activated or
been disabled.
.There is a fault in the system.
.The radar falsely reports blockage when
driving in a desert or remote area with
no other vehicles or roadside objects.
A DIC message may display to indicate
that ACC is temporarily unavailable.
The ACC indicator will turn white when ACC
is no longer active. In some cases, when ACC is temporarily
unavailable, regular cruise control may be
used. See
“Switching Between ACC and
Regular Cruise Control” previously in this
section. Always consider driving conditions
before using either cruise control system.
Notification to Resume ACC
ACC will maintain a follow gap behind a
detected vehicle and slow your vehicle to a
stop behind that vehicle.
If the stopped vehicle ahead has driven
away and ACC has not resumed, the vehicle
ahead indicator will flash as a reminder to
check traffic ahead before proceeding. In
addition, the left and right sides of the
Safety Alert Seat will pulse three times,
or three beeps will sound. See ”Alert Type”
and “Adaptive Cruise Go Notifier” in
“Collision/Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization 0124.
When the vehicle ahead drives away, press
RES+ or the accelerator pedal to resume
ACC. If stopped for more than two minutes
or if the driver door is opened and the
driver seat belt is unbuckled, the ACC
automatically applies the Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle. The EPB
status light will turn on. See Electric Parking
Brake 0240. A DIC warning message may display
indicating to shift to P (Park) before exiting
the vehicle. See
Vehicle Messages 0124.
{Warning
If ACC has stopped the vehicle, and if ACC
is disengaged, turned off, or canceled, the
vehicle will no longer be held at a stop.
The vehicle can move. When ACC is
holding the vehicle at a stop, always be
prepared to manually apply the brakes.
{Warning
Leaving the vehicle without placing it in
P (Park) can be dangerous. Do not leave
the vehicle while it is being held at a
stop by ACC. Always place the vehicle in
P (Park) and turn off the ignition before
leaving the vehicle.
ACC Override
If using the accelerator pedal while ACC is
active, the ACC indicator turns blue on the
instrument cluster indicating ACC braking
will not occur. ACC will resume operation
when the accelerator pedal is not being
pressed.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
284 Driving and Operating
Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin and the
vehicle begins to slide toward the water,
remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when
used to tow trailers. SeeMaintenance
Schedule 0386. It is especially important to
check the automatic transmission fluid,
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before and during
each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and bolts on
the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling when Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating conditions.
See Engine Overheating 0322.
Trailer Towing
If equipped with a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can damage
the vehicle and result in costly repairs
not covered by the vehicle warranty. To
tow a trailer correctly, follow the
directions in this section and see your
dealer for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailering is different than just driving the
vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are important
for your safety and that of your passengers.
Read this section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity for
your vehicle. Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature, and how frequently the vehicle
is used to tow a trailer.
Trailer Weight Ratings
When towing a trailer, the combined weight
of the vehicle, vehicle contents, trailer, and
trailer contents must be below all of the
maximum weight ratings for the vehicle,
including:
.GCWR: Gross Combined Weight Rating
.GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
.Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
.GAWR-RR: Gross Axle Weight Rating-Rear
.Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating
See “Weight-Distributing Hitch and
Adjustment” underTowing Equipment 0287
to determine if equalizer bars are required
to obtain the maximum trailer weight
rating.
See “Trailer Brakes” underTowing
Equipment 0287 to determine if brakes are
required based on your trailer's weight.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Service and Maintenance 391
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services - Severe12 000 km/7,500 mi
24 000 km/15,000 mi
36 000 km/22,500 mi
48 000 km/30,000 mi 60 000 km/37,500 mi
72 000 km/45,000 mi84 000 km/52,500 mi
96 000 km/60,000 mi
108 000 km/67,500 mi 120 000 km/75,000 mi 132 000 km/82,500 mi
144 000 km/90,000 mi 156 000 km/97,500 mi
168 000 km/105,000 mi 180 000 km/112,500 mi
192 000 km/120,000 mi 204 000 km/127,500 mi 216 000 km/135,000 mi
228 000 km/142,500 mi
240 000 km/150,000 mi
Rotate tires and perform Required Services. Check engine oil
level and oil life percentage. Change engine oil and filter,
if needed.
Check engine air filter life percentage and status. Change
engine air filter, if needed.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Replace passenger compartment air filter. (1)@ @@@@@
Inspect evaporative control system. (2)@ @@
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter.@@@
Change transfer case fluid, if equipped with 4WD. (3)@@@
Replace spark plugs. Inspect spark plug wires and/or boots.@
Drain and fill engine cooling system. (4)@
Visually inspect accessory drive belts. (5)@
Replace brake fluid. (6)
Replace front and rear wiper blades. (7)
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Replace hood and/or body lift support gas struts. (8)@ @
Replace air conditioning desiccant. (9)
Footnotes—Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services - Severe
(1) Or every two years, whichever comes
first. More frequent passenger compartment
air filter replacement may be needed if
driving in areas with heavy traffic, poor air quality, high dust levels, or environmental
allergens. Passenger compartment air filter
replacement may also be needed if there is
reduced airflow, window fogging, or odors.
Your GM dealer can help determine when to
replace the filter.
(2)
Visually check all fuel and vapor lines
and hoses for proper attachment,
connection, routing, and condition.
(3) Do not directly power wash the transfer
case and/or front/rear axle output seals.
High pressure water can overcome the seals

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
392 Service and Maintenance
and contaminate the transfer case fluid.
Contaminated fluid will decrease the life of
the transfer case and/or axles and should be
replaced.
(4)Or every five years, whichever comes
first. See Cooling System 0319.
(5) Or every 10 years, whichever comes first.
Inspect for fraying, excessive cracking,
or damage; replace, if needed.
(6) Replace brake fluid every five years. See
Brake Fluid 0326.
(7) Or every 12 months, whichever comes
first. See Wiper Blade Replacement 0329.
(8) Or every 10 years, whichever comes first.
See Gas Strut(s) 0330.
(9) Replace air conditioning desiccant every
seven years.
Special Application Services
.Severe Commercial Use Vehicles Only:
Lubricate chassis components every oil
change.
.Have underbody flushing service
performed. See "Underbody Maintenance"
in Exterior Care 0376.
Additional Maintenance
and Care
Your vehicle is an important investment and
caring for it properly may help to avoid
future costly repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional maintenance
services may be required.
It is recommended that your dealer perform
these services —their trained dealer
technicians know your vehicle best. Your
dealer can also perform a thorough
assessment with a multi-point inspection to
recommend when your vehicle may need
attention.
The following list is intended to explain the
services and conditions to look for that may
indicate services are required.
Battery
The 12-volt battery supplies power to start
the engine and operate any additional
electrical accessories.
.To avoid break-down or failure to start
the vehicle, maintain a battery with full
cranking power.
.Trained dealer technicians have the
diagnostic equipment to test the battery
and ensure that the connections and
cables are corrosion-free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if they squeak
or show signs of cracking or splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians have access to
tools and equipment to inspect the belts
and recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are crucial to
safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include chirping,
grinding, or squealing noises, or difficulty
stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have access to
tools and equipment to inspect the brakes
and recommend quality parts engineered
for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved fluids
protect the vehicle’s systems and
components. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0395 for GM approved fluids.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
Customer Information 411
the event you suspect any security incident
impacting your data or the safe operation of
your vehicle, please stop operating your
vehicle and contact your dealer.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with an event data
recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR
is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data
that will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is
designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record
such data as:
.How various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
.Whether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were buckled/fastened;
.How far (if at all) the driver was
depressing the accelerator and/or brake
pedal; and,
.How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in which
crashes and injuries occur. Note
EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no
data are recorded by the EDR under normal
driving conditions and no personal data
(e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location)
are recorded. However, other parties, such
as law enforcement, could combine the EDR
data with the type of personally identifying
data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special
equipment is required, and access to the
vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to
the vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such
as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they
have access to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access these data or share it
with others except: with the consent of the
vehicle owner or, if the vehicle is leased,
with the consent of the lessee; in response
to an official request by police or similar
government office; as part of GM's defense
of litigation through the discovery process;
or, as required by law. Data that GM collects
or receives may also be used for GM
research needs or may be made available to
others for research purposes, where a need
is shown and the data is not tied to a
specific vehicle or vehicle owner.
OnStar
If the vehicle is equipped with OnStar and
has an active service plan, additional data
may be collected and transmitted through
the OnStar system. This includes information
about the vehicle’s operation; collisions
involving the vehicle; the use of the vehicle
and its features, including infotainment; and
the location and approximate GPS speed of
the vehicle. Refer to the OnStar Terms and
Conditions and Privacy Statement on the
OnStar website.
See
OnStar Additional Information 0413.
Infotainment System
If the vehicle is equipped with a navigation
system as part of the infotainment system,
use of the system may result in the storage
of destinations, addresses, telephone
numbers, and other trip information. See the
infotainment section for information on
stored data and for deletion instructions.

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-13690484) - 2021 - crc - 8/17/20
422 Index
Child Restraints (cont'd)Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Connected Services Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417
Connections Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
Control Hill Descent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Traction and Electronic Stability . . . . . . . 242
Control Light Hill Descent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214 Controls
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Coolant Engine Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Engine Temperature Warning Light . . . . . 115
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204, 207
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . 406
Coverage Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Cruise Control, Adaptive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Customer Information Publications Ordering Information . . . . . 408
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . 401
Cybersecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Data Collection
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411 Data Collection (cont'd)
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Database Coverage Explanations . . . . . . . . . 176
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Diagnostics Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400
Driver Teen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . 280