2021 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14637844) - 2021 - CRC - 3/26/21
184 Climate Controls
Manual Operation
O:Press to turn the fan off or on. When
off is selected, the system will prevent air
from flowing into the cabin. If on is
selected, or any other button is pressed, the
climate control system will turn on and
return to delivering airflow as set. The
temperature control and air delivery mode
can still be adjusted.
^: Press to increase or decrease the fan
speed. The fan speed setting appears on the
main display. Pressing any air flow mode
button cancels automatic fan control and
the fan is controlled manually. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation.
Air Delivery Mode Controls : Press
X,Y,
or
[to change the direction of the
airflow. Any combination of the three
buttons can be selected. The indicator light
in the button will turn on. The current mode
appears in the display screen. Pressing either
button cancels automatic air delivery control
and the direction of the airflow is controlled
manually. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation.
To change the current mode, select one or
more of the following modes:
X: Clears the windows of fog or moisture.
Air is directed to the windshield.
Y: Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets.
[: Air is directed to the floor outlets.
0MAX : Air is directed to the windshield,
the fan runs at a higher speed, and the
temperature of the air is increased if not
already at maximum. This mode overrides
the previous mode selected and clears fog or
frost from the windshield more quickly.
When the button is pressed again, the
system returns to the previous mode setting
and fan speed.
For best results, clear all snow and ice from
the windshield before defrosting.
A/C : Press to turn the air conditioning
system on or off. If the climate control
system is turned off or the outside
temperature falls below freezing, the air
conditioner will not run.
Pressing this button cancels automatic air
conditioning and turns off the air
conditioner. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation and the air conditioner
runs automatically as needed. When the
indicator light is on, the air conditioner runs automatically to cool the air inside the
vehicle or to dry the air needed to defog
the windshield faster.
@:
Press to turn on recirculation. An
indicator light comes on. Air is recirculated
to quickly cool the inside of the vehicle or
to reduce the entry of outside air and odors.
If selected during cool or cold weather, the
windshield and windows may fog. Turn off
recirculation to help clear the windshield
and windows.
Auto Defog : The climate control system
may have a sensor to automatically detect
high humidity inside the vehicle. When high
humidity is detected, the climate control
system may adjust to outside air supply and
turn on the air conditioner. The fan speed
may slightly increase to help prevent
fogging. If the climate control system does
not detect possible window fogging, it
returns to normal operation.
To turn Auto Defog off or on, see “Climate
and Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization 0115.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Climate Controls 185
Rear Window Defogger
K:Press to turn the rear window defogger
on or off. An indicator light on the button
comes on to show that the rear window
defogger is on. The rear window defogger
only works when the ignition is on. The
defogger turns off when the ignition is off
or in ACC/ACCESSORY.
The rear window defogger can be set to
automatic operation. See “Climate and Air
Quality” underVehicle Personalization 0115.
When Auto Rear Defog is selected, the rear
window defogger turns on automatically
when the interior temperature is cold and
the outside temperature is about 7 °C (44 °F)
and below. The auto rear defogger turns off
automatically.
If the vehicle is equipped with heated
outside mirrors, they turn on when the rear
window defogger button is on and help to
clear fog or frost from the surface of the
mirror. See Heated Mirrors 027.
Caution
Do not try to clear frost or other material
from the inside of the front windshield
and rear window with a razor blade or
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
anything else that is sharp. This may
damage the rear window defogger grid
and affect the radio's ability to pick up
stations clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
LorM:If equipped, pressLorMto
heat the driver or passenger seat. See
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats 041.
{orC:If equipped, press{orCto
ventilate the driver or passenger seat. See
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats 041.
Remote Start Climate Control Operation :
If equipped with remote start, the climate
control system may run when the vehicle is
started remotely. The system will use the
defrost setting if it is cold outside or turn
on using the coldest settings if it is hot
outside. The rear defog may come on during
remote start based on cold ambient
conditions. The rear defog indicator light
does not come on during a remote start. If equipped, the heated seats will turn on if
it is cold outside or the ventilated seats will
turn on if it is hot outside. The heated and
ventilated seat indicator lights may not
come on during a remote start. If equipped,
the heated steering wheel will come on in a
remote start if it is cold outside. The heated
steering wheel indicator light may not come
on. See
Vehicle Personalization 0115, Remote
Vehicle Start 013, and Heated and
Ventilated Front Seats 041.Sensor
The solar sensor, on top of the instrument
panel near the windshield, monitors the
solar heat.
The climate control system uses the sensor
information to adjust the temperature, fan
speed, recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor; otherwise the
automatic climate control system may not
work properly.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14637844) - 2021 - CRC - 3/26/21
186 Climate Controls
Rear Climate Control System
The rear climate control system is on the
rear of the center console storage. The
settings can be adjusted by either the rear
climate control or the rear climate display
app on the front infotainment display.
Rear Climate Controls
1. Fan Control
2. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
3. MODE (Air Delivery Mode Control)
4. TEMP (Temperature Control)
5. Heated Rear Seats (If Equipped)
Rear Climate Display
1. Rear Climate Temperature Control
2. Fan Control
3. Outside Temperature Display
4. Sync (Synchronized Temperatures)
5. Rear Control Lockout
6. Air Delivery Mode Control
7. Auto (Automatic Operation)
8. On/Off (Power)
SYNC : Press SYNC on the rear climate
display to match the rear climate control
temperature to the front climate control
driver temperature. The SYNC button will be
lit. Adjust the rear climate control
temperature to change the linked temperature. The SYNC button turns off.
When SYNC is active the display is not
shown.
Rear Control Lockout :
Press
Hon the rear
climate display to lock or unlock control of
the rear climate control system from the
front seat. When locked the rear climate
control system cannot be adjusted from the
rear climate controls.
Automatic Operation
AUTO : Press AUTO or touch Rear Auto on
the rear climate display to automatically
control air delivery and fan speed. A is
indicated in the display on the rear of the
center console storage when automatic
operation is active. If any of the climate
control settings are manually adjusted, this
cancels full automatic operation.
The display on the rear of the center
console storage only indicates climate
control functions when the system is in rear
independent mode.
Manual Operation
9: Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise or touch and hold
]or
9on the rear climate display to increase
or decrease the fan speed.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Climate Controls 187
TEMP :Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise or press and hold the rear
climate display temperature controls to
adjust the rear passenger temperature. If
SYNC is lit, the rear climate temperature is
linked to the driver temperature setting.
2/\/Yor MODE : Touch the desired
mode on the rear climate display or press
MODE on the rear climate controls to
change the direction of the airflow in the
rear seating area. Repeatedly press MODE
until the desired mode appears on the
display.
MorL: If equipped, pressMorLto
heat the left or right rear outboard seat. See
Heated Rear Seats 045.
Air Vents
Use the slider switch on the air outlets to
change the direction of the airflow, or to
open and close off the airflow.
There are also outlets overhead in the rear
passenger area; adjust as needed.
Keep all outlets open whenever possible for
best system performance.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from
the air inlets at the base of the
windshield that can block the flow of air
into the vehicle.
.Clear snow off the hood to improve
visibility and help decrease moisture
drawn into the vehicle.
.Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors
can adversely affect the performance of
the system.
.Keep the path under all seats clear of
objects to help circulate the air inside the
vehicle more effectively.
.If fogging reoccurs while in vent or
bi-level modes with mild temperature
throughout the vehicle, turn on the air
conditioner to reduce windshield fogging.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The filter reduces dust, pollen, and other
airborne irritants from outside air that is
pulled into the vehicle. The filter should be
replaced as part of routine scheduled
maintenance. See Maintenance Schedule
0 323. See your dealer regarding replacement of
the filter.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood that
identifies the refrigerant used in the vehicle.
The refrigerant system should only be
serviced by trained and certified technicians.
The air conditioning evaporator should never
be repaired or replaced by one from a
salvage vehicle. It should only be replaced
by a new evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants should be
reclaimed with proper equipment. Venting
refrigerants directly to the atmosphere is
harmful to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite, or other
health-based concerns.
The air conditioning system requires periodic
maintenance. See
Maintenance Schedule
0 323.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14637844) - 2021 - CRC - 3/26/21
188 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 189
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 205
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 207
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . 208
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . 219
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 232 Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 243
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 254

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 189
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible.
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.On AWD vehicles, seeDriver Mode Control
0 215.
.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.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 047.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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190 Driving and Operating
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious—or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is
being driven, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the engine
stops, there will be some power brake assist
but it will be used when the brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 191
The vehicle has electric power steering.
It does not have power steering fluid.
Regular maintenance is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can be
steered, but may require increased effort.
If the steering assist is used for an extended
period of time while the vehicle is not
moving, power assist may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is held
against that position for an extended period
of time, power steering assist may be
reduced.
Normal use of the power steering assist
should return when the system cools down.See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady speed
through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.
.Holding both sides of the steering wheel
allows you to turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while
driving. Follow these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer the
vehicle so that it straddles the edge of
the pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the right front
tire contacts the pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.