
122STARTING AND OPERATING  
TRAILER HITCH CLASSIFICATION
The following chart provides the industry standard for the maximum trailer weight a given trailer hitch class can tow and should be used to assist you in selecting 
the correct trailer hitch for your intended towing condition.
TRAILER TOWING WEIGHTS (MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS)   
NOTE:The trailer tongue weight must be considered as part of the combined weight of occupants and cargo, and it should never exceed the weight referenced on the 
“Tire and Loading Information” placard  Ú page 242.
Trailer Hitch Classification Definitions
Class Max. Trailer Hitch Industry Standards
Class I - Light Duty 2,000 lb (907 kg)
Class II - Medium Duty 3,500 lb (1,587 kg)
Class III - Heavy Duty 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
Class IV - Extra Heavy Duty 10,000 lb (4,535 kg)
Refer to the “Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer Weight Ratings)” chart for the Maximum Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) towable for your given drivetrain.
All trailer hitches should be professionally installed on your vehicle.
Engine/Transmission Frontal AreaMaximum GTWMaximum Trailer TW (See Note)
3.6L Automatic 22 sq ft (2.04 sq m)1,000 lb (454 kg) 100 lb (45 kg)
5.7L Automatic 32 sq ft (2.97 sq m)1,000 lb (454 kg) 100 lb (45 kg)
Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds.
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STARTING AND OPERATING123
(Continued)
TRAILER AND TONGUE WEIGHT 
Never exceed the maximum tongue weight 
stamped on your bumper or trailer hitch.
 Weight Distribution
Consider the following items when computing the 
weight on the rear axle of the vehicle:
The tongue weight of the trailer.
The weight of any other type of cargo or equip -
ment put in or on your vehicle.
The weight of the driver and all passengers.
NOTE:Remember that everything put into or on the trailer 
adds to the load on your vehicle. Also, additional 
factory-installed options or dealer-installed options 
must be considered as part of the total load on  your vehicle. Refer to the “Tire And Loading Infor
-
mation” placard for the maximum combined 
weight of occupants and cargo for your vehicle.
TOWING REQUIREMENTS
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle 
drivetrain components, the following guidelines 
are recommended.
Perform the maintenance listed in the “Scheduled 
Servicing”  Úpage 210. When towing a trailer, 
never exceed the GAWR or GCWR ratings.
WARNING!
Make certain that the load is secured in the 
trailer and will not shift during travel. When 
trailering cargo that is not fully secured, 
dynamic load shifts can occur that may be 
difficult for the driver to control. You could lose 
control of your vehicle and have a collision.
When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not 
overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can 
cause a loss of control, poor performance or 
damage to brakes, axle, engine, transmission, 
steering, suspension, chassis structure or tires.
Safety chains must always be used between 
your vehicle and trailer. Always connect the 
chains to the hook retainers of the vehicle 
hitch. Cross the chains under the trailer 
tongue and allow enough slack for turning 
corners.
Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on 
a grade. When parking, apply the parking 
brake on the tow vehicle. Put the tow vehicle 
transmission in PARK. Always, block or 
"chock" the trailer wheels.
GCWR must not be exceeded.
Total weight must be distributed between the 
tow vehicle and the trailer such that the 
following four ratings are not exceeded :
Max loading as defined on the “Tire and 
Loading Information” placard.
GTW
GAWR
Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch 
utilized.
WARNING!
4
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124STARTING AND OPERATING  
(Continued)
Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a 
compact spare tire.
Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h) when 
towing while using a full size spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to 
the safe and satisfactory operation of your 
vehicle.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation 
pressures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire 
damage before towing a trailer.
For the proper tire replacement procedures. 
Replacing tires with a higher load carrying 
capacity will not increase the vehicle's GVWR 
and GAWR limits.
For further information  Úpage 242.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake system 
or vacuum system of your vehicle with that of 
the trailer. This could cause inadequate braking 
and possible personal injury.
An electronically actuated trailer brake 
controller is required when towing a trailer with 
electronically actuated brakes. When towing a 
trailer equipped with a hydraulic surge actuated 
brake system, an electronic brake controller is 
not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers 
over 1,000 lb (453 kg) and required for trailers 
in excess of 2,000 lb (907 kg).Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights And 
Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer 
size, stop lights and turn signals on the trailer are 
required for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and 
seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved 
trailer harness and connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s wiring 
harness.
CAUTION!
Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 
500 miles (805 km) the new vehicle is driven. 
The engine, axle or other parts could be 
damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km) that 
a trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph 
(80 km/h) and do not make starts at full 
throttle. This helps the engine and other parts 
of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle's 
hydraulic brake lines. It can overload your 
brake system and cause it to fail. You might 
not have brakes when you need them and 
could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping 
distance. When towing, you should allow for 
additional space between your vehicle and the 
vehicle in front of you. Failure to do so could 
result in an accident.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lb (453 kg) 
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they 
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do 
this could lead to accelerated brake lining wear, 
higher brake pedal effort, and longer stopping 
distances.
WARNING!
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STARTING AND OPERATING125
The electrical connections are all complete to the 
vehicle but you must mate the harness to a trailer 
connector. Refer to the following illustrations.
NOTE:
Disconnect trailer wiring connector from the 
vehicle before launching a boat (or any other 
device plugged into vehicle’s electrical connect) 
into water.
Be sure to reconnect after clear from water 
area.
Four-Pin Connector Seven-Pin Connector
TOWING TIPS 
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, 
stopping, and backing up the trailer in an area 
located away from heavy traffic.
Automatic Transmission
Select the DRIVE range when towing. The 
transmission controls include a drive strategy to 
avoid frequent shifting when towing. However, if 
frequent shifting does occur while in DRIVE, you 
can use the AutoStick shift control (if equipped) to 
manually select a lower gear.
NOTE:Using a lower gear while operating the vehicle 
under heavy loading conditions will improve perfor
-
mance and extend transmission life by reducing 
excessive shifting and heat buildup. This action will 
also provide better engine braking.
Cruise Control — If Equipped
Do not use on hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
When using the Cruise Control, if you experi -
ence speed drops greater than 10 mph 
(16 km/h), disengage until you can get back to 
cruising speed.
Use Cruise Control in flat terrain and with light 
loads to maximize fuel efficiency.
1 — Ground
2 — Park
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Right Stop/Turn
1 — Backup Lamps
2 — Running Lamps
3 — Left Stop/Turn
4 — Ground
5 — Battery
6 — Right Stop/Turn
7 — Electric Brakes
4
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STARTING AND OPERATING127
(Continued)
DRIVING THROUGH WATER 
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to 
ensure safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.
Flowing/Rising Water Shallow Standing Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through 
shallow standing water, consider the following 
Warnings and Cautions before doing so.
WARNING!
Do not drive on or across a road or path where 
water is flowing and/or rising (as in storm 
run-off). Flowing water can wear away the road 
or path's surface and cause your vehicle to sink 
into deeper water. Furthermore, flowing and/or 
rising water can carry your vehicle away swiftly. 
Failure to follow this warning may result in 
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your 
passengers, and others around you.
WARNING!
Driving through standing water limits your 
vehicle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 
5 mph (8 km/h) when driving through 
standing water.
Driving through standing water limits your 
vehicle’s braking capabilities, which increases 
stopping distances. Therefore, after driving 
through standing water, drive slowly and 
lightly press on the brake pedal several times 
to dry the brakes.
Failure to follow these warnings may result in 
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your 
passengers, and others around you.
CAUTION!
Always check the depth of the standing water 
before driving through it. Never drive through 
standing water that is deeper than the bottom 
of the tire rims mounted on the vehicle.
Determine the condition of the road or the 
path that is under water and if there are any 
obstacles in the way before driving through 
the standing water.
Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving 
through standing water. This will minimize 
wave effects.
Driving through standing water may cause 
damage to your vehicle’s drivetrain compo -
nents. Always inspect your vehicle’s fluids 
(i.e., engine oil, transmission, axle, etc.) for 
signs of contamination (i.e., fluid that is milky 
or foamy in appearance) after driving through 
standing water. Do not continue to operate 
the vehicle if any fluid appears contaminated, 
as this may result in further damage. Such 
damage is not covered by the New Vehicle 
Limited Warranty.
Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can 
cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause 
serious internal damage to the engine. Such 
damage is not covered by the New Vehicle 
Limited Warranty.
CAUTION!
4
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MULTIMEDIA139
Key Off Options
When the Key Off Options button is pressed on the touchscreen, the system displays the options related to vehicle shut off. These settings will only activate 
when the ignition is set to OFF.
NOTE:Depending on the vehicle’s options, feature settings may vary.
Setting Name Description
Easy Exit SeatThis setting adjusts the seats to make exiting the vehicle easier.
Key Off Power Delay This setting will keep certain electrical features running after the engine is 
turned off. When any door is opened, the electronics will deactivate. The  available settings are “0 sec”, “45 sec”, “5 min”, and “10 min”.
Headlight Off Delay This setting will allow you to set the amount of time the headlights remain on 
after the vehicle has been turned off. The “+” will increase the amount of  time. The “-” will decrease the amount of time.
5
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SAFETY147
Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) 
ERM anticipates the potential for wheel lift by 
monitoring the driver’s steering wheel input and 
the speed of the vehicle. When ERM determines 
that the rate of change of the steering wheel angle 
and vehicle’s speed are sufficient to potentially 
cause wheel lift, it then applies the appropriate 
brake and may also reduce engine power to lessen 
the chance that wheel lift will occur. ERM can only 
reduce the chance of wheel lift occurring during 
severe or evasive driving maneuvers; it cannot 
prevent wheel lift due to other factors, such as 
road conditions, leaving the roadway, striking 
objects or other vehicles.
NOTE:ERM is disabled any time the ESC is in “Full Off” 
mode (if equipped). See  Ú page 147 in this 
section for a complete explanation of the available 
ESC modes.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 
ESC enhances directional control and stability of 
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC 
corrects for oversteering or understeering of the 
vehicle by applying the brake of the appropriate 
wheel(s) to counteract the above conditions. 
Engine power may also be reduced to help the 
vehicle maintain the desired path.
Oversteer — when the vehicle is turning more 
than appropriate for the steering wheel position.
Understeer — when the vehicle is turning less 
than appropriate for the steering wheel position.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the 
vehicle path intended by the driver and compares 
it to the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual 
path does not match the intended path, ESC 
applies the brake of the appropriate wheel to 
assist in counteracting the oversteer or understeer 
condition.
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light 
located in the instrument cluster will start to flash 
as soon as the ESC system becomes active. The 
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light also 
flashes when the TCS is active. If the ESC 
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light begins to 
flash during acceleration, ease up on the 
accelerator and apply as little throttle as possible. 
Be sure to adapt your speed and driving to the 
prevailing road conditions.
WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road 
conditions and driving conditions, influence the 
chance that wheel lift or rollover may occur. ERM 
cannot prevent all wheel lift or rollovers, 
especially those that involve leaving the roadway 
or striking objects or other vehicles. The 
capabilities of an ERM-equipped vehicle must 
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous 
manner which could jeopardize the user's safety 
or the safety of others.
6
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148SAFETY  
(Continued)
ESC Operating Modes
Depending upon model and mode of operation, the 
ESC system may have multiple operating modes.
ESC On
This is the normal operating mode for the ESC. 
Whenever the vehicle is started, the ESC system 
will be in this mode. This mode should be used for 
most driving conditions. Alternate ESC modes 
should only be used for specific reasons as noted 
in the following paragraphs. Partial Off
This mode may be useful if the vehicle becomes 
stuck. This mode may modify TCS and ESC 
thresholds for activation, which allows for more 
wheel spin than normally allowed.
To enter the “Partial Off” mode, momentarily push 
the ESC OFF button and the ESC OFF Indicator 
Light will illuminate. To turn the ESC on again, 
momentarily push the ESC OFF button and the ESC 
OFF Indicator Light will turn off.
NOTE:
For vehicles with multiple partial ESC modes, 
the push and release of the button will toggle 
the ESC modes. Multiple attempts may be 
required to return to "ESC On" mode.
WARNING!
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot 
prevent the natural laws of physics from 
acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the 
traction afforded by prevailing road condi
-
tions. ESC cannot prevent accidents, including 
those resulting from excessive speed in turns, 
driving on very slippery surfaces, or hydro -
planing. ESC also cannot prevent accidents 
resulting from loss of vehicle control due to 
inappropriate driver input for the conditions. 
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can 
prevent accidents. The capabilities of an ESC 
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a 
reckless or dangerous manner which could 
jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of 
others.Vehicle modifications, or failure to properly 
maintain your vehicle, may change the 
handling characteristics of your vehicle, and 
may negatively affect the performance of the 
ESC system. Changes to the steering system, 
suspension, braking system, tire type and size 
or wheel size may adversely affect ESC perfor -
mance. Improperly inflated and unevenly worn 
tires may also degrade ESC performance. Any 
vehicle modification or poor vehicle mainte -
nance that reduces the effectiveness of the 
ESC system can increase the risk of loss of 
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal 
injury and death.
WARNING!
WARNING!
When in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS functionality 
of ESC (except for the limited slip feature 
described in the TCS section) has been disabled 
and the ESC OFF Indicator Light will be 
illuminated. When in “Partial Off” mode, the 
engine power reduction feature of TCS is 
disabled, and the enhanced vehicle stability 
offered by the ESC system is reduced.
22_LX_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 148