GMC SIERRA 1500 2012 Owner's Manual

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 (16,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
1-16 In Brief
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly.
.Safety Belts on page 3‑12.
.How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly on page 3‑13.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑14.
.Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑47.
Passenger Sensing
System
The passenger sensing system,
if equipped, turns off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions. No other
airbag is affected by the passenger
sensing system.
If the vehicle has one of the
indicators pictured in the following
illustrations, then the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position unless
there is an airbag off switch located
in the glove box.
If there is an airbag off switch, the
vehicle does not have a passenger
sensing system. SeeAirbag On-Off
Switch on page 3‑29 for more
information.
The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
overhead console when the vehicle
is started.
United States
Canada and Mexico
See Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑32 for important information.
Mirror Adjustment
Using hood-mounted air deflectors
and add-on convex mirror
attachments could decrease mirror
performance.

Black plate (17,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
In Brief 1-17
Exterior Mirrors
Power Mirrors
Crew Cab Premium Trim with
Power Folding Mirrors Shown, Up-Level Similar
1. Press (A) or (B) to select the driver or passenger side mirror.
2. Press the arrows on the control pad to move the mirror up,
down, right, or left. 3. Adjust each outside mirror so
that a little of the vehicle and the
area behind it can be seen.
4. Press either (A) or (B) again to deselect the mirror.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑15.
If the vehicle has power folding
mirrors:
1. Press (C) to fold the mirrors out to the driving position.
2. Press (D) to fold the mirrors in to the folded position.
See Folding Mirrors on page 2‑16.
The mirrors may also include a
memory function that works with the
memory seats. See Memory Seats
on page 3‑7 for more information.
Crew Cab Up-Level Trim without
Power Folding Mirrors
1. Move the selector switch located above the four-way control pad
to the left or right to choose
either the driver side or
passenger side mirror.
2. Press one of the four arrows located on the control pad to
move the mirror in the desired
direction.
3. Adjust each outside mirror so that a little of the vehicle and the
area behind it can be seen.

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.

Black plate (19,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
In Brief 1-19
Manual Rearview Mirror
For vehicles with a manual rearview
mirror, push the tab forward for
daytime use and pull it for nighttime
use to avoid glare from the
headlamps from behind. See
Manual Rearview Mirror on
page 2‑18.
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror
For vehicles with an automatic
dimming rearview mirror. The mirror
will automatically reduce the glare
from the headlamps from behind.
The dimming feature comes on
when the vehicle is started.
SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑18.Steering Wheel
Adjustment
The tilt lever is located on the lower
left side of the steering column.
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Hold the steering wheel and pull the lever.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down.
3. Release the lever to lock the wheel in place. Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Throttle and Brake Pedal
Adjustment
On vehicles with this feature, you
can change the position of the
throttle and brake pedals.
The control used to adjust the
pedals is located on the instrument
panel below the climate control
system.
Press the bottom of the control to
move the pedals closer to your
body. Press the top of the control to
move the pedals away.
See
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9‑25.

Black plate (20,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
1-20 In Brief
Interior Lighting
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps are located in the
overhead console.
They come on when any door is
opened and turn off after all the
doors are closed.
Turn the instrument panel
brightness knob located below
the dome lamp override button,
clockwise to the farthest position to
manually turn on the dome lamps.
The dome lamps remain on until the
knob is turned counterclockwise.Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is
located next to the exterior lamps
control.
k:
Press the button in and the
dome lamps remain off when a door
is opened. Press the button again to
return it to the extended position so
that the dome lamps come on when
a door is opened. Reading Lamps
For vehicles with reading lamps in
the overhead console, press the
button located next to the lamp to
turn it on or off.
The vehicle may also have reading
lamps in other locations. The lamps
cannot be adjusted.
For more information about interior
lamps, see:
.Dome Lamps on page 6‑8.
.Reading Lamps on page 6‑8.
.Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑7.

Black plate (21,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
In Brief 1-21
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel.
O:Turns off the automatic
headlamps and Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL). Turn the headlamp
control to the off position again to
turn the automatic headlamps or
DRL back on. For vehicles first sold in Canada,
the off position will only work when
the vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
AUTO:
Automatically turns on
the headlamps, parking lamps,
taillamps, instrument panel lights,
and license plate lamps.
;: Turns on the parking lamps,
taillamps, instrument panel lights,
and license plate lamps.
5: Turns on the headlamps,
parking lamps, taillamps, instrument
panel lights, and license plate
lamps.
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
on page 6‑3.
.Fog Lamps on page 6‑6.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The front wiper control is located on
the turn and lane‐change lever.
The windshield wipers are controlled
by turning the band with
zon it.
8: For a single wipe, turn to8,
then release. For several wipes,
hold the band on
8longer.
9: Turns the windshield
wipers off.
6: Turn the band up for more
frequent wipes or down for less
frequent wipes.

Black plate (22,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
1-22 In Brief
6:Slow wipes.
?: Fast wipes.
L:Push the paddle at the top of
the lever to spray washer fluid on
the windshield.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑4.
Climate Controls
These systems control the heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Climate Control System (With Air Conditioning)
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Air Conditioning E. Outside Air
F. Air Recirculation
G. Rear Window Defogger

Black plate (23,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
In Brief 1-23
Climate Control System (With Heater Only)
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode ControlSee
Climate Control Systems (with
Air Conditioning) on page 8‑1 or
Climate Control Systems (with
Heater Only) on page 8‑4.

Black plate (24,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
1-24 In Brief
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
A. Driver and PassengerTemperature Controls
B. Fan Control
C. AUTO
D. Defrost
E. Air Recirculation
F. Outside Air
G. Air Delivery Mode Control H. Display
I. Power Button
J. Rear Window Defogger
K. Air Conditioning
L. PASS (Passenger)
See
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑5.
Transmission
Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode switch,
if equipped, is located on the shift
lever.
To enable the Range Selection
feature:
1. Move the column shift lever to the M (Manual) position. The
current range will appear next
to the M. This is the highest
attainable range with all lower
gears accessible. As an
example, when 5 (Fifth) gear
is selected, 1 (First) through
5 (Fifth) gears are available.