Page 8 of 443
1-
1-1
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you'll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1
-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1
-22 Safety Belts: They're for Everyone
1
-27 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts
-- and the Answers
1
-28 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1
-28 Driver Position
1
-35 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1
-36 Right Front Passenger Position
1
-36 Air Bag Systems
1
-46 Center Passenger Position1
-47 Rear Seat Passengers
1
-51 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults
1
-54 Children
1
-58 Restraint Systems for Children
1
-76 Older Children
1
-79 Safety Belt Extender
1
-79 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1
-79 Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
Page 14 of 443
1-7
But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts can't do their job when
you're reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can't do its job. In a crash, you
could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.
Page 16 of 443

1-9
Folding the Seatbacks
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
On all models with 60/40 split bench seats, you must
insert the center occupant lap belt latch plate into the
loop provided, on the underside of the folded forward
seat cushion, before folding the rear seat back down on
the driver's side.
You may have to adjust the location of the latch plate on
the webbing so that it reaches the loop. Stowing in this
loop will reduce the chances of damaging and soiling
the belt. Remember to remove the latch plate from the
loop before the seat is returned to the passenger position.
On Suburban/Yukon XL insert the two buckles into
the retainer in the seatback, before folding the rear
seat on the driver's side. The buckles will be out of
the way when the seat is folded and will be available
for passengers to use when the seat is returned to the
passenger position. Also, make sure that nothing is
under or in front of the seat and that the head restraints
are completely lowered.
On Tahoe/Yukon models the rear seatbacks may be
equipped with rearward folding head restraints. When
the seatback is being folded down, the head restraint will
automatically fold rearward to allow a flat load floor for
cargo or entry to the third row seat (if equipped).
Page 23 of 443

1-16
4. Squeeze the release lever, located in the lower
middle to unlatch the seat from the floor, while
pulling the seat out.
5. While holding the rear of the seat up, roll the seat out
of the vehicle.
Replacing the 50/50 Split Bench Seat
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move forward
in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury
to the person sitting there. Always press rearward
on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
CAUTION:
A seat that isn't locked into place properly can
move around in a collision or sudden stop. People
in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock
the seat into place properly when installing it.
CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won't provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person wearing
the belt could be seriously injured. After
installing the seat, always check to be sure that
the safety belts are properly routed and attached,
and are not twisted.
To reinstall the 50/50 split bench, do the following:
1. While holding the rear of the seat up, slide the front
wheels into the slots on the floor. The front latches
should lock into place. If the latches do not lock, try
tilting the rear of the seats upwards.
2. Once the latches are engaged, let the seat drop into
place. Release the lever labeled 1 to return the seat to
its upright position.
3. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is
locked into place. The seatback cannot be raised
to the upright position unless the seat is secured
to the floor.
Page 28 of 443

1-21
CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won't provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After
installing the seat, always check to be sure that
the safety belts are properly routed and attached,
and are not twisted.
To reinstall the full bench seat, do the following:
1. While holding the rear of the seat up, slide the front
wheels into the slots on the floor. The front latches
should lock into place. If the latches do not lock, try
tilting the rear of the seats upwards.
2. Once the latches are engaged, let the seat drop into
place. Release the lever labeled 1 to return the seat to
its upright position.
3. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is
locked into place. The seatback cannot be raised
to the upright position unless the seat is secured
to the floor.
Entering or Exiting the Third Row Seats
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move forward
in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury
to the person sitting there. Always press rearward
on the seatback to be sure it is locked.
CAUTION:
If any easy entry seat isn't locked, it can move. In a
sudden stop or crash, the person sitting there could
be injured. And, even if there is no crash or sudden
stop, a driver sitting in an unlocked easy entry seat
could be startled by the sudden movement and hit
the wrong control or pedal, causing an accident.
After you've used it, be sure to push rearward on
any easy entry seat to be sure it is locked.
Page 29 of 443

1-22
Suburban/Yukon XL: The passenger's side of the
second row 60/40 or rear bucket seats has an easy entry
feature. This makes it easy to get in and out of the third
seat, if your vehicle has one.
To operate the easy entry seat turn the release lever,
located near the back of the seat rearward.
Tilt the seatback toward the front of the vehicle
by pulling the top of the seat forward. When you
do the seat bottom will release. Pull the seat forward
until it stops.
Be sure to return the seat to the passenger position when
finished. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is
locked in place.Safety Belts: They're for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the air bag system.
CAUTION:
Don't let anyone ride where he or she can't wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers' belts
are fastened properly too.
Page 30 of 443

1-23
CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people
to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using
a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. See ªSafety
Belt Reminder Lightº in
the Index.In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here's why: They work.
You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn't survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter ... a lot!
Page 31 of 443
1-24 Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it's just a seat
on wheels.
Put someone on it.