Page 129 of 594

Black plate (61,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-61
For regular cab models, the top
tether anchors are located under
covers on the back panel behind
the passenger seat. Remove the
trim plug to access the anchor.
Be sure to use an anchor located
on the same side of the vehicle as
the seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.
Crew Cab Shown, Extended CabSimilar For crew and extended cab models,
the top tether anchors are the loops
located near the top of the seatback
for each rear seating position.
These loops will be used to route
the top tether through, as well as, to
secure the top tether in the vehicle.
Be sure to use an anchor (loop)
located on the same side of the
vehicle as the seating position
where the child restraint will be
placed.
Be sure to read the instructions
following to properly install a child
restraint using these loops.
Do not secure a child restraint in a
position without a top tether anchor
if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be attached, or if
the instructions that come with the
child restraint say that the top tether
must be attached.
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer
when properly restrained in a child
restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating
position. See
Where to Put the
Restraint on page 3‑56 for
additional information.
Page 131 of 594

Black plate (63,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-63
Do not fold the empty rear
seat with a safety belt buckled.
This could damage the safety
belt or the seat. Unbuckle and
return the safety belt to its
stowed position, before folding
the seat.
Regular Cab Models
1. If the child restraint manufacturerrecommends that the top tether
be attached, attach and tighten
the top tether to the top tether
anchor, if your vehicle has
one. Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following
steps:
1.1. Pull the passenger seatback forward by pulling
the recliner handle upward
to access the top tether
anchor. See Reclining
Seatbacks on page 3‑6
for additional information.
1.2. Find the top tether anchor. 1.3. Remove the cover to
expose the anchor.
1.4. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether according
to your child restraint
instructions and the
following instructions:
If the position you are using
has an adjustable headrest
or head restraint and you
are using a dual tether,
route the tether around the
headrest or head restraint.
If the position you are using
has an adjustable headrest
or head restraint and you
are using a single tether,
raise the headrest or head
restraint and route the
tether under the headrest
or head restraint and in
between the headrest or
head restraint posts.
Page 136 of 594

Black plate (68,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-68 Seats and Restraints
4. Pull the shoulder belt all the wayout of the retractor to set the
lock. When the retractor lock is
set, the belt can be tightened but
not pulled out of the retractor.5. To tighten the belt, push downon the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt to
tighten the lap portion of the belt,
and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. When installing
a forward-facing child restraint,
it may be helpful to use your
knee to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
Try to pull the belt out of
the retractor to make sure
the retractor is locked. If the
retractor is not locked, repeat
Steps 4 and 5. 6. If the child restraint has a top
tether, follow the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions
regarding the use of the top
tether. See Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑57 for more
information.
7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure
it is securely held in place.
To check, grasp the child
restraint at the safety belt
path and attempt to move it
side‐to‐side and back‐and‐forth.
When the child restraint is
properly installed, there should
be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in)
of movement.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a top
tether anchor, disconnect it.
Page 140 of 594

Black plate (72,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-72 Seats and Restraints
If the vehicle is equipped with
a passenger sensing system,
and when the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag, the off
indicator in the passenger airbag
status indicator should light and
stay lit when you start the vehicle.
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit, see
“If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child
Restraint”underPassenger Sensing
System on page 3‑40 for more
information.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a
top tether anchor, disconnect it.With Airbag Off Switch
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure
a forward-facing child restraint.
See Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑56.
There may be a switch in the glove
box that you can use to turn off the
right front passenger frontal airbag.
See Airbag On-Off Switch on
page 3‑37 for more information,
including important safety
information.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front unless airbag is off.” This
is because the risk to the rear-facing
child is so great, if the airbag
deploys.{WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right
front passenger airbag inflates.
This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
(Continued)
Page 143 of 594

Black plate (75,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-75
6. To tighten the belt, push downon the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt to
tighten the lap portion of the belt,
and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. When installing
a forward-facing child restraint, it
may be helpful to use your knee
to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
Try to pull the belt out of
the retractor to make sure
the retractor is locked. If the
retractor is not locked, repeat
Steps 5 and 6. 7. If your vehicle does not have
a rear seat and your child
restraint has a top tether, follow
the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions regarding the use
of the top tether. See Lower
Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑57.
8. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To check,
grasp the child restraint at the
safety belt path and attempt
to move it side to side and
back and forth. When the child
restraint is properly installed,
there should be no more than
2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a top
tether anchor, disconnect it. If you turned the airbag off with
the switch, turn on the right front
passenger airbag when you remove
the child restraint from the vehicle
unless the person who will be sitting
there is a member of a passenger
airbag risk group. See
Airbag
On-Off Switch on page 3‑37
for more information, including
important safety information.
Heavy Duty Crew Cab Only
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure
a forward-facing child restraint.
See Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑56.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.” This is because the risk
to the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
Page 146 of 594

Black plate (78,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
3-78 Seats and Restraints
7. If your child restraint has a toptether, follow the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions
regarding the use of the top
tether. See Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑57 for more
information.
8. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To check,
grasp the child restraint at the
safety belt path and attempt to
move it side to side and back
and forth. When the child
restraint is properly installed,
there should be no more than
2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a top
tether anchor, disconnect it.Securing Child Restraints
(Center Front Seat
Position)
{WARNING
A child in a child restraint in the
center front seat can be badly
injured or killed by the frontal
airbags if they inflate. Never
secure a child restraint in the
center front seat. It is always
better to secure a child restraint
in a rear seat.
Do not use child restraints in the
center front seat position.