Black plate (1,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
2012 GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23 Seats and Restraints
. . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-4
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-46
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-54 Lighting
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-38
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-49
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-57
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-13
Black plate (5,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
}: Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_: Tow/Haul Mode
t:Traction Control/StabiliTrak
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Black plate (3,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-3
A.Air Vents on page 8‑12.
B. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑5.
C. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑12.
D. Head-Up Display (HUD) on
page 5‑33 (If Equipped).
E. Instrument Panel Storage on
page 4‑1.
USB Port (Inside IP Storage).
Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑36.
F. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
Navigation/Radio System
(If Equipped). See the separate
navigation manual.
G. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
H. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑4.
I. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5. J. Data Link Connector (DLC)
(Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑18.
K. Cruise Control on page 9‑32.
L. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
M. Horn on page 5‑5.
N. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2.
O. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons (If Equipped). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Without DIC Buttons) on
page 5‑30 orDriver Information
Center (DIC) (With DIC Buttons)
on page 5‑25.
P. Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑4.
Q. Console Shift Lever (If Equipped). See “Console
Shift Lever” underShifting Into
Park on page 9‑20. R.
Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑4.
S. Power Outlets on page 5‑9.
T. Rear Window Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑6.
Traction Control System
(TCS) Disable Button.
See StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑30.
Tow/Haul Button (If Equipped).
See Tow/Haul Mode on
page 9‑26.
Power Liftgate Button
(If Equipped). See Liftgate on
page 2‑10.
U. Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats on page 3‑9
(If Equipped).
V. Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑17
(If Equipped).
Black plate (11,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-11
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly:
.Safety Belts on page 3‑15.
.How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly on page 3‑16.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑17.
.Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑46.
Passenger Sensing
System
United States
Canada and Mexico
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbag, seat‐mounted side impact
airbags, and roof‐rail airbags are
not affected by the passenger
sensing system.
The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
instrument panel when the vehicle
is started. See
Passenger Sensing
System on page 3‑31 for more
information.
Black plate (1,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-1
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . 3-4
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Heated and Ventilated FrontSeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . 3-22 Safety System Check . . . . . . . . 3-23
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . 3-26
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . 3-36
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . 3-37
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
Infants and YoungChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . 3-42
Where to Put the Restraint . . . 3-44
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-53
Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
Securing Child Restraints (Right Front
Passenger Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56
Black plate (16,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
3-16 Seats and Restraints
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicleafter a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be—whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not.
Your chance of being conscious
during and after a crash, so you
can unbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear
safety belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they work with
safety belts— not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag
is provided, all occupants still
have to buckle up to get the
most protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in
all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing safety belts.
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly
This section is only for people of
adult size.
There are special things to know
about safety belts and children. And
there are different rules for smaller
children and infants. If a child will be
riding in the vehicle, see Older
Children on page 3‑38 orInfants
and Young Children on page 3‑40.
Follow those rules for everyone's
protection.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
There are important things to know
about wearing a safety belt properly.
.Sit up straight and always keep
your feet on the floor in front
of you.
.Always use the correct buckle
for your seating position.
.Wear the lap part of the belt low
and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In a crash,
this applies force to the strong
pelvic bones and you would be
less likely to slide under the lap
belt. If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force on your
abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
Black plate (19,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-19
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a shoulder belt
height adjuster for the driver and
right front passenger seating
positions.
Adjust the height so the shoulder
portion of the belt is on the shoulder
but not falling off of it. The belt
should be close to but not
contacting the neck. Improper
shoulder belt height adjustment
could reduce the effectiveness of
the safety belt in a crash. SeeHow
to Wear Safety Belts Properly on
page 3‑16.
To move it down, push down on the
release button (A) and move the
height adjuster to the desired
position. You can move the height
adjuster up by pushing up on the
shoulder belt guide.
After the adjuster is set to the
desired position, try to move it down
without pushing the release button
to make sure it has locked into
position.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has safety belt
pretensioners for the front outboard
occupants. Although the safety belt
pretensioners cannot be seen, they
are part of the safety belt assembly.
They can help tighten the safety
belts during the early stages of
a moderate to severe frontal,
near frontal, or rear crash if the
threshold conditions for pretensioner
activation are met. And, for vehicles
with side impact airbags, safety belt
pretensioners can help tighten the
safety belts in a side crash or a
rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once.
If the pretensioners activate in a
crash, they will need to be replaced,
and probably other new parts for
the vehicle's safety belt system.
See Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash on page 3‑23.
Black plate (23,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-23
Safety System Check
Now and then, check that the safety
belt reminder light, safety belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are all working properly.
Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts
that might keep a safety belt system
from doing its job. See your dealer
to have it repaired. Torn or frayed
safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under
impact forces. If a belt is torn or
frayed, get a new one right away.
Make sure the safety belt reminder
light is working. SeeSafety Belt
Reminders on page 5‑15 for more
information.
Keep safety belts clean and dry.
See Safety Belt Care on page 3‑23.
Safety Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
{WARNING
Do not bleach or dye safety belts.
It may severely weaken them.
In a crash, they might not be able
to provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts after a
Crash
{WARNING
A crash can damage the safety
belt system in the vehicle.
A damaged safety belt system
may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in
serious injury or even death in a
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
crash. To help make sure the
safety belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.
After a minor crash, replacement of
safety belts may not be necessary.
But the safety belt assemblies that
were used during any crash may
have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the safety
belt assemblies inspected or
replaced.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the safety belt
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Have the safety belt pretensioners
checked if the vehicle has been in a
crash, or if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start the vehicle
or while you are driving. See Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑16.