Page 51 of 404
Black plate (5,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-5
Reclining Seatbacks
{WARNING
Sitting in a reclined position when
the vehicle is in motion can be
dangerous. Even when buckled
up, the safety belts cannot do
their job when reclined like this.
The safety belt cannot properly
restrain you, and you could be
injured or killed.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
For proper protection when the
vehicle is in motion, have the
seatback upright. Then sit well
back in the seat and wear the
safety belt properly.
Do not have a seatback reclined if
the vehicle is moving.
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
{WARNING
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust a
manual driver seat while the
vehicle is moving. The sudden
movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a
pedal when you do not want to.
Adjust the driver seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
Page 52 of 404
Black plate (6,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
3-6 Seats and Restraints
{WARNING
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they
are locked.
To recline a manual seatback:
1. Lift the lever.
2. Move the seatback to thedesired position, and then
release the lever to lock the
seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. To return the seatback to the
upright position:
1. Lift the lever fully without
applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback will
return to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
Page 53 of 404
Black plate (7,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-7
Power Reclining Seatbacks
To recline a power seatback,
if available:
.Tilt the top of the control
rearward to recline.
.Tilt the top of the control forward
to raise.
Seatback Latches
The vehicle may have front
seatbacks that fold forward for easy
access to the rear seats or the
storage area behind the seats.
To fold the seatback forward, push
the lever on the side of the seat
rearward and pull the seatback
forward.
{WARNING
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
To return the seatback to the upright
position, push the seatback all the
way back until it latches.
If the seatback was reclined before
being folded forward, it will return to
the reclined position.
Page 54 of 404

Black plate (8,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
3-8 Seats and Restraints
Heated Front Seats
{WARNING
If you cannot feel temperature
change or pain to the skin, the
seat heater may cause burns
even at low temperatures. To
reduce the risk of burns, people
with such a condition should use
care when using the seat heater,
especially for long periods of
time. Do not place anything on
the seat that insulates against
heat, such as a blanket, cushion,
cover, or similar item. This may
cause the seat heater to
overheat. An overheated seat
heater may cause a burn or may
damage the seat.
If available, the switches are on the
outboard sides of the front seats.
To operate, the ignition must be on.This feature will heat the cushion
and back of the seats.
.Press the top of the switch for
the high setting.
.Press the bottom of the switch
for the low setting.
.Put the switch in the center
position to turn this feature off.
The heated seat will turn on at the
last setting if the ignition is turned
off and then back on.
The passenger safety belt must be
fastened for the heated seat feature
to work on the passenger seat.
Page 55 of 404
Black plate (9,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-9
Rear Seats
Rear Seats
(Extended Cab)
On extended cab models, there may
be forward folding seats in the
rear area.To fold a rear seat cushion from
the stored position to the sitting
position, pull the front of the seat
cushion down completely.
The rear seat storage compartments
must be closed before folding the
seat down. See
Rear Storage on
page 4‑1.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with
the safety belts still fastened may
cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the
safety belts and return them to
their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
A. Hook and Loop Fastener
To store the seat:
1. Secure the safety belt buckle to the inboard side of the seat with
the hook and loop fastener (A),
so that it does not move when
not in use.
2. Push the entire seat up until it is flush with the trim panel.
Page 56 of 404
Black plate (10,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
3-10 Seats and Restraints
Rear Seats (Crew Cab)
On crew cab models, the rear
seatbacks can be folded forward.
Notice:Folding a rear seat with
the safety belts still fastened may
cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the
safety belts and return them to
their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat. To fold a rear seatback:
1. Disconnect the rear center
safety belt latch from the
mini-buckle by inserting the tip of
the safety belt tongue into the
slot on the buckle. Let the
belt retract.
2. Pull the loop on the outboardside of the seatback forward
until you hear a click.
3. Fold the seatback forward.
Page 57 of 404

Black plate (11,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-11
To return a seatback to the upright
position:
1. Lift the seatback up and push itrearward.
{WARNING
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked. 2. Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked in place.
{WARNING
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached,
or twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After raising the
rear seatback, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are
properly routed and attached, and
are not twisted. 3. Reconnect the center safety belt
latch plate to the mini-buckle.
Make sure the safety belt is
not twisted.
4. Push and pull on the latch plate to be sure it is secure.
When the seatback is not in use,
it should be kept in the upright,
locked position.
Page 58 of 404

Black plate (12,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
3-12 Seats and Restraints
Safety Belts
This section of the manual
describes how to use safety belts
properly. It also describes some
things not to do with safety belts.
{WARNING
Do not let anyone ride where a
safety belt cannot be worn
properly. In a crash, if you or your
passenger(s) are not wearing
safety belts, injuries can be much
worse than if you are wearing
safety belts. You can be seriously
injured or killed by hitting things
inside the vehicle harder or by
being ejected from the vehicle.
In addition, anyone who is not
buckled up can strike other
passengers in the vehicle.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
It is extremely dangerous to ride
in a cargo area, inside or outside
of a vehicle. In a collision,
passengers riding in these areas
are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed. Do not allow
passengers to ride in any area of
the vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and safety belts.
Always wear a safety belt, and
check that all passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the safety belts.
See Safety Belt Reminders on
page 5‑9 for additional information.
Why Safety Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel
as fast as the vehicle does. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you keep
going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the safety belts!