2016 GMC SIERRA airbag

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Introduction 3
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*: Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.” 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.
0:
Adjustable Pedals
9: Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g: Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®(if equipped)
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
_: Flame/Fire Prohibited
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
In Brief 7
1.Instrument Panel Illumination
Control 0180.
2. Integrated Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) System (If Equipped).
See Towing Equipment 0339.
3. Exterior Lamp Controls 0174.
Fog Lamps 0179 (If
Equipped).
4. Air Vents 0253.
5. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn
and Lane-Change
Signals 0179.
Windshield Wiper/
Washer 0124.
6. Favorite Switches (Out of View). See Steering Wheel
Controls 0123.
Volume Switches (Out of View).
See Steering Wheel
Controls 0123.
7. Instrument Cluster 0130.
8. Hazard Warning
Flashers 0178.
9. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission 0286. Tow/Haul Selector Button (If
Equipped). See
Tow/Haul
Mode 0292.
Range Selection Mode (If
Equipped). See Manual
Mode 0289.
10. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System 0177.
11. Infotainment 0185.
12. Passenger Airbag On-Off Switch (If Equipped) (Out of
View). See Airbag On-Off
Switch 078.
13. Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats 061 (If Equipped).
14. Power Outlet 110/120V Alternating Current (If
Equipped). See Power
Outlets 0126.
15. Power Outlets 0126 (If
Equipped).
16. USB Port (Base Radio) 0205
or USB Port (Base Radio with
Touchscreen) 0208 (If
Equipped). 17.gTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0303.
0Pedal Adjust Switch (If
Equipped). See Adjustable
Throttle and Brake
Pedal 0277.
{Cargo Lamp 0181.
XParking Assist Button (If
Equipped). See Assistance
Systems for Parking or
Backing 0309.
ALane Keep Assist (LKA)
(1500 Series) 0315 (If
Equipped).
5Hill Descent Control Switch
(If Equipped). See Hill Descent
Control (HDC) 0305.
qExhaust Brake (If
Equipped). See “Exhaust
Brake” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
gPower Take Off (PTO)
Switch (If Equipped). See the
Duramax diesel supplement.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
14 In Brief
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly.
.Safety Belts 064.
. How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly 066.
. Lap-Shoulder Belt 066.
. Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) 094.
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
front outboard passenger position
unless there is an airbag off switch
on the instrument panel endcap.
If there is an airbag off switch, the
vehicle does not have a passenger
sensing system. See Airbag On-Off
Switch 078 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
0 80 for important information.
Mirror Adjustment
Using hood-mounted air deflectors
and add-on convex mirror
attachments could decrease mirror
performance.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Keys, Doors, and Windows 33
{Warning
If the key is unintentionally
rotated while the vehicle is
running, the ignition could be
moved out of the RUN position.
This could be caused by heavy
items hanging from the key ring,
or by large or long items attached
to the key ring that could be
contacted by the driver or
steering wheel. If the ignition
moves out of the RUN position,
the engine will shut off, braking
and steering power assist may be(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
impacted, and airbags may not
deploy. To reduce the risk of
unintentional rotation of the
ignition key, do not change the
way the ignition key and Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter,
if equipped, are connected to the
provided key rings.
The ignition key and key rings, and
RKE transmitter, if equipped, are
designed to work together as a
system to reduce the risk of
unintentionally moving the key out
of the RUN position. The ignition
key has a small hole to allow
attachment of the provided key ring.
It is important that any replacement
ignition keys have a small hole. See
your dealer if a replacement key is
required.
The combination and size of the
rings that came with your keys were
specifically selected for your
vehicle. The rings are connected to
the key like two links of a chain to
reduce the risk of unintentionally moving the key out of the RUN
position. Do not add any additional
items to the ring attached to the
ignition key. Attach additional items
only to the second ring, and limit
added items to a few essential keys
or small, light items no larger than
an RKE transmitter.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Seats and Restraints 55
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Center Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 58
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Heated and Ventilated FrontSeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Rear Seats
Rear Seats (Double Cab FullBench) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Rear Seats (Split Bench) . . . . . . 63
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Lap Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 71
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 74
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Airbag On-Off Switch . . . . . . . . . . 78
Passenger Sensing System . . . 80
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 85
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 86
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Infants and Young Children . . . . 88
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 91 Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 92
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) . . . . 94
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 104
Securing Child Restraints (Center Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . 105
Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Securing Child Restraints (Front Passenger Seat) . . . . . 108

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Seats and Restraints 65
Warning (Continued)
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 0137.
This vehicle may have the Safety
Belt Assurance System, which may
prevent the vehicle from shifting out
of P (Park). See Safety Belt
Messages 0158.
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!
When you wear a safety belt, you
and the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because
you stop over a longer distance and,
when worn properly, your strongest
bones take the forces from the
safety belts. That is why wearing
safety belts makes such good
sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after 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.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Seats and Restraints 69
could reduce the effectiveness of
the safety belt in a crash. SeeHow
to Wear Safety Belts Properly 066.
Push down on the release button to
move the height adjuster to the
desired position.
Move the 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 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, if your
vehicle has side impact airbags,
safety belt pretensioners can help
tighten the safety belts in a side
crash. If the vehicle has rollover
roof-rail airbags, safety belt
pretensioners can help tighten the
safety belts in a rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners activate in a crash,
they will need to be replaced, and
the vehicle's safety belt system will
probably need other new parts. See
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts
after a Crash 071.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort
Guides
Rear safety belt comfort guides may
provide added safety belt comfort
for older children who have
outgrown booster seats and for
some adults. When installed on a
shoulder belt, the comfort guide
positions the belt away from the
neck and head.
Comfort guides are available
through your dealer for the rear
outboard seating positions.
Instructions are included with the
guide.
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone,
including pregnant women. Like all
occupants, they are more likely to
be seriously injured if they do not
wear safety belts.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
72 Seats and Restraints
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. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light 0137.Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbags:
.
A frontal airbag for the driver.
. A frontal airbag for the front
outboard passenger.
The vehicle may have the following
airbags:
. A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the driver.
. A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the front outboard
passenger.
. A roof-rail airbag for the driver
and the passenger seated
directly behind the driver.
. A roof-rail airbag for the front
outboard passenger and the
person seated directly behind
the front outboard passenger.
All of the airbags in the vehicle will
have the word AIRBAG on the trim
or on a label near the deployment
opening. For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG is on the center of the
steering wheel for the driver and on
the instrument panel for the front
outboard passenger.
For seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG is on the
seatback closest to the door.
For roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG is on the ceiling or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by safety
belts. Even though today's airbags
are also designed to help reduce
the risk of injury from the force of an
inflating bag, all airbags must inflate
very quickly to do their job.
Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
{Warning
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt, even
with airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with safety
(Continued)