
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
66 Seats and Restraints
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbags:
.A frontal airbag for the driver.
. A frontal airbag for the front
outboard passenger.
. A knee airbag for the driver.
. A knee airbag for the front
outboard passenger.
. A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the driver.
. A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the front outboard
passenger.
. Seat-mounted side impact
airbags for the second row
outboard passengers.
. 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
passenger seated directly
behind the front outboard
passenger. All vehicle airbags 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 knee airbags, the word AIRBAG
is on the lower part of the
instrument panel.
For seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG is on the
side of the seat 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
belts, not replace them. Also,
airbags are not designed to inflate
in every crash. In some crashes
safety belts are the only restraint.
See
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? 069.
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance
of hitting things inside the vehicle
or being ejected from it. Airbags
are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. Everyone in the
vehicle should wear a safety belt
properly, whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Seats and Restraints 67
{Warning
Because airbags inflate with great
force and faster than the blink of
an eye, anyone who is up
against, or very close to any
airbag when it inflates can be
seriously injured or killed. Do not
sit unnecessarily close to any
airbag, as you would be if sitting
on the edge of the seat or leaning
forward. Safety belts help keep
you in position before and during
a crash. Always wear a safety
belt, even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle. The safety belts and
the front outboard passenger
airbags are most effective when
you are sitting well back and
upright in the seat with both feet
on the floor.
Occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions with
seat-mounted side impact airbags
and/or roof-rail airbags.
{Warning
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag when
it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Always secure children
properly in the vehicle. To read
how, seeOlder Children 078 or
Infants and Young Children 080.
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument cluster, which
shows the airbag symbol. The
system checks the airbag electrical
system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See Airbag Readiness
Light 0113 for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
center of the steering wheel.
The front outboard passenger
frontal airbag is in the passenger
side instrument panel.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
70 Seats and Restraints
of the impact. In addition, these
roof-rail airbags are designed to
inflate during a rollover or in a
severe frontal impact. Roof-rail
airbags are not designed to inflate in
rear impacts. Both roof-rail airbags
will inflate when either side of the
vehicle is struck, if the sensing
system predicts that the vehicle is
about to roll over on its side, or in a
severe frontal impact.
In any particular crash, no one can
say whether an airbag should have
inflated simply because of the
vehicle damage or repair costs.
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing
system sends an electrical signal
triggering a release of gas from the
inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the
airbag causing the bag to break out
of the cover. The inflator, the airbag,
and related hardware are all part of
the airbag module.
For airbag locations, seeWhere Are
the Airbags? 067.
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or
near frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering
wheel or the instrument panel. In
moderate to severe side collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts by
distributing the force of the impact
more evenly over the
occupant's body.
Rollover capable roof-rail airbags
are designed to help contain the
head and chest of occupants in the
outboard seating positions in the
first and second rows. The rollover
capable roof-rail airbags are
designed to help reduce the risk of
full or partial ejection in rollover
events, although no system can
prevent all such ejections. But airbags would not help in many
types of collisions, primarily
because the occupant's motion is
not toward those airbags. See
When
Should an Airbag Inflate? 069.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.
What Will You See after
an Airbag Inflates?
After the frontal, knee, and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
inflate, they quickly deflate, so
quickly that some people may not
even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inflated for some time after
they inflate. Some components of
the airbag module may be hot for
several minutes. For location of the
airbags, see Where Are the
Airbags? 067.
The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated
airbags. Airbag inflation does not

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
76 Seats and Restraints
Warning (Continued)
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are parts
of the airbag system in several
places around the vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the
vehicle and the airbag system. To
purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information0320.
{Warning
For up to 10 seconds after the
vehicle is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the
vehicle's frame, bumper system,
height, front end, or side sheet
metal may keep the airbag system
from working properly. The
operation of the airbag system can
also be affected by changing any
parts of the front seats, safety belts,
airbag sensing and diagnostic
module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, any of the airbag modules,
ceiling or pillar garnish trim,
overhead console, front sensors,
side impact sensors, or airbag
wiring. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about the location
of the airbag sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, and airbag
wiring.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
front outboard passenger position,
which includes sensors that are part
of the passenger seat. The
passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat
trim is replaced with non-GM
covers, upholstery, or trim, or with
GM covers, upholstery, or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any
object, such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort enhancing pad
or device, installed under or on top
of the seat fabric, could also
interfere with the operation of the
passenger sensing system. This
could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger
sensing system from properly
turning off the passenger airbag(s).
See
Passenger Sensing System
0 72.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Instruments and Controls 115
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not
meet the original tire
specifications, can cause this light
to come on. This could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. This could also
affect the vehicle’s ability to pass
an Emissions Inspection/
Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications
0228.
If the light is flashing : A
malfunction has been detected that
could damage the emission control
system and increase vehicle
emissions. Diagnosis and service
may be required.
To help prevent damage, reduce
vehicle speed and avoid hard
accelerations and uphill grades. If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as
soon as possible.
If the light continues to flash, find a
safe place to park. Turn the vehicle
off and wait at least 10 seconds
before restarting the engine. If the
light is still flashing, follow the
previous guidelines and see your
dealer for service as soon as
possible.
If the light is on steady :
A
malfunction has been detected.
Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
. If fuel has been added to the
vehicle using the capless funnel
adapter, make sure that it has
been removed. See “Filling the
Tank with a Portable Gas Can”
under Filling the Tank 0218.
The diagnostic system can
detect if the adapter has been
left installed in the vehicle,
allowing fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the adapter removed
may turn off the light. .
Poor fuel quality can cause
inefficient engine operation and
poor driveability, which may go
away once the engine is warmed
up. If this occurs, change the
fuel brand. It may require at
least one full tank of the proper
fuel to turn the light off. See Fuel
0 217.
If the light remains on, see your
dealer.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
If the vehicle requires an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test, the
test equipment will likely connect to
the vehicle's Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. Connecting devices that are

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Instruments and Controls 125
Economy Trend :Displays history
of the Average Fuel Economy from
the last 50 km (30 miles). Each bar
represents about 5 km (3 miles) of
driving. The fuel economy will range
from 0 –15 L/100 km (0 –50 mpg).
During driving the bars will shift to
always reflect the most recent
distance on the right side. This
display cannot be reset.
ECO Index : The bar graph
provides feedback on the efficiency
of current driving behavior. The
green ECO ball indicates low fuel
consumption. The amber ECO ball
indicates high fuel consumption.
More economical driving will keep
the ball in the ECO range.Head-Up Display (HUD)
{Warning
If the HUD image is too bright or
too high in your field of view, it
may take you more time to see
things you need to see when it is
dark outside. Be sure to keep the
HUD image dim and placed low in
your field of view.
If equipped with HUD, some
information concerning the
operation of the vehicle is projected
onto the windshield. The information
is projected through the HUD lens
on the driver side of the instrument
panel and focused out toward the
front of the vehicle.
Caution
If you try to use the HUD image
as a parking aid, you may
misjudge the distance and
damage your vehicle. Do not use
the HUD image as a parking aid. The HUD information can be
displayed in various languages. The
speedometer reading and other
numerical values can be displayed
in either English or metric units.
The language selection is changed
through vehicle personalization and
the units of measurement is
changed through the instrument
cluster. See
Vehicle Personalization
0 138 and“Options” under
Instrument Cluster 0108.HUD Display on the Vehicle
Windshield

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
148 Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . 148
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 150
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Sun Visor Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Battery Load Management . . . 153
Battery Power Protection . . . . . 154
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering column.
There are four positions.
O: Turns off the automatic
headlamps and daytime running
lamps (DRL). Turn to the off position
again to turn the automatic
headlamps or DRL back on.
AUTO : Turns the exterior lamps on
and off automatically depending on
outside lighting.
;: Turns on the parking lamps
including all lamps, except the
headlamps.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Lighting 149
5:Turns on the headlamps
together with the parking lamps and
instrument panel lights.
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
A warning chime sounds if the driver
door is opened while the ignition is
off and the exterior lamps are on.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
Push the turn signal lever away
from you and release to turn the
high beams on. To return to low
beams, push the lever again or pull
it toward you and release.
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument cluster when the
high-beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
To flash the high beams, pull the
turn signal lever toward you, and
release.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to
see the front of your vehicle during
the day. Fully functional DRL are
required on all vehicles first sold in
Canada.
If equipped with High Intensity
Discharge (HID) headlamps, the
dedicated DRL will come on when
all of the following conditions
are met:
. The ignition is on.
. The exterior lamps control is
in AUTO.
. The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
. The parking brake is released or
the vehicle is not in P (Park). When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
sidemarker lamps, instrument panel
lights, and other lamps will not
be on.
The DRL turn off when the
headlamps are turned to
Oor the
ignition is off. For vehicles first sold
in Canada, the DRL can only be
turned off when the transmission is
in P (Park).
This vehicle may have a DRL
disabling function. When the DRL
are on and a turn signal is activated,
the DRL on that side will be off until
the turn signal goes off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When the exterior lamp control is
set to AUTO and it is dark enough
outside, the headlamps come on
automatically.