
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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78 Seats and Restraints Warning (Continued)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. Seat belts help keep you
in position before and during a
crash. Always wear a seat belt,
even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle. The seat 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. { WarningChildren 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, see Older Children 0 92 or
Infants and Young Children 0 94 .
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 0 147 for more
information. Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
center of the steering wheel.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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80 Seats and Restraints Warning (Continued)that person causing severe injury
or even death. The path of an
inflating airbag must be kept
clear. Do not put anything
between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put
anything on the steering wheel
hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
Do not use seat accessories that
block the inflation path of a
seat-mounted side impact airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof
of a vehicle with roof-rail airbags
by routing a rope or tie ‐ down
through any door or window
opening. If you do, the path of an
inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked. When Should an Airbag
Inflate? This vehicle is equipped with
airbags. See Airbag System 0 77 .
Airbags are designed to inflate if the
impact exceeds the specific airbag
system's deployment threshold.
Deployment thresholds are used to
predict how severe a crash is likely
to be in time for the airbags to
inflate and help restrain the
occupants. The vehicle has
electronic sensors which help the
airbag system determine the
severity of the impact. Deployment
thresholds can vary with specific
vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are designed to
inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near frontal crashes to help
reduce the potential for severe
injuries, mainly to the driver's or
front outboard passenger's head
and chest.
Whether the frontal airbags will or
should inflate is not based primarily
on how fast the vehicle is traveling. It depends on what is hit, the
direction of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.
Frontal airbags may inflate at
different crash speeds depending on
whether the vehicle hits an object
straight on or at an angle, and
whether the object is fixed or
moving, rigid or deformable, narrow
or wide.
Frontal airbags are not intended to
inflate during vehicle rollovers, in
rear impacts, or in many side
impacts.
In addition, if the GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) is at or
below 3 855 kg (8,500 lb), the
vehicle has advanced technology
frontal airbags. You can find the
GVWR on the Certification/Tire label
on the center pillar of the vehicle.
See Vehicle Load Limits 0 248 for
more information.
Advanced technology frontal airbags
adjust the restraint according to
crash severity. Vehicles with
advanced technology frontal airbags
have a seat position sensor that

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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82 Seats and Restraints roll over on its side. The roof-rail
airbags are not designed to inflate in
rear impacts.
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, see Where Are
the Airbags? 0 78 .
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 seat 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? 0 80 .
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to seat belts. What Will You See after
an Airbag Inflates? For an eAssist vehicle, see the
Silverado/Sierra eAssist
supplement.
After frontal and seat-mounted side
impact airbags inflate, they quickly
deflate, so quickly that some people
may not even realize the airbags
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? 0 78 .
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
prevent the driver from seeing out of
the windshield or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.

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Seats and Restraints 83
{ WarningWhen an airbag inflates, there
may be dust in the air. This dust
could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe to do so. If you have
breathing problems but cannot
get out of the vehicle after an
airbag inflates, then get fresh air
by opening a window or a door.
If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek
medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors, turn
on the interior lamps and hazard
warning flashers, and shut off the
fuel system after the airbags inflate.
The feature may also activate,
without airbag inflation, after an
event that exceeds a predetermined
threshold. After turning the ignition off and then on again, the fuel
system will return to normal
operation; the doors can be locked,
the interior lamps can be turned off,
and the hazard warning flashers can
be turned off using the controls for
those features. If any of these
systems are damaged in the crash
they may not operate as normal.
{ WarningA crash severe enough to inflate
the airbags may have also
damaged important functions in
the vehicle, such as the fuel
system, brake and steering
systems, etc. Even if the vehicle
appears to be drivable after a
moderate crash, there may be
concealed damage that could
make it difficult to safely operate
the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt
to restart the engine after a crash
has occurred. In many crashes severe enough to
inflate the airbag, windshields are
broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may
also occur from the front outboard
passenger airbag.
.
Airbags are designed to inflate
only once. After an airbag
inflates, you will need some new
parts for the airbag system.
If you do not get them, the
airbag system will not be there
to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly
other parts. The service manual
for the vehicle covers the need
to replace other parts.
.
The vehicle has a crash sensing
and diagnostic module which
records information after a
crash. See Vehicle Data
Recording and Privacy 0 477
and Event Data Recorders
0 477 .
.
Let only qualified technicians
work on the airbag systems.
Improper service can mean that

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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90 Seats and Restraints A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such as
seat covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system
operates. We recommend that you
not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific
vehicle. See Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 0 90
for more information about
modifications that can affect how
the system operates.
The on indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop,
or other electronic device, is put on
an unoccupied seat. If this is not
desired, remove the object from
the seat.
{ Warning
Stowing articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
(Continued) 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
Information 0 474 .
{ 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, seat
belts, airbag sensing and diagnostic
module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, inner door seals including the
speakers, any of the airbag
modules, ceiling or pillar garnish

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124 Storage
Storage Storage Compartments Storage Compartments . . . . . . . 124
Instrument Panel Storage . . . . 124
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Sunglasses Storage . . . . . . . . . . 125
Center Console Storage . . . . . . 125
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . 126
Additional Storage Features Cargo Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Storage
Compartments
{ WarningDo not store heavy or sharp
objects in storage compartments.
In a crash, these objects may
cause the cover to open and
could result in injury.
Instrument Panel Storage Card Holder If equipped, there is a card holder
on the front instrument panel to the
left of the steering wheel. Glove Box
To access the upper glove box,
unlock with the key and pull up on
the handle.
To access the lower glove box, pull
down on the handle.
Cupholders Front
There may be cupholders on the
center front seat console armrest.

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128 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and
Controls Controls Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 129
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 129
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 130
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 130
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Engine Oil Pressure
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Transmission Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 146
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 147
Airbag On-Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 149
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 150
Brake System Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . 153
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 153
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . 153
Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) Light (2500/3500) . . . . 153
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light
(1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 154
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . 154
Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Engine Oil Pressure Light
(Denali Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 156
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 157
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 157
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 157
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 158
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Information Displays Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level Cluster) . . . . . . . . 158
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel and Denali
Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Vehicle Messages Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 164
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 164
Vehicle Personalization Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 165
Universal Remote System Universal Remote System . . . . 172
Universal Remote System
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Universal Remote System
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

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Instruments and Controls 129
Controls Steering Wheel
Adjustment
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Hold the steering wheel and
pull the lever.
2. Move the steering wheel up
or down.
3. Release the lever to lock the
wheel in place. Tilt and Telescoping Steering
Wheel
To adjust the tilt and telescoping
steering wheel, if equipped:
1. Push the lever (1) down to
move the steering wheel
forward or rearward. Lift the
lever up to lock the wheel in
place.
2. Pull the lever (2) toward you to
move the steering wheel up or
down, then release the lever to
lock the wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving. Steering Wheel Controls
If equipped, some audio controls
can be adjusted at the steering
wheel.
g : For vehicles with OnStar or a
Bluetooth system, press to interact
with those systems. See OnStar
Overview 0 479 or “ Bluetooth
(Overview) ” in the infotainment
manual.
i : Press to reject an incoming
call or end a current call. Press to
mute or unmute the infotainment
system when not on a call.