
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
94 Seats and Restraints When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag,
the OFF indicator will light and stay
lit as a reminder that the airbag is
off. See Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator 0 148 .
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn on the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
anytime the system senses that a
person of adult size is sitting
properly in the front outboard
passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing
system has allowed the airbag to be
enabled, the ON indicator will light
and stay lit as a reminder that the
airbag is active.
For some children, including
children in child restraints, and for
very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not turn
off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, depending upon the
person's seating posture and body
build. Everyone in the vehicle who
has outgrown child restraints should wear a seat belt properly — whether
or not there is an airbag for that
person.
{ WarningIf the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness
Light 0 147 for more information,
including important safety
information.
If the On Indicator Is Lit for a
Child Restraint The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag if
the system determines that an infant
is present in a child restraint. If a
child restraint has been installed
and the ON indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off. 2. Remove the child restraint from
the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items
from the seat such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint
following the directions
provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and refer to
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the Front
Outboard Seat) 0 121 or
Securing Child Restraints (In
the Center Front Seat) 0 120 or
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat)
0 117 .
Make sure the seat belt
retractor is locked by pulling
the shoulder belt all the way
out of the retractor when
installing the child restraint,
even if the child restraint is
equipped with a seat belt lock
off. When the retractor lock is
set, the belt can be tightened
but not pulled out of the
retractor.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Seats and Restraints 955. If, after reinstalling the child
restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the ON indicator is still
lit, turn the vehicle off. Then
slightly recline the vehicle
seatback and adjust the seat
cushion, if adjustable, to make
sure that the vehicle seatback
is not pushing the child
restraint into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child
restraint is not trapped under
the vehicle head restraint.
If this happens, adjust the head
restraint. See Head Restraints
0 68 .
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system may
or may not turn off the airbag for a
child in a child restraint depending
upon the child ’ s size. It is better to
secure child restraints in the rear
seat. Consider using another
vehicle to transport the child when a
rear seat is not available. Never put
a rear-facing child restraint in the
front seat, even if the ON indicator
is not lit. If the Off Indicator Is Lit for an
Adult-Sized Occupant
If a person of adult size is sitting in
the front outboard passenger seat,
but the OFF indicator is lit, it could
be because that person is not sitting
properly in the seat or that the child
restraint locking feature is engaged.
Use the following steps to allow the
system to detect that person and
enable the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag:
1. Turn the vehicle off. 2. Remove any additional material
from the seat, such as
blankets, cushions, seat
covers, seat heaters, or seat
massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully
upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in
the seat, centered on the seat
cushion, with legs comfortably
extended.
5. If the shoulder portion of the
belt is pulled out all the way,
the child restraint locking
feature will be engaged. This
may unintentionally cause the
passenger sensing system to
turn the airbag off for some
adult-sized occupants. If this
happens, unbuckle the belt, let
the belt go back all the way,
and then buckle the belt again
without pulling the belt out all
the way.
6. Restart the vehicle and have
the person remain in this
position for two to three minutes
after the ON indicator is lit.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
96 Seats and Restraints
{ WarningIf the front outboard passenger
airbag is turned off for an
adult-sized occupant, the airbag
will not be able to inflate and help
protect that person in a crash,
resulting in an increased risk of
serious injury or even death. An
adult-sized occupant should not
ride in the front outboard
passenger seat, if the passenger
airbag OFF indicator is lit.
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation Seat belts help keep the passenger
in position on the seat during
vehicle maneuvers and braking,
which helps the passenger sensing
system maintain the passenger
airbag status. See “ Seat Belts ” and
“ Child Restraints ” in the Index for
additional information about the
importance of proper restraint use. 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 97
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
Publication Ordering Information
0 442 .
{ 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)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Seats and Restraints 113LATCH anchor weight limits
described at the beginning of
this section, and the following
steps:
Rear Driver Side Position Rear Driver Side Position
2.1. For a top tether in the
rear driver side position:
2.1.1. Remove the driver
side head restraint
and center
headrest. See
“ Head Restraint or
Headrest Removal
and Reinstallation ”
later in this
section. 2.1.2. For first time use,
remove and
discard the rubber
band from the top
tether loop (2).
2.1.3. Route the top
tether (3) through
the loop (2).
2.1.4. Attach the top
tether (3) to the
driver side of the
center top tether
metal anchor (1).
2.1.5. Make sure the
child restraint top
tether hook is

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
114 Seats and Restraints completely closed
and secured to the
top tether anchor.
Rear Passenger Side Position Rear Passenger Side Position
2.3. For a top tether in the
rear passenger side
position:
2.3.1. Remove the
passenger side
head restraint and
center headrest.
See “ Head
Restraint or
Headrest Removal
and Reinstallation ”
later in this
section. 2.3.2. Route the top
tether (3) through
the loop (2).
2.3.3. Attach the top
tether (3) to the
passenger side of
the center top
tether metal
anchor (1).
2.3.4. Make sure the
child restraint top
tether hook is
completely closed
and secured to the
top tether anchor.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Seats and Restraints 115
Rear Center Position
Rear Center Position
2.4. For a top tether in the
rear center position: 2.4.1. Remove the driver
side head restraint
and center
headrest. See
“ Head Restraint or
Headrest Removal
and Reinstallation ”
later in this
section.
2.4.2. Route the top
tether (1) through
the center loop (2).
2.4.3. Attach the top
tether (1) to the
driver side top
tether metal
anchor (3).
2.4.4. Make sure the
child restraint top
tether hook is
completely closed
and secured to the
top tether anchor.
3. Tighten the top tether per the
child restraint manufacturer's
instructions. When the top tether is properly
tightened, the loop may bend.
This is normal and will not
damage the vehicle.
If child restraints are installed
in both outboard positions, both
top tethers can be attached to
the center anchor. Top tethers
can be attached for child
restraints in all three rear
seating positions at the same
time, following the routing
instructions above.
4. Before placing a child in the
child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To
check, grasp the child restraint
at the LATCH path and attempt
to move it side to side and
back and forth. There should
be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in)
of movement for proper
installation.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
116 Seats and Restraints Head Restraint or Headrest
Removal and Reinstallation The second row outboard head
restraints or center headrest can be
removed if they interfere with the
proper installation of the child
restraint.
To remove the second row head
restraints or center headrest:
1. Press both buttons on the head
restraint or headrest posts at
the same time, and pull up on
the head restraint or headrest.
2. Store the head restraint or
headrest in a secure place. 3. When the child restraint is
removed, reinstall the head
restraint or headrest before the
seating position is used.
{ WarningWith head restraints that are not
installed and adjusted properly,
there is a greater chance that
occupants will suffer a neck/
spinal injury in a crash. Do not
drive until the head restraints for
all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To reinstall the head restraint or
headrest: 1. Insert the head restraint or
headrest posts into the holes in
the top of the seatback. The
notches on the posts must face
the driver side of the vehicle.
2. Push the head restraint or
headrest down.
3. Try to move the head restraint
or headrest to make sure that it
is locked in place.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Seats and Restraints 117
Replacing LATCH System
Parts After a Crash
{ WarningA crash can damage the LATCH
system in the vehicle. A damaged
LATCH system may not properly
secure the child restraint,
resulting in serious injury or even
death in a crash. To help make
sure the LATCH system is
working properly after a crash,
see your dealer to have the
system inspected and any
necessary replacements made as
soon as possible.
If the vehicle has the LATCH system
and it was being used during a
crash, new LATCH system parts
may be needed.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the LATCH
system was not being used at the
time of the crash. Securing Child Restraints
(With the Seat Belt in the
Rear Seat) When securing a child restraint with
the seat belts in a rear seat position,
study the instructions that came with
the child restraint to make sure it is
compatible with this vehicle.
If the child restraint has the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) 0 106 for how and where to
install the child restraint using
LATCH. If a child restraint is secured
in the vehicle using a seat belt and
it uses a top tether, see Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 0 106 for top
tether anchor locations.
Do not secure a child seat in a
position without a top tether anchor
if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be anchored, or if
the instructions that come with the
child restraint say that the top tether
must be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached.
If the child restraint or vehicle seat
position does not have the LATCH
system, you will be using the seat
belt to secure the child restraint. Be
sure to follow the instructions that
came with the child restraint.
If more than one child restraint
needs to be installed in the rear
seat, be sure to read Where to Put
the Restraint 0 104 .
Double Cab 1. Remove the head restraint or
headrest prior to installing a
forward-facing child restraint in
an outboard rear seating
position. See “ Head Restraint
or Headrest Removal and
Reinstallation ” under Lower
Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)
0 106 .
2. Put the child restraint on
the seat.