GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/13/19
Seats and Restraints 87
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the seat belt
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Have the seat 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 0149.Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbags:
.
A frontal airbag for the driver
. A frontal 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
. 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 seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG is on the
side of 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 seat
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 seat belt, even with
(Continued)
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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88 Seats and Restraints
Warning (Continued)
airbags. Airbags are designed to
work with seat belts, not replace
them. Also, airbags are not
designed to inflate in every crash.
In some crashes seat belts are
the only restraint. SeeWhen
Should an Airbag Inflate? 090.
Wearing your seat 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 seat belts. Everyone in the
vehicle should wear a seat belt
properly, whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.
{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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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. 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.
{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 0100 or
Infants and Young Children
0 101.
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 0149.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/13/19
Seats and Restraints 93
Warning (Continued)
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 0450
and
Event Data Recorders 0450.
. Let only qualified technicians
work on the airbag systems.
Improper service can mean that
an airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for
service.
Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the front
outboard passenger position. The
passenger airbag status indicator
will light on the overhead console
when the vehicle is started.
United States
Canada
The words ON and OFF, or the
symbols for on and off, will be
visible during the system check.
When the system check is
complete, either the word ON or
OFF, or the symbol for on or off, will
be visible. See Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator 0150.
The passenger sensing system
turns off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag under
certain conditions. No other airbag
is affected by the passenger
sensing system.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/13/19
Seats and Restraints 95
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. SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator 0150.
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.
{Warning
If 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 0149 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) 0122 or
Securing Child Restraints (In
the Center Front Seat) 0122 or
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat)
0 118.
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/
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96 Seats and Restraints
5. If, after reinstalling the childrestraint 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 69.
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 - 5/13/19
Seats and Restraints 99
If the vehicle must be modified
because you have a disability and
have questions about whether the
modifications will affect the vehicle's
airbag system, or if you have
questions about whether the airbag
system will be affected if the vehicle
is modified for any other reason, call
Customer Assistance. See
Customer Assistance Offices0440.
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance or
replacement. Make sure the airbag
readiness light is working. See
Airbag Readiness Light 0149.
Caution
If an airbag covering is damaged,
opened, or broken, the airbag
may not work properly. Do not
open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any
opened or broken airbag
coverings, have the airbag
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
covering and/or airbag module
replaced. For the location of the
airbags, seeWhere Are the
Airbags? 089. See your dealer
for service.
Replacing Airbag System
Parts after a Crash
{Warning
A crash can damage the airbag
systems in the vehicle.
A damaged airbag system may
not properly protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash, resulting
in serious injury or even death. To
help make sure the airbag
systems are working properly
after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible. If an airbag inflates, you will need to
replace airbag system parts. See
your dealer for service.
If the airbag readiness light stays on
after the vehicle is started or comes
on when you are driving, the airbag
system may not work properly. Have
the vehicle serviced right away. See
Airbag Readiness Light
0149.
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Seats and Restraints 123
Warning (Continued)
forward-facing child restraint in
the front outboard passenger
seat, always move the seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
SeePassenger Sensing System
0 93 for additional information.
If the vehicle does not have a rear
seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint, a
rear-facing child restraint should not
be installed in the vehicle, even if
the airbag is off.
If the child restraint uses a top
tether, see Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) 0107 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.
When using the lap-shoulder belt to
secure the child restraint in this
position, follow the instructions that
came with the child restraint and the
following instructions:
1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the
forward-facing child restraint.
Move the seat upward or the
seatback to an upright position,
if needed, to get a tight
installation of the child
restraint.
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal
airbag, the OFF indicator on
the passenger airbag status
indicator should light and stay lit when you start the vehicle.
See
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator 0150.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions
of the vehicle's seat belt
through or around the child
restraint. The child restraint
instructions will show you how.
Tilt the latch plate to adjust the
belt if needed.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Instruments and Controls 131
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 132
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 133
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 133
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 133
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 149
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 149
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 151
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 151
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . 155
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 155
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . 156
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 156
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . 156
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Traction Control System (TCS)/ Electronic Stability Control
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . 158
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Engine Oil Pressure Light (Uplevel Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 160
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 160
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 160
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 161
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 161
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel) . . . . . . 163
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . 166
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 169
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 170
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 170
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . 175