Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
4 Introduction
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. See the
features in this manual for
information.
u:Air Conditioning System
G: Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!: Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components
Properly
P: Do Not Apply High Pressure
Water
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
_: Flame/Fire Prohibited
H:Flammable
[:Forward Collision Alert
R:Fuse Block Cover Lock
Location
+: Fuses
j:ISOFIX/LATCH System Child
Restraints
Q: Keep Fuse Block Covers
Properly Installed
|: Lane Change Alert
@:Lane Departure Warning
A:Lane Keep Assist
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
X:Park Assist
~:Pedestrian Ahead Indicator
O:Power
7:Rear Cross Traffic Alert
I:Registered Technician
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Seat Belt Reminders
I: Side Blind Zone Alert
h:Stop/Start
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
a: Under Pressure
V:Vehicle Ahead Indicator
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Seats and Restraints 39
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 42
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 58
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Replacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 62
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Passenger Sensing System . . . 66
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 71
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 72
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Infants and Young Children . . . . 74
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 77
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 79
Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) . . . . 80 Replacing LATCH System Parts
After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the
Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the
Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Seats and Restraints 41
to raise it. Try to move the head
restraint to make sure it is locked in
place.
To lower the head restraint, press
the button on the top of the
seatback and push the head
restraint down. Try to move the
head restraint after the button is
released to make sure it is locked in
place.
Folding the Rear Head
Restraint
The head restraint can be folded
rearward to allow for better visibility
when the rear seat is unoccupied.
To fold the head restraint, press the
button on the side of the head
restraint.
The head restraint will fold rearward
automatically.
When an occupant or child restraint
is in the seat, always return the
head restraint to the full upright
position. Pull the head restraint up
and forward until it locks into place.
Push and pull on the head restraint
to make sure that it is locked.
Always adjust the head restraint so
that the top of the restraint is at the
same height as the top of the
occupant's head.
Rear outboard head restraints are
not removable.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
42 Seats and Restraints
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment
Seat Position
{Warning
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust a driver
seat while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the driver seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
To adjust a manual seat:1. Pull the handle at the front of
the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the
handle.
3. Try to move the seat back and forth to be sure it is locked in
place.
Height Adjustment
If available, move the lever up or
down to manually raise or lower
the seat.
Power Seat Adjustment
{Warning
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust a driver
seat while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the driver seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
{Warning
The power seats will work with
the ignition off. Children could
operate the power seats and be
injured. Never leave children
alone in the vehicle.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
50 Seats and Restraints
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Reminder
If equipped, the message REAR
SEAT REMINDER LOOK IN REAR
SEAT displays under certain
conditions indicating there may be
an item or passenger in the rear
seat. Check before exiting the
vehicle.
This feature will activate when a
rear door is opened while the
vehicle is on or up to 10 minutes
before the vehicle is turned on.
There will be an alert when the
vehicle is turned off. The alert does
not directly detect objects in the rear
seat; instead, under certain
conditions, it detects when a rear
door is opened and closed,
indicating that there may be
something in the rear seat.
The feature is active only once each
time the vehicle is turned on and off,
and will require reactivation by
opening and closing the rear doors.
There may be an alert even when
there is nothing in the rear seat; for
example, if a child entered thevehicle through the rear door and
left the vehicle without the vehicle
being shut off.
The feature can be turned on or off.
See
Vehicle Personalization 0135.
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can be
folded for more cargo space. Fold a
seatback only when the vehicle is
not moving.
Caution
Folding a rear seat with the seat
belts still fastened may cause
damage to the seat or the seat
belts. Always unbuckle the seat
belts and return them to their
normal stowed position before
folding a rear seat.
To fold the seatback: 1. Fold the head restraint. See Head Restraints 040.
2. Make sure the seat belt is in
the retainer hook
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 53
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 seat belts!
When you wear a seat 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 seat
belts. That is why wearing seat belts
makes such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicleafter a crash if I am wearing a
seat belt?
A: You could be—whether you are
wearing a seat 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 seat
belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only. They work with
seat 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 seat belts.
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's
protection.
There are additional things to know
about seat belts and children,
including smaller children and
infants. If a child will be riding in the
vehicle, see Older Children 073 or
Infants and Young Children 074.
Review and follow the rules for
children in addition to the following
rules. It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know
about wearing a seat belt properly.
.
Sit up straight and always keep
your feet on the floor in front of
you (if possible).
. Always use the correct buckle
for your seating position.
. Wear the lap part of the belt low
and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In a crash,
this applies force to the strong
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Seats and Restraints 55
Always use the correct buckle for
your seating position.
Never route the lap or shoulder belt
over an armrest.
{Warning
The seat belt can be pinched if it
is routed under plastic trim on the
seat, such as trim around the rear
seatback folding handle or side
airbag. In a crash, pinched seat
belts might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Never allow
seat belts to be routed under
plastic trim pieces.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle
have a lap-shoulder belt.
The following instructions explain
how to wear a lap-shoulder belt
properly.1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see
“Seats” in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull
the belt across you. Do not let
it get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock
if you pull the belt across you
very quickly. If this happens, let
the belt go back slightly to
unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a
passenger belt is pulled out all
the way, the child restraint
locking feature may be
engaged. See Child Restraint
Systems 077. If this occurs, let
the belt go back all the way
and start again. If the locking
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
56 Seats and Restraints
feature stays engaged after
letting the belt go back to
stowed position on the seat,
move the seat rearward or
recline the seat until the
shoulder belt retractor lock
releases.
Engaging the child restraint
locking feature in the front
outboard seating position may
affect the passenger sensing
system. SeePassenger
Sensing System 066.If the webbing locks in the latch
plate before it reaches the
buckle, tilt the latch plate flat to
unlock.
3. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to
make sure it is secure. If the
belt is not long enough, see
Seat Belt Extender 058.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the seat belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the
height that is right for you. See
“Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster”
later in this section for
instructions on use and
important safety information.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull stitching
on the seat belt through the latch
plate to fully tighten the lap belt on
smaller occupants.