GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
4 Introduction
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
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
6 Introduction
1.Air Vents 0171.
2. Exterior Lamp Controls 0155.
Turn Signal Lever. See Turn
and Lane-Change Signals
0 159.
3. Instrument Cluster (Base and
Midlevel) 0115 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel)
0 119.
4. Windshield Wiper/Washer
0107.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
0 109.
5. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System 0158.
6. Infotainment 0164.
7. Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0165.
8. USB Port (If Equipped). Auxiliary Input Jack. See
Infotainment 0164.
9. Wireless Charging 0112 (If
Equipped).
10. Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats 049 (If Equipped). 11.|Hazard Warning Flashers
0 159.
gTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0209.
XPark Assist Switch. See
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing 0227 (If
Equipped).
12. Driver Mode Control 0212.
13.
ALane Keep Assist (LKA)
0 240 (If Equipped).
5Hill Descent Control (HDC)
0 211 (If Equipped).
14.
hAuto Stop Disable Button.
See Stop/Start System 0193
(If Equipped).
15. Power Outlets 0110.
16. Shift Switches. See Automatic
Transmission 0201.
17. ENGINE START/STOP Button. SeeStarting the Engine 0192.
18. Steering Wheel Controls 0107
(If Equipped). Driver Information Center (DIC)
Buttons. See
Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base) 0137 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Midlevel and Uplevel) 0139.
19. Horn 0107.
20. Steering Wheel Adjustment
0106.
21. Cruise Control 0214.
Adaptive Cruise Control 0216
(If Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0231 (If Equipped).
Heated Steering Wheel 0107
(If Equipped).
22. Hood Release. See Hood
0 262.
23. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control 0160 (Out of View).
Head-Up Display (HUD) 0142
(If Equipped).
24. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 0127.
25. Electric Parking Brake 0207.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
Instruments and Controls 105
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 106
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 107
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 107
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 107
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Instrument Cluster (Base and
Midlevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Engine Oil Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 125
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 126
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 127
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 127
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Service Electric Parking Brake Light (Uplevel and Midlevel
Cluster Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Gear Shifting Light . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 131
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . 131
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 132
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . 132
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . 133
Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 134
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 135
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 135
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 136
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 136
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 136
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel) . . . . . . 139
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . 142
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 146
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 146
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 146
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
132 Instruments and Controls
LKA will not assist or alert if the turn
signal is active in the direction of
lane departure, or if LKA detects
that you are accelerating, braking,
or actively steering.
SeeLane Keep Assist (LKA) 0240.
Vehicle Ahead Indicator
If equipped, this indicator will
display green when a vehicle is
detected ahead and amber when
you are following a vehicle ahead
much too closely.
See Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0231.
FCA/ACC Following Gap Light
If equipped, this light indicates the
following gap setting (near, medium,
or far) for FCA, and, if equipped,
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
Pedestrian Ahead
Indicator
If equipped, this indicator will
display amber when a nearby
pedestrian is detected in front of the
vehicle.
See Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System 0236.
Traction Off Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. If the system is working
normally, the indicator light then
turns off.
The traction off light comes on when
the Traction Control System (TCS)
has been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
button.
This light and the StabiliTrak OFF
light come on when StabiliTrak/ESC
is turned off.
If the TCS is off, wheel speed will
be limited when necessary to
protect the driveline from damage.
Adjust driving accordingly.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
Instruments and Controls 133
SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0209.
StabiliTrak OFF Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system is turned off.
If StabiliTrak/ESC is off, the Traction
Control System (TCS) is also off.
If StabiliTrak/ESC and TCS are off,
the system does not assist in
controlling the vehicle. Turn on the
TCS and the StabiliTrak/ESC
systems, and the warning light
turns off.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0209.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS and potentially the StabiliTrak/
ESC system have been disabled.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
message may display. Check the
DIC messages to determine which
feature(s) is no longer functioning
and whether the vehicle requires
service.
If the light is on and flashing, the
TCS and/or the StabiliTrak/ESC
system is actively working. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0209.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light goes off.
Caution
The engine coolant temperature
warning light indicates that the
vehicle has overheated. Driving
with this light on can damage the
(Continued)
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
Driving and Operating 173
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 182
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 183
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 185
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 190
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 199
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 201
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . 206
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 207
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 209
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 211
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 212
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 216
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 225
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 227
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 238
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 240
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 242
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
174 Driving and Operating
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 243
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 256
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
. Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the
engine is started, or turn them
off when not required.
. On AWD vehicles, see Driver
Mode Control 0212.
. Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
. Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
. Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
. When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
. Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require. .
Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
. Combine several trips into a
single trip.
. Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
. Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep
your eyes on the road, keep your
hands on the steering wheel, and
focus your attention on driving.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
Driving and Operating 175
.Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
. Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
. Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint. .
Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment manual for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts056.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they may do and
be ready. .
Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.