2020 GMC SIERRA DENALI ESP

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
252 Driving and Operating
If stopped for more than
two minutes or if the driver door is
opened and the driver seat belt is
unbuckled, the ACC automatically
applies the Electric Parking Brake
(EPB) to hold the vehicle. The EPB
status light will turn on. SeeElectric
Parking Brake 0233.
A DIC warning message may
display indicating to shift to P (Park)
before exiting the vehicle. See
Vehicle Messages 0155.
{Warning
If ACC has stopped the vehicle,
and if ACC is disengaged, turned
off, or canceled, the vehicle will
no longer be held at a stop. The
vehicle can move. When ACC is
holding the vehicle at a stop,
always be prepared to manually
apply the brakes.
{Warning
Leaving the vehicle without
placing it in P (Park) can be
dangerous. Do not leave the
vehicle while it is being held at a
stop by ACC. Always place the
vehicle in P (Park) and turn off
the ignition before leaving the
vehicle.
ACC Override
If using the accelerator pedal while
ACC is active, the ACC indicator
turns blue on the instrument cluster
indicating ACC braking will not
occur. ACC will resume operation
when the accelerator pedal is not
being pressed.
{Warning
The ACC will not automatically
apply the brakes if your foot is
resting on the accelerator pedal.
You could crash into a vehicle
ahead of you. Curves in the Road
{Warning
On curves, ACC may not detect a
vehicle ahead in your lane. You
could be startled if the vehicle
accelerates up to the set speed,
especially when following a
vehicle exiting or entering exit
ramps. You could lose control of
the vehicle or crash. Do not use
ACC while driving on an entrance
or exit ramp. Always be ready to
use the brakes if necessary.
{Warning
On curves, ACC may respond to
a vehicle in another lane, or may
not have time to react to a vehicle
in your lane. You could crash into
a vehicle ahead of you, or lose
control of your vehicle. Give extra
attention in curves and be ready
(Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
Driving and Operating 253
Warning (Continued)
to use the brakes if necessary.
Select an appropriate speed while
driving in curves.
ACC may operate differently in a
sharp curve. It may reduce the
vehicle speed if the curve is too
sharp.
When following a vehicle and
entering a curve, ACC may not
detect the vehicle ahead and
accelerate to the set speed. When
this happens, the vehicle ahead
indicator will not appear.
ACC may detect a vehicle that is
not in your lane and apply the
brakes.
ACC may occasionally provide an
alert and/or braking that is
considered unnecessary. It could
respond to vehicles in different
lanes or stationary objects when
entering or exiting a curve. This is
normal operation. The vehicle does
not need service. Other Vehicle Lane Changes
ACC will not detect a vehicle ahead
until it is completely in the lane. The
brakes may need to be manually
applied.
Objects Not Directly in Front of
Your Vehicle
The detection of objects in front of
the vehicle may not be possible if:
.
The vehicle or object ahead is
not within your lane.
. The vehicle ahead is shifted, not
centered, or is shifted to one
side of the lane.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
Driving and Operating 271
moderately or hard. This automatic
emergency braking can only occur if
a vehicle is detected. This is shown
by the FCA vehicle ahead indicator
being lit. SeeForward Collision Alert
(FCA) System 0268.
The system works when driving in a
forward gear between 8 km/h
(5 mph) and 80 km/h (50 mph).
It can detect vehicles up to
approximately 60 m (197 ft).
{Warning
AEB is an emergency crash
preparation feature and is not
designed to avoid crashes. Do
not rely on AEB to brake the
vehicle. AEB will not brake
outside of its operating speed
range and only responds to
detected vehicles.
AEB may not: . Detect a vehicle ahead on
winding or hilly roads.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Detect all vehicles,
especially vehicles with a
trailer, tractors, muddy
vehicles, etc.
. Detect a vehicle when
weather limits visibility, such
as in fog, rain, or snow.
. Detect a vehicle ahead if it
is partially blocked by
pedestrians or other objects.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes.
AEB may slow the vehicle to a
complete stop to try to avoid a
potential crash. If this happens, AEB
may engage the Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at a
stop. Release the EPB or firmly
press the accelerator pedal.
{Warning
AEB may automatically brake the
vehicle suddenly in situations
where it is unexpected and
undesired. It could respond to a
turning vehicle ahead, guardrails,
signs, and other non-moving
objects. To override AEB, firmly
press the accelerator pedal, if it is
safe to do so.
Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
IBA may activate when the brake
pedal is applied quickly by providing
a boost to braking based on the
speed of approach and distance to
a vehicle ahead.
Minor brake pedal pulsations or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the brake pedal should
continue to be applied as needed.
IBA will automatically disengage
only when the brake pedal is
released.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
272 Driving and Operating
{Warning
IBA may increase vehicle braking
in situations when it may not be
necessary. You could block the
flow of traffic. If this occurs, take
your foot off the brake pedal and
then apply the brakes as needed.
AEB and IBA can be disabled. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0156.
{Warning
Using AEB or IBA while towing a
trailer could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle and crash.
Turn the system to Alert or Off
when towing a trailer.
A system unavailable message may
display if:
. The front of the vehicle or
windshield is not clean.
. Heavy rain or snow is interfering
with object detection. .
There is a problem with the
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system.
The AEB system does not need
service.
Front Pedestrian Braking
(FPB) System (1500
Series)
If equipped, the FPB system may
help avoid or reduce the harm
caused by front-end crashes with
nearby pedestrians when driving in
a forward gear. FPB displays an
amber indicator,
~, when a nearby
pedestrian is detected ahead. When
approaching a detected pedestrian
too quickly, FPB provides a red
flashing alert on the windshield and
rapidly beeps or pulses the driver
seat. FPB can provide a boost to
braking or automatically brake the
vehicle. This system includes
Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA), and
the Automatic Emergency Braking
(AEB) system may also respond to
pedestrians. See Automatic
Emergency Braking (AEB) 0270. The FPB system can detect and
alert to pedestrians in a forward
gear at speeds between 8 km/h
(5 mph) and 80 km/h (50 mph).
During daytime driving, the system
detects pedestrians up to a distance
of approximately 40 m (131 ft).
During nighttime driving, system
performance is very limited.
{Warning
FPB does not provide an alert or
automatically brake the vehicle,
unless it detects a pedestrian.
FPB may not detect pedestrians,
including children:
. When the pedestrian is not
directly ahead, fully visible,
or standing upright, or when
part of a group.
. Due to poor visibility,
including nighttime
conditions, fog, rain,
or snow.
. If the FPB sensor is blocked
by dirt, snow, or ice.
(Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
274 Driving and Operating
of the accelerator pedal will also
release Automatic Braking and
the EPB.
{Warning
FPB may alert or automatically
brake the vehicle suddenly in
situations where it is unexpected
and undesired. It could falsely
alert or brake for objects similar in
shape or size to pedestrians,
including shadows. This is normal
operation and the vehicle does
not need service. To override
Automatic Braking, firmly press
the accelerator pedal, if it is safe
to do so.
Automatic Braking can be disabled
through vehicle personalization. See
“Front Pedestrian Detection” in
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0156.
{Warning
Using the Front Pedestrian
Braking system while towing a
trailer could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle and crash.
Turn the system to Alert or Off
when towing a trailer.
Cleaning the System
If FPB does not seem to operate
properly, cleaning the outside of the
windshield in front of the rearview
mirror may correct the issue.
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA)
If equipped, the SBZA system is a
lane-changing aid that assists
drivers with avoiding crashes that
occur with moving vehicles in the
side blind zone (or spot) areas.
When the vehicle is in a forward
gear, the left or right side mirror
display will light up if a moving
vehicle is detected in that blind
zone. If the turn signal is activated and a vehicle is also detected on
the same side, the display will flash
as an extra warning not to change
lanes. Since this system is part of
the Lane Change Alert (LCA)
system, read the entire LCA section
before using this feature.
Lane Change Alert (LCA)
If equipped, the LCA system is a
lane-changing aid that assists
drivers with avoiding lane change
crashes that occur with moving
vehicles in the side blind zone (or
spot) areas or with vehicles rapidly
approaching these areas from
behind. The LCA warning display
will light up in the corresponding
outside side mirror and will flash if
the turn signal is on.
{Warning
LCA does not alert the driver to
vehicles outside of the system
detection zones, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or animals. It may not
(Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
276 Driving and Operating
SeeVehicle Personalization 0156.
If LCA is disabled by the driver, the
LCA mirror displays will not light up.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The LCA system requires some
driving for the system to calibrate to
maximum performance. This
calibration may occur more quickly if
the vehicle is driving on a straight
highway road with traffic and
roadside objects (e.g., guardrails,
barriers).
LCA displays may not come on
when passing a vehicle quickly, for
a stopped vehicle, or when towing a
trailer. The LCA detection zones
that extend back from the side of
the vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer. LCA may alert to objects
attached to the vehicle, such as a
trailer, bicycle, or object extending
out to either side of the vehicle.
Attached objects may also interfere with the detection of vehicles. This
is normal system operation; the
vehicle does not need service.
LCA may not always alert the driver
to vehicles in the next lane over,
especially in wet conditions or when
driving on sharp curves. The system
does not need to be serviced. The
system may light up due to
guardrails, signs, trees, shrubs, and
other non-moving objects. This is
normal system operation; the
vehicle does not need service.
LCA may not operate when the LCA
sensors in the left or right corners of
the rear bumper are covered with
mud, dirt, snow, ice, or slush, or in
heavy rainstorms. For cleaning
instructions, see "Washing the
Vehicle" under
Exterior Care0429.
If the DIC still displays the system
unavailable message after cleaning
both sides of the vehicle toward the
rear corners of the vehicle, see your
dealer. If the LCA displays do not light up
when moving vehicles are in the
side blind zone or are rapidly
approaching this zone and the
system is clean, the system may
need service. Take the vehicle to
your dealer.
Radio Frequency Information
See
Radio Frequency Statement
0 472.
Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) (2500/3500 Series)
If equipped, LDW may help avoid
crashes due to unintentional lane
departures. LDW uses a camera
sensor to detect the lane markings
at speeds of 56 km/h (35 mph) or
greater. It may provide an alert if the
vehicle is crossing a lane without
using a turn signal in that direction.
LDW light will not alert if the turn
signal is active in the direction of
lane departure, or if LDW detects
that you are accelerating, braking or
actively steering.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
288 Driving and Operating
.Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Tow/Haul Mode is recommended
for heavier trailers. See Tow/
Haul Mode 0227. If the
transmission downshifts too
often, a lower gear may be
selected using Manual Mode.
See Manual Mode 0224.
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned off when towing a trailer:
. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
. Super Cruise Control
. Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
. Park Assist
. Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
. Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB)
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned to alert or off when towing a
trailer:
. Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
. Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) .
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change Alert
(LCA), the LCA detection zones that
extend back from the side of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic
Alert (RCTA), use caution while
backing up when towing a trailer, as
the RCTA detection zones that
extend out from the back of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death
from carbon monoxide (CO),
when towing a trailer: . Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air.
See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0220.
Towing a trailer requires experience.
The combination of the vehicle and
trailer is longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle itself. Get
used to the handling and braking of
the combination by driving on a
level road surface before driving on
public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires, and
the brakes must all be rated to carry
the intended cargo. Inadequate
trailer equipment can cause the
combination to operate in an

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
Driving and Operating 291
Warning (Continued)
provide a means of escape
in the unlikely event the
vehicle slides into the water.
. If the boat launch surface is
slippery, have the driver
remain in the vehicle with
the brake pedal applied
while the boat is being
launched. The boat launch
can be especially slippery at
low tide when part of the
ramp was previously
submerged at high tide. Do
not back onto the ramp to
launch the boat if you are
not sure the vehicle can
maintain traction.
. Do not move the vehicle if
someone is in the path of
the trailer. Some parts of the
trailer might be underwater
and not visible to people
who are assisting in
launching the boat. Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before backing the trailer into the
water to prevent damage to the
electrical circuits on the trailer.
Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer from the
water. If the trailer has electric
brakes that can function when the
trailer is submerged, it might help to
leave the electrical trailer connector
attached to maintain trailer brake
functionality while on the boat ramp.
To back the trailer into the water:
1. If equipped, place the vehicle in four-wheel-drive high.
2. Slowly back down the boat ramp until the boat is floating,
but no further than necessary.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do not shift into
P (Park) yet.
4. Have someone place chocks under the front wheels of the
vehicle.
5. Gradually release the brake pedal to allow the chocks to
absorb the load of the trailer. 6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
7. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer out of the water: 1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the
sloped part of the boat ramp,
the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into