2021 BUICK ENCORE Owner's Manual

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
56 Seats and Restraints
Recommended Methods for Attaching Child Restraints
Restraint Type Combined Weight ofthe Child + Child
Restraint Use Only Approved Attachment Methods Shown with an X
LATCH
–Lower
Anchors Only Seat Belt Only LATCH
–Lower
Anchors and Top
Tether Anchor Seat Belt and Top
Tether Anchor
Rear-Facing Child
Restraint Up to 29.5 kg (65 lb)
X X
Rear-Facing Child
Restraint Greater than
29.5 kg (65 lb) X
Forward-Facing Child
Restraint Up to 29.5 kg (65 lb)
X X
Forward-Facing Child
Restraint Greater than
29.5 kg (65 lb) X
See Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat
Belt in the Rear Seat) 062 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt
in the Front Seat) 064. Child restraints built after March 2014 will
be labeled with the specific child weight up
to which the LATCH system can be used to
install the restraint. The following explains how to attach a child
restraint with these attachments in the
vehicle.
Not all vehicle seating positions have lower
anchors. In this case, the seat belt must be
used (with top tether where available) to
secure the child restraint. See
Securing Child
Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear
Seat) 062 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt
in the Front Seat) 064.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 57
Lower Anchors
Lower anchors (1) are metal bars built into
the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for
each LATCH seating position that will
accommodate a child restraint with lower
attachments (2).
Top Tether Anchor
A top tether (3, 4) is used to secure the top
of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top
tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The
top tether attachment hook (2) on the child
restraint connects to the top tether anchor
in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward
movement and rotation of the child restraint
during driving or in a crash.
The child restraint may have a single
tether (3) or a dual tether (4). Either will
have a single attachment hook (2) to secure
the top tether to the anchor.
Some child restraints that have a top tether
are designed for use with or without the
top tether being attached. Others requirethe top tether always to be attached. In
Canada, the law requires that forward-facing
child restraints have a top tether, and that
the tether be attached. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions for your child
restraint.
Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor
Locations
I:
Seating positions with top tether
anchors.
H: Seating positions with two lower
anchors.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
58 Seats and Restraints
To assist in locating the lower anchors, each
seating position with lower anchors has two
labels, near the crease between the seatback
and the seat cushion.
To assist in locating the top tether anchors,
the top tether anchor symbol is on the trim
near the anchor.
The top tether anchors are on the back of
the rear seatbacks. Be sure to use an anchor
located directly behind the seating position
where the child restraint will be placed.
Do not secure a child restraint in a position
without a top tether anchor if a national or
local law requires that the top tether be
attached, or if the instructions that come
with the child restraint say that the top
tether must be attached.
According to accident statistics, children and
infants are safer when properly restrained in
a child restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating position.
SeeWhere to Put the Restraint 053 for
additional information.
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
{Warning
A child could be seriously injured or killed
in a crash if the child restraint is not
properly attached to the vehicle using
either the LATCH anchors or the vehicle
seat belt. Follow the instructions that
came with the child restraint and the
instructions in this manual.
{Warning
To reduce the risk of serious or fatal
injuries during a crash, do not attach
more than one child restraint to a single
anchor. Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single anchor could cause
the anchor or attachment to come loose
or even break during a crash. A child or
others could be injured.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 59
{Warning
Children can be seriously injured or
strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped
around their neck. The shoulder belt can
tighten but cannot be loosened if it is
locked. The shoulder belt locks when it is
pulled all the way out of the retractor.
It unlocks when the shoulder belt is
allowed to go all the way back into the
retractor, but it cannot do this if it is
wrapped around a child’s neck. If the
shoulder belt is locked and tightened
around a child’s neck, the only way to
loosen the belt is to cut it.
Buckle any unused seat belts behind the
child restraint so children cannot reach
them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way
out of the retractor to set the lock, and
tighten the belt behind the child restraint
after the child restraint has been
installed.
Caution
Do not let the LATCH attachments rub
against the vehicle’s seat belts. This may
damage these parts. If necessary, move
buckled seat belts to avoid rubbing the
LATCH attachments.
Do not fold the rear seatback when the
seat is occupied. Do not fold the empty
rear seat with a seat belt buckled. This
could damage the seat belt or the seat.
Unbuckle and return the seat belt to its
stowed position, before folding the seat.
If you need to secure more than one child
restraint in the rear seat, see Where to Put
the Restraint 053.
1. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the lower anchors. If the
child restraint does not have lower
attachments or the desired seating
position does not have lower anchors,
secure the child restraint with the top
tether and the seat belt. Refer to the
child restraint manufacturer instructions
and the instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position. 1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
For rear outboard seating positions,
if the head restraint interferes with
the proper installation of the child
restraint, the head restraint may be
removed. See “Head Restraint
Removal and Reinstallation” at the
end of this section.
When installing a rear-facing child
restraint, it may be necessary to
move the front seat forward to
properly install the child restraint
per the child restraint manufacturer
instructions. See Seat Adjustment
0 25.
1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint
to the lower anchors.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be
attached, attach and tighten the top
tether to the top tether anchor,
if equipped. Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following steps:
2.1. Find the top tether anchor.
2.2. Remove the cargo cover, if equipped, before installing the
top tether. Place the cargo cover on

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
60 Seats and Restraints
the floor of the cargo area. The
cargo cover should remain off while
the top tether is in use.
2.3. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether according to your child
restraint instructions and the
following instructions:
If the position you are using does
not have a headrest or head
restraint and you are using a single
tether, route the tether over the
seatback.
If the position you are using does
not have a headrest or head
restraint and you are using a dual
tether, route the tether over the
seatback.
If the position you are using has an
adjustable headrest or head
restraint and you are using a single
tether, raise the headrest or head
restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and
in between the headrest or head
restraint posts.
If the position you are using has an
adjustable headrest or head
restraint and you are using a dual
tether, raise the headrest or head
restraint and route the tether under
the headrest or head restraint and
around the headrest or head
restraint posts.
3. 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.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 61
Head Restraint Removal and
Reinstallation
The rear outboard head restraints can be
removed if they interfere with the proper
installation of the child restraint.
To remove the head restraint:1. Partially fold the seatback forward. See Rear Seats 028.
2. Press both buttons on the head restraint
posts at the same time, and pull up on
the head restraint.
3. Store the head restraint in a secure place. 4. When the child restraint is removed,
reinstall the head restraint before the
seating position is used.
{Warning
With 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:
1. Insert the head restraint 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 down.
If necessary, press the height adjustment
release button to further lower the head
restraint. See Rear Seats028.
3. Try to move the head restraint to make sure it is locked in place.
Replacing LATCH System Parts
After a Crash
{Warning
A 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.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
62 Seats and Restraints
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,
seeLower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 054 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) 054 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
053.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat. For outboard second row seating
positions, remove the seat belt from the
guide. Do not secure the child restraint
with the seat belt routed through the
guide.
When installing a rear-facing child
restraint, it may be necessary to move
the front seat forward to properly install
the child restraint per the child restraint
manufacturer instructions.
If the head restraint interferes with the
proper installation of the child restraint,
the head restraint may be removed. See
"Head Restraint Removal and
Reinstallation" under Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 054. 2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap
and shoulder portions of the vehicle seat
belt through or around the restraint. The
child restraint instructions will show
you how.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle untilit clicks.
Position the release button on the
buckle, away from the child restraint, so
that the seat belt could be quickly
unbuckled if necessary.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 63
4. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out ofthe retractor to set the lock. When the
retractor lock is set, the belt can be
tightened but not pulled out of the
retractor.5. To tighten the belt, push down on thechild restraint, pull the shoulder portion
of the belt to tighten the lap portion of
the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. When installing a
forward-facing child restraint, it may be
helpful to use your knee to push down
on the child restraint as you tighten
the belt.
Try to pull the belt out of the retractor
to make sure the retractor is locked.
If the retractor is not locked, repeat
Steps 4 and 5. 6. If the child restraint has a top tether,
follow the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions regarding the use of the top
tether. See Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH System) 054.
7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in
place. To check, grasp the child restraint
at the seat belt path and attempt to
move it side to side and back and forth.
When the child restraint is properly
installed, there should be no more than
2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the
vehicle seat belt and let it return to the
stowed position. If the top tether is attached
to a top tether anchor, disconnect it.
If the head restraint was removed, reinstall
it before the seating position is used. See
"Head Restraint Removal and Reinstallation"
under Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) 054 for additional
information on installing the head restraint
properly.