Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Introduction 3
[: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 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Keys, Doors, and Windows 15
Warning (Continued)
out of the vehicle in a crash is
increased if the doors are not locked.
So, all passengers should wear seat
belts properly and the doors should be
locked whenever the vehicle is driven.
.Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out.
A child can be overcome by extreme
heat and can suffer permanent injuries
or even death from heat stroke.
Always lock the vehicle whenever
leaving it.
.Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down
or stop the vehicle. Locking the doors
can help prevent this from happening.
To lock or unlock the doors from the
outside:
.PressKorQon the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 07.
.Use the key in the driver door. To lock or unlock the doors from inside the
vehicle:
.PressKorQon the power door lock
switch.
.Pulling an interior door handle will unlock
the door. Pulling the door handle again
unlatches it.
Keyless Access
The RKE transmitter must be within 1 m
(3 ft) of the liftgate or door being opened.
Press the button on the door handle to
open. See “Keyless Access Operation” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 07.
Free-Turning Locks
The door key lock cylinder turns freely when
either the wrong key is used, or the correct
key is not fully inserted. The free-turning
door lock feature prevents the lock from
being forced open. To reset the lock, turn it
to the vertical position with the correct key
fully inserted. Remove the key and insert it
again. If this does not reset the lock, turn
the key halfway around in the cylinder and
repeat the reset procedure.
Power Door Locks
K: Press to unlock the doors.
Q:Press to lock the doors.
Delayed Locking
This feature delays the locking of the doors
until five seconds after all doors are closed.
Delayed locking can only be turned on when
the Open Door Anti-Lockout has been
turned off.
When
Qis pressed on the power door lock
switch while the door is open, a chime will
sound three times indicating delayed locking
is active.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Keys, Doors, and Windows 21
The vehicle aerodynamics are designed to
improve fuel economy performance. This
may result in a pulsing sound when either
rear window is down and the front windows
are up. To reduce the sound, open either a
front window or the sunroof, if equipped.
Power Windows
{Warning
Children could be seriously injured or
killed if caught in the path of a closing
window. Never leave the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter in a vehicle with
children. When there are children in the(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
rear seat, use the window lockout switch
to prevent operation of the windows. See
Keys06.
Power windows work when the ignition is
on, in ACC/ACCESSORY, or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) 0178.
Using the window switch, press to open or
pull to close the window.
The windows may be temporarily disabled if
they are used repeatedly within a
short time.
Window Lockout
This feature stops the rear passenger
windows from working.
.PressZto engage the rear window
lockout feature. The indicator light is on
when engaged.
.PressZagain to disengage.
Window Express Movement
All windows can be opened without holding
the window switch. Press the switch down
fully and quickly release to express open the
window.
If equipped, pull the window switch up fully
and quickly release to express close the
window.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
24 Seats and Restraints
Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . 33
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 37
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 41
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 42
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . 42
What Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Infants and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children(LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Head Restraints
{
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.
Front Seats
The front seats have adjustable head
restraints in the outboard seating positions.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 25
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of
the restraint is at the same height as the
top of the occupant's head. This position
reduces the chances of a neck injury in a
crash.
The height of the head restraint can be
adjusted. Pull the head restraint up to raise
it. Try to move the head restraint to make
sure that it is locked in place.
To lower the head restraint, press the
button, located 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 that it is locked in
place.The front seat outboard head restraints are
not removable.
Rear Seats
The rear seats have head restraints in the
outboard seating positions that can be
lowered for better visibility when the rear
seat is unoccupied.
To lower the head restraint, press the
button, located on the top of the seatback,
and push the head restraint down.
When an occupant is in the seat, always
return the head restraint to the upright
position. Pull the head restraint up and push
it rearward until it locks into place. Push and
pull on the head restraint to make sure that
it is locked.
If you are installing a child restraint in the
rear seat, see
“Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH System” under
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 054.
Front Seats
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.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
26 Seats and Restraints
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.
Power Seat Adjustment
{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.
To adjust a power seat:
.Move the seat forward or rearward by
sliding the control forward or rearward.
.Raise or lower the front part of the seat
cushion by moving the front of the
control up or down.
.Raise or lower the entire seat by moving
the rear of the control up or down.
To adjust the seatback, see Reclining
Seatbacks 026.
To adjust the lumbar support, see Lumbar
Adjustment 026.
Lumbar Adjustment
If available, press the front or rear of the
switch to increase or decrease lumbar
support. Release the switch when the
desired level of support is reached.
Reclining Seatbacks
{Warning
If either seatback is not locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or crash.
That could cause injury to the person
sitting there. Always push and pull on
the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 29
The feature is active only once each time
the vehicle is turned on and off, and will
require reactivation by opening and closing
the second row doors. There may be an
alert even when there is nothing in the rear
seat; for example, if a child entered the
vehicle 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 (8 Inch Screen)089
or
Vehicle Personalization (7 Inch Screen) 094.
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can be folded
down 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.
Caution
Folding the rear seatback prior to tilting
the seat cushion forward may damage
the rear seat. Always tilt the rear seat
cushion forward before folding the
seatback.
To fold a seatback down: 1. Make sure the floor area in front of the rear seats is clear.
2. Fully lower the head restraint. See Head
Restraints 024.
3. Slide the front seats forward and place the front seatbacks in the upright
position. See Seat Adjustment 025 and
Reclining Seatbacks 026.
4. Pull the strap on the front edge of the
rear seat cushion to release the cushion.
Tilt the seat cushion forward toward the
front of the vehicle.
The seat cushion must be tilted forward
before the seatback is folded down.
Otherwise, the seatback will not fold
down properly.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 33
Questions and Answers About Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after acrash 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 canunbuckle 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 withseat 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 Children048 or Infants and Young Children
050. 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 pelvic bones and you would be
less likely to slide under the lap belt.
If you slid under it, the belt would apply
force on your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
.Wear the shoulder belt over the shoulder
and across the chest. These parts of the
body are best able to take belt
restraining forces. The shoulder belt locks
if there is a sudden stop or crash.
{Warning
You can be seriously injured, or even
killed, by not wearing your seat belt
properly.