2021 GMC ACADIA Passenger airbag

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Seats and Restraints 35
Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . 41
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . 48
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 52
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 57
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 58
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . 58
What Will You See after an AirbagInflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Infants and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children(LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Head Restraints
Front Seats
{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.
The vehicle's front seats have adjustable
head restraints in the outboard seating
positions.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
50 Seats and Restraints
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
0 68. If this occurs, let the belt go back
all the way and start again. If the
locking 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. See Passenger Sensing
System 059.
If the webbing locks in the latch plate
before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch
plate flat to unlock.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
54 Seats and Restraints
After a minor crash, replacement of seat
belts may not be necessary. But the seat
belt assemblies that were used during any
crash may have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the seat belt
assemblies inspected or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be necessary
even if the seat belt system was not being
used at the time of the crash.
Have the seat belt pretensioners checked if
the vehicle has been in a crash, or if the
airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or while you are driving.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light 0105.
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following airbags:
.A frontal airbag for the driver
.A frontal airbag for the front outboard
passenger
.A knee airbag for the driver
.A front center airbag for the driver and
front outboard passenger
.A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the
driver
.A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the
front outboard passenger
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver and for
the second and third row passengers
seated directly behind the driver
.A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard
passenger and the second and third row
passengers seated directly behind the
front outboard passenger
All vehicle airbags have the word AIRBAG on
the trim or on a label near the deployment
opening.
For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG is on
the center of the steering wheel for the
driver and on the instrument panel for the
front outboard passenger.
For knee airbags, the word AIRBAG is on the
lower part of the instrument panel.
For the front center airbag, the word AIRBAG
is on the inboard side of the driver seatback.
For seat-mounted side impact airbags, the
word AIRBAG is on the side of the seatback
or side of the seat closest to the door.
For roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG is on
the ceiling or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement the
protection provided by seat belts. Even
though today's airbags are also designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force
of an inflating bag, all airbags must inflate
very quickly to do their job.
Here are the most important things to know
about the airbag system:
{Warning
You can be severely injured or killed in a
crash if you are not wearing your seat
belt, even with airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with seat belts, not
replace them. Also, airbags are not
designed to inflate in every crash. In
some crashes seat belts are the only
restraint. See
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? 057.
Wearing your seat belt during a crash
helps reduce your chance of hitting
things inside the vehicle or being ejected
from it. Airbags are “supplemental
restraints” to the seat belts. Everyone in
the vehicle should wear a seat belt
properly, whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Seats and Restraints 55
{Warning
Because airbags inflate with great force
and faster than the blink of an eye,
anyone who is up against, or very close
to any airbag when it inflates can be
seriously injured or killed. Do not sit
unnecessarily close to any airbag, as you
would be if sitting on the edge of the
seat or leaning forward. Seat belts help
keep you in position before and during a
crash. Always wear a seat belt, even with
airbags. The driver should sit as far back
as possible while still maintaining control
of the vehicle. The seat belts and the
front outboard passenger airbags are
most effective when you are sitting well
back and upright in the seat with both
feet on the floor.
Occupants should not lean on or sleep
against the front center armrest or
console in vehicles with a front center
airbag.
Occupants should not lean on or sleep
against the door or side windows in
seating positions with seat-mounted side
impact airbags and/or roof-rail airbags.
{Warning
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any airbag when it inflates can
be seriously injured or killed. Always
secure children properly in the vehicle. To
read how, seeOlder Children 064 or
Infants and Young Children 066.
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument cluster, which shows the airbag
symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical
system for malfunctions. The light tells you
if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag
Readiness Light 0105.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the center of
the steering wheel.
The front outboard passenger frontal airbag
is in the passenger side instrument panel.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
56 Seats and Restraints
The driver knee airbag is below the steering
column.
The front center airbag is in the inboard side
of the driver seatback.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger Side Similar
The seat-mounted side impact airbags for
the driver and front outboard passenger are
in the sides of the seatbacks closest to
the door.Driver Side Shown, Passenger Side Similar
The roof-rail airbags for the driver, front
outboard passenger, and second and third
row outboard passengers are in the ceiling
above the side windows.
{Warning
If something is between an occupant and
an airbag, the airbag might not inflate
properly or it might force the object into
that person causing severe injury or even
death. The path of an inflating airbag
must be kept clear. Do not put anything
between an occupant and an airbag, and (Continued)

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Seats and Restraints 57
Warning (Continued)
do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any
other airbag covering.
Do not use seat or console accessories
that block the inflation path of a
seat-mounted side impact airbag or the
front center airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof of a
vehicle with roof-rail airbags by routing a
rope or tie-down through any door or
window opening. If you do, the path of
an inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.
When Should an Airbag Inflate?
This vehicle is equipped with airbags. See
Airbag System054. Airbags are designed to
inflate if the impact exceeds the specific
airbag system's deployment threshold.
Deployment thresholds are used to predict
how severe a crash is likely to be in time
for the airbags to inflate and help restrain
the occupants. The vehicle has electronic
sensors that help the airbag system determine the severity of the impact.
Deployment thresholds can vary with
specific vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are designed to inflate in
moderate to severe frontal or near frontal
crashes to help reduce the potential for
severe injuries, mainly to the driver's or
front outboard passenger's head and chest.
Whether the frontal airbags will or should
inflate is not based primarily on how fast
the vehicle is traveling. It depends on what
is hit, the direction of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.
Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash
speeds depending on whether the vehicle
hits an object straight on or at an angle,
and whether the object is fixed or moving,
rigid or deformable, narrow or wide.
Frontal airbags are not intended to inflate
during vehicle rollovers, in rear impacts,
or in many side impacts.
In addition, the vehicle has advanced
technology frontal airbags. Advanced
technology frontal airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
Knee airbags are designed to inflate in
moderate to severe frontal or near frontal
impacts. Knee airbags are not designed to
inflate during vehicle rollovers, in rear
impacts, or in many side impacts.
The front center airbag is designed to inflate
in moderate to severe side crashes
depending upon the location of the impact,
when either side of the vehicle is struck. In
addition, the front center airbag is designed
to inflate when the sensing system predicts
that the vehicle is about to roll over on its
side or in some moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal impacts. The front center
airbag is not designed to inflate in rear
impacts.
Seat-mounted side impact airbags are
designed to inflate in moderate to severe
side crashes, depending on the location of
the impact. These airbags are also designed
to inflate in some moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal impacts that could
result in the occupant moving toward the
side of the vehicle. Seat-mounted side
impact airbags are not designed to inflate in
rollovers, or rear impacts. A seat-mounted
side impact airbag is designed to inflate on
the side of the vehicle that is struck.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Seats and Restraints 59
Warning (Continued)
trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is
safe to do so. If you have breathing
problems but cannot get out of the
vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door.
If you experience breathing problems
following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors, turn on the
interior lamps and hazard warning flashers,
and shut off the fuel system after the
airbags inflate. The feature may also
activate, without airbag inflation, after an
event that exceeds a predetermined
threshold. After turning the ignition off and
then on again, the fuel system will return to
normal operation; the doors can be locked,
the interior lamps can be turned off, and
the hazard warning flashers can be turned
off using the controls for those features.
If any of these systems are damaged in the
crash they may not operate as normal.
{Warning
A crash severe enough to inflate the
airbags may have also damaged
important functions in the vehicle, such
as the fuel system, brake and steering
systems, etc. Even if the vehicle appears
to be drivable after a moderate crash,
there may be concealed damage that
could make it difficult to safely operate
the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt to
restart the engine after a crash has
occurred.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate
the airbag, windshields are broken by
vehicle deformation. Additional windshield
breakage may also occur from the front
outboard passenger airbag.
.Airbags are designed to inflate only once.
After an airbag inflates, you will need
some new parts for the airbag system.
If you do not get them, the airbag
system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will
include airbag modules and possibly other
parts. The service manual for the vehicle
covers the need to replace other parts.
.The vehicle has a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records
information after a crash. See Vehicle
Data Recording and Privacy 0372 and
Event Data Recorders 0373.
.Let only qualified technicians work on the
airbag systems. Improper service can
mean that an airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for service.
Passenger Sensing System
The vehicle has a passenger sensing system
for the front outboard passenger position.
The passenger airbag status indicator will
light on the overhead console when the
vehicle is started.
The words ON and OFF, and the symbols for
on and off, will be visible during the system
check. When the system check is complete,
either the word ON or OFF, and the symbol
for on or off, will be visible. See Passenger
Airbag Status Indicator 0106.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
60 Seats and Restraints
The passenger sensing system turns off the
front outboard passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions. No other airbag is
affected by the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with
sensors that are part of the front outboard
passenger seat and seat belt. The sensors
are designed to detect the presence of a
properly seated occupant and determine if
the front outboard passenger frontal airbag
should be allowed to inflate or not.
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly secured in a rear seat
in the correct child restraint for their weight
and size.
Whenever possible, children aged 12 and
under should be secured in a rear seating
position.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in the
front. This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag
inflates.{Warning
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the
passenger frontal airbag inflates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inflating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger
frontal airbag inflates and the passenger
seat is in a forward position.
Even if the passenger sensing system has
turned off the passenger frontal airbag,
no system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though the airbag is turned off.
Never put a rear-facing child restraint in
the front seat, even if the airbag is off.
If securing a forward-facing child restraint
in the front outboard passenger seat,
always move the seat as far back as it
will go. It is better to secure child
restraints in the rear seat. Consider using
another vehicle to transport the child
when a rear seat is not available.The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag if:.The front outboard passenger seat is
unoccupied.
.The system determines an infant is
present in a child restraint.
.A front outboard passenger takes his/her
weight off of the seat for a period
of time.
.There is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, the OFF indicator will light
and stay lit as a reminder that the airbag is
off. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
0 106.
The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn on the front outboard passenger frontal
airbag anytime the system senses that a
person of adult size is sitting properly in the
front outboard passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has
allowed the airbag to be enabled, the ON
indicator will light and stay lit as a reminder
that the airbag is active.