
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 257
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with and follow all state
and local laws that apply to trailer
towing. These requirements vary from
state to state.
.State laws may require the use of
extended side view mirrors. Even if not
required, you should install extended side
view mirrors if your visibility is limited or
restricted while towing.
.Do not tow a trailer during the first
800 km (500 mi) of vehicle use to prevent
damage to the engine, axle, or other
parts.
.It is recommended to perform the first oil
change before heavy towing.
.During the first 800 km (500 mi) of trailer
towing, do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts at full
throttle.
.Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Tow/Haul
Mode is recommended for heavier trailers.
SeeTow/Haul Mode 0224. If the
transmission downshifts too often, a
lower gear may be selected using Manual
Mode. See Manual Mode 0223. 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.
.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 0219.
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 be all be rated to carry the
intended cargo. Inadequate trailer
equipment can cause the combination to
operate in an unexpected or unsafe manner.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Vehicle Care 339
.Use only approved cleaning solutions for
aluminum, chrome, or stainless steel.
Some cleaners are highly acidic or contain
alkaline substances and can damage the
moldings.
.Always dilute a concentrated cleaner
according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.
.Do not use cleaners that are not intended
for automotive use.
.Use a nonabrasive wax on the vehicle
after washing to protect and extend the
molding finish.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses,
Emblems, Decals, and Stripes
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft
cloth, and a car washing soap to clean
exterior lamps, lenses, emblems, decals, and
stripes. Follow instructions under "Washing
the Vehicle" previously in this section.
Lamp covers are made of plastic, and some
have a UV protective coating. Do not clean
or wipe them when dry.
Do not use any of the following on lamp
covers:
.Abrasive or caustic agents.
.Washer fluids and other cleaning agents
in higher concentrations than suggested
by the manufacturer.
.Solvents, alcohols, fuels, or other harsh
cleaners.
.Ice scrapers or other hard items.
.Aftermarket appearance caps or covers
while the lamps are illuminated, due to
excessive heat generated.
Caution
Failure to clean lamps properly can cause
damage to the lamp cover that would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Using wax on low gloss black finish
stripes can increase the gloss level and
create a non-uniform finish. Clean low
gloss stripes with soap and water only.
Air Intakes
Clear debris from the air intakes, between
the hood and windshield, when washing the
vehicle.
Shutter System
The vehicle may have a shutter system
designed to help improve fuel economy.
Keep the shutter system clear of debris,
snow and ice. If the check engine light is
activated, please check to see if the shutter
system is clear of debris, snow or ice.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield with
glass cleaner.
Clean rubber blades using a lint-free cloth or
paper towel soaked with windshield washer
fluid or a mild detergent. Wash the
windshield thoroughly when cleaning the

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
388 Index
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . 66
InformationPublication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97, 100
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 138
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . 332
K
Keyless Entry Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Lamps Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . 132
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . 137
Malfunction Indicator (CheckEngine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Lamps (cont'd)
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
LATCH System Replacing Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 78
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Antilock Brake System (ABS)Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Lights (cont'd)
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Gear Shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Hill Descent Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 109
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18