
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
204 Driving and Operating
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily
throw you out of position. This could
cause you to lose control and crash. You
and your passengers should always wear
seat belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenance and
service work completed.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels, and check
inflation pressure in all tires, including the
spare, if equipped.
.Read all the information about AWD
vehicles in this manual.
.Make sure all underbody shields,
if equipped, are properly attached.
.Know the local laws that apply to off-road
driving.
To gain more ground clearance if needed, it
may be necessary to remove the front fascia
lower air dam. However, driving without the
air dam reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for extended
periods without the front fascia lower air
dam installed can cause improper airflow
to the engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.
Loading the Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
{Warning
.Unsecured cargo on the load floor can
be tossed about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your passengers
can be struck by flying objects. Secure
the cargo properly.
.Keep cargo in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible. The
heaviest things should be on the floor,
forward of the rear axle.
.Heavy loads on the roof raise the
vehicle's center of gravity, making it
more likely to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if the
vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
For more information about loading the
vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits 0209.
Environmental Concerns
.Always use established trails, roads, and
areas that have been set aside for public
off-road recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations.
.Do not damage shrubs, flowers, trees,
or grasses or disturb wildlife.
.Do not park over things that burn. See
Parking over Things That Burn 0219.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of what the
vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep for any
vehicle. Driving up hills can cause the
vehicle to stall. Driving down hills can
cause loss of control. Driving across hills
can cause a rollover. You could be injured
or killed. Do not drive on steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and obstructions. If the
terrain ahead cannot be seen, get out of the
vehicle and walk the hill before driving
further.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 217
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord or an
extension cord can damage the cord and
may result in overheating and fire.
.Plug the cord into a three-prong
electrical utility receptacle that is
protected by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded outlet could
cause an electric shock.
.Use a weatherproof, heavy-duty,
15 amp-rated extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the recommended
extension cord in good operating
condition, or using a damaged heater
or extension cord, could make it
overheat and cause a fire, property
damage, electric shock, and injury.
.Do not operate the vehicle with the
heater cord permanently attached to
the vehicle. Possible heater cord and
thermostat damage could occur.
.While in use, do not let the heater
cord touch vehicle parts or sharp
edges.
.Before starting the vehicle, unplug the
cord. Keep the cord away from any
moving parts.6. Before starting the engine, be sure to
unplug and store the cord.
7. Install the engine heater connector cover.
The length of time the heater should remain
plugged in depends on several factors. Ask a
dealer in the area where you will be parking
the vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on to off,
the following features (if equipped) will
continue to function for up to 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the ignition is
in RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any door
is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this functionality will
be lost when any door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
Shifting Into Park
{Warning
It can be dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the vehicle is not in P (Park)
with the parking brake set. The vehicle
can roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0256.
To shift into P (Park): 1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0 224.
2. Press the P (Park) switch on the center console.
3. Press ENGINE START/STOP to turn the engine off.
If the vehicle is shifted into P (Park) on a
hill, the electric parking brake (EPB) may
apply automatically. The driver may not be

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 239
Driving in Narrow Lanes
Vehicles in adjacent traffic lanes or roadside
objects may be incorrectly detected when
located along the roadway.
Do Not Use ACC on Hills and When Towing a
Trailer
Do not use ACC when driving on steep hills
or when towing a trailer. ACC will not detect
a vehicle in the lane while driving on steep
hills. The driver will often need to take over
acceleration and braking on steep hills,
especially when towing a trailer. If the
brakes are applied, the ACC disengages.
Disengaging ACC
There are three ways to disengage ACC:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.PressJ.Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased from
memory if
Jis pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Weather Conditions Affecting ACC
System operation may be limited under
snow, heavy rain, or road spray conditions.
Accessory Installations and Vehicle
Modifications
Do not install or place any object around
the front camera windshield area that would
obstruct the front camera view.
Do not install objects on top of the vehicle
that overhang and obstruct the front
camera, such as a canoe, kayak, or other
items that can be transported on a roof rack
system. See Roof Rack System 088.
Do not modify the hood, headlamps, or fog
lamps, as this may limit the camera’s ability
to detect an object.
Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the windshield behind
the rearview mirror and the radar sensors
on the front of the vehicle can become blocked by snow, ice, dirt, or mud. These
areas need to be cleaned for ACC to operate
properly.
For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the
Vehicle” underExterior Care 0337.
System operation may also be limited under
snow, heavy rain, or road spray conditions.
Driver Assistance Systems
This vehicle may have features that work
together to help avoid crashes or reduce
crash damage while driving, backing, and
parking. Read this entire section before
using these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver Assistance
Systems. These systems do not replace
the need for paying attention and driving
safely. You may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by these systems.
Failure to use proper care when driving
may result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. See Defensive Driving 0201.
(Continued)

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Vehicle Care 297
The vehicle may not be equipped with all of
the fuses, relays, and features shown.Fuses Usage
F1 Body control module 6
F2 Diagnostic link/Central gateway module
F3 Electric steering column lock
F4 –
F5 Logistics
F6 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
F7 Body control module 3
F8 Park aid/Electronic range select hybrid
F9 Front passenger heated seat
F10 Airbag/Seat belt F11 –
F12 Amplifier
F13 Body control module 7
F14 Driver heated seat F15 Instrument panel switch bank
F16 Sunroof Fuses Usage
F17 Body control module 1
F18 Instrument cluster/Head up display
F19 –
F20 Rear seat entertainment F21 Body control module 4
F22 Infotainment USB data/ Aux jack
F23 Body control module 2
F24 USB charger/Wireless charging
F25 Park aid/Electronic transmission range
system
F26 CIM F27 Video/Night vision module
F28 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
display
F29 Radio
F30 Steering wheel adjustment controls

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Service and Maintenance 347
Air Conditioning Desiccant (Replace Every
Seven Years)
The air conditioning system requires
maintenance every seven years. This service
requires replacement of the desiccant to
help the longevity and efficient operation of
the air conditioning system. This service can
be complex. See your dealer.
Tire Rotation and Required Services
Every 12 000 km (7,500 mi)
Rotate the tires, if recommended for the
vehicle, and perform the following services.
SeeTire Rotation 0313.
.Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed, change engine
oil and filter, and reset oil life system.
See Engine Oil 0276 and
Engine Oil Life System 0278.
.Check the air filter life percentage.
If necessary, replace the engine air filter
and reset the engine air filter life system.
See Engine Air Filter Life System 0279.
.Check engine coolant level. See Cooling
System 0281.
.Check windshield washer fluid level. See
Washer Fluid 0286.
.Check tire inflation pressures. See Tire
Pressure 0307.
.Inspect tire wear. See Tire Inspection
0 313.
.Visually check for fluid leaks.
.Inspect brake system. See Exterior Care
0 337.
.Visually inspect steering, suspension, and
chassis components for damage, including
cracks or tears in the rubber boots, loose
or missing parts, or signs of wear at least
once a year. See Exterior Care0337.
.Inspect power steering for proper
electrical connections, binding, cracks,
chafing, etc.
.Visually inspect halfshafts and driveshafts
for excessive wear, lubricant leaks, and/or
damage including: tube dents or cracks,
constant velocity joint or universal joint
looseness, cracked or missing boots, loose
or missing boot clamps, center bearing
excessive looseness, loose or missing
fasteners, and axle seal leaks.
.Check restraint system components. See
Safety System Check 053.
.Visually inspect fuel system for damage
or leaks.
.Visually inspect exhaust system and
nearby heat shields for loose or damaged
parts.
.Lubricate body components. See Exterior
Care 0337.
.Check parking brake and automatic
transmission park mechanism. See Park
Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check
0 289.
.Check accelerator pedal for damage, high
effort, or binding. Replace if needed.
.Visually inspect gas strut for signs of
wear, cracks, or other damage. Check the
hold open ability of the strut. If the hold
open ability is low, service the gas strut.
See Gas Strut(s) 0291.
.Check tire sealant expiration date,
if equipped. See Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit 0320.
.Inspect sunroof track and seal,
if equipped. See Sunroof033.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Index 391
Replacement PartsAirbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Replacing LATCH System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after
a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Restraints Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . 217
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Roads Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . 220S
Safety Defects Reporting Canadian Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Sealant Kit, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . 48
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Seats
Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Heated and Ventilated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Heated, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Seats (cont'd)
Third Row Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Securing Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78, 80
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 268
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . 345
Parts Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . 109
Services
Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Servicing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
392 Index
Spare TireCompact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Special Application Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Start Assist, Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Storage Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Storage Areas Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Cargo Management System . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Struts Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Sunglass Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
System Engine Air Filter Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Global Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Roof Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Systems Driver Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Teen Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Third-Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
All-Terrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Compact Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307, 308
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Sealant and Compressor Kit,
Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 316
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 318
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . 314
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224