
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Instruments and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Service and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Customer Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Introduction
The names, logos, emblems, slogans, vehicle
model names, and vehicle body designs
appearing in this manual including, but not
limited to, GM, the GM logo, GMC, the GMC
Truck Emblem, ACADIA, and DENALI are
trademarks and/or service marks of General
Motors LLC, its subsidiaries, affiliates,
or licensors.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute
the name“General Motors of Canada
Company” for GMC wherever it appears in
this manual.
This manual describes features that may or
may not be on the vehicle because of
optional equipment that was not purchased
on the vehicle, model variants, country
specifications, features/applications that may not be available in your region, or changes
subsequent to the printing of this owner’s
manual.
Refer to the purchase documentation
relating to your specific vehicle to confirm
the features.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick
reference.Canadian Vehicle Owners
A French language manual can be obtained
from your dealer, at www.helminc.com,
or from:
Propriétaires Canadiens
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide
en français auprès du concessionnaire ou à
l'adresse suivante:
Helm, Incorporated
Attention: Customer Service
47911 Halyard Drive
Plymouth, MI 48170
USA
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 84581325 B Second Printing©2020 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
22 Keys, Doors, and Windows
The hands-free feature will not work while
the liftgate is moving. To stop the liftgate
while in motion use one of the liftgate
buttons.
The hands-free feature can be customized.
SeeVehicle Personalization 0123. Choose
from the following:
On-Open and Close : The kicking motion is
activated to both open and close the
liftgate.
On-Open Only : The kicking motion is
activated to only open the liftgate.
Off : The feature is disabled.
Kick Zone To operate, move your foot in a forward
kicking motion under the left side of the
rear bumper, at the location of the projected
logo, then pull it back. Then step back. The
kick must come within 14 cm (6 in) of the
rear bumper to activate.
Caution
Splashing water may cause the liftgate to
open. Keep the RKE transmitter away
from the rear bumper detection area or
turn the liftgate mode to OFF when
cleaning or working near the rear bumper
to avoid accidental opening.
.Do not sweep your foot side to side.
.Do not keep your foot under the bumper;
the liftgate will not activate.
.Do not touch the liftgate until it has
stopped moving.
.This feature may be temporarily disabled
under some conditions. If the liftgate
does not respond to the kick, open or
close the liftgate by another method or
start the vehicle. The feature will be
re-enabled.
When closing the liftgate using this feature,
there will be a short delay. The taillamps
will flash and a chime will sound. Step away
from the liftgate before it starts moving.
Projected Logo
If equipped with this feature, a vehicle logo
will be projected for one minute onto the
ground near the rear bumper when an RKE
transmitter is detected within approximately
2 m (6 ft). The projected logo may not be
visible under brighter daytime conditions.
1. 1 m (3 ft) Hands-Free Operation
Detection Zone
2. 2 m (6 ft) Projected Logo Detection Zone

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Keys, Doors, and Windows 23
The projected logo shows where the kicking
motion is to take place.
The projected logo will only be available for
this RKE transmitter after it has been out of
range for at least 20 seconds.
If an RKE transmitter is again detected
within approximately 2 m (6 ft) of the
liftgate, or another hands-free operation has
been detected, the one-minute timer will be
reset.
The projected logo will not work under
these conditions:
.The vehicle battery is low.
.The transmission is not in P (Park).
.Hands Free Liftgate Control is set to Off
in vehicle personalization. SeeVehicle
Personalization 0123.
.The power liftgate is turned off.
.The vehicle remains parked for 72 hours
or more, with no RKE transmitter use or
Keyless Access operation. To re-enable,
press any button on the RKE transmitter
or open and close a vehicle door. The projected logo will not work for a single
RKE transmitter when a transmitter:
.Has been left within approximately 5 m
(15 ft) of the liftgate for several minutes.
.Has been left inside the vehicle and all
vehicle doors are closed.
.Has approached the area outside of the
liftgate five times within 10 minutes.
Lens Cleaning
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the
recessed lens.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
24 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Hands-Free Liftgate and Projected Logo Availability
ActionHands-Free Liftgate Projected Logo
RKE transmitter entering projected logo
detection zone Operative
On for one minute
RKE transmitter left inside projected logo
detection zone for minimum of 10 minutes Operative
Off until RKE transmitter button press or a
door is opened and closed
RKE transmitter brought in and out of
projected logo detection zone five times or
more within 10 minutes Operative
Off for one hour or until RKE transmitter
button press or a door is opened and closed
Vehicle remains parked for more than
72 hours Operative
Off until RKE transmitter button press or a
door is opened and closed
Vehicle battery is low Non-operative Off
Transmission is not in P (Park) Non-operative Off
Power liftgate is turned off Non-operative Off
Hands-free liftgate is disabled in vehicle per-
sonalization Non-operative
Off

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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146 Infotainment System
seconds. The radio will also display
icons representing additional channels
(HD2, ...HD8), that may be available.
When the radio successfully tunes to a
HD station, the HD logo will display and
digital audio will play.
2. Touch the display arrows to tune to the previous or next HD Radio station.
There may be a delay before the station
starts playing.
The HD Radio station number is indicated
next to the HD logo.
HD Radio stations can be saved as favorites.
For a list of all stations, see
www.hdradio.com.
HD Radio Troubleshooting
Digital Audio Delay : Wait for the signal to
process. This can take several seconds.
Volume Change, Audio Skip, Echo, Digital
Audio Lost : Station signal strength may be
weak, the station is out of range, or the
station may be out of alignment. Verify
proper reception on another station.
If the HD Radio signal weakens while
listening to HD1, the radio will automatically
switch to the analog version of the radio
station. If the HD Radio signal loses reception while
listening to stations HD2 to HD8, the radio
mutes until the signal can be recovered or
until the station is changed.
HD Radio can be disabled if driving in a
weak signal area. Touch HD Radio On/Off to
toggle HD Radio reception on and off.
Radio Data System (RDS)
If equipped, RDS features are available for
use only on FM stations that broadcast RDS
information. With RDS, the radio can:
.Group stations by Category (i.e., Program
Type) such as Rock, Jazz, Classical, etc.
.Display messages from radio stations.
This system relies on receiving specific
information from these stations and only
works when the information is available.
It is possible that a radio station could
broadcast incorrect information that causes
the radio features to work improperly. If this
happens, contact the radio station.
When information is broadcast from a RDS
station, the station name or call letters
display on the audio screen. Radio text
supporting the currently playing broadcast
may also appear.
Satellite Radio
SiriusXM Radio Service
If equipped, vehicles with a valid SiriusXM
radio subscription can receive SiriusXM
programming.
SiriusXM radio has a wide variety of
programming and commercial-free music,
coast to coast, in digital-quality sound. In
the U.S., see www.siriusxm.com or call
1-888-601-6296. In Canada, see
www.siriusxm.ca or call 1-877-438-9677.
When SiriusXM is active, the channel name,
number, song title, and artist appear on the
display.
SiriusXM with 360L
SiriusXM with 360L interface has enhanced
in-vehicle listening experience for
subscribers. The experience now offers more
categories and system learned
recommendations toward discovering more
personalized content.
To use the full SiriusXM 360L program,
including streaming content and listening
recommendations, OnStar Connected Access
is required. Connected vehicle services vary

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Infotainment System 185
HD Radio Technology
HD Radio Technology manufactured under
license from iBiquity Digital Corporation. U.S.
and Foreign Patents. For patents see
http://dts.com/patents. HD Radio and the
HD, HD Radio, and“ARC”logos are
registered trademarks or trademarks of
iBiquity Digital Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries.
Bluetooth
The Bluetooth word mark and logos are
owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any
use of such marks by General Motors is
under license. Other trademarks and trade
names are those of their respective owners.
Java
Java is a registered trademark of Oracle
and/or its affiliates.
Schedule I: Gracenote EULA
Music recognition technology and related
data are provided by Gracenote. Gracenote
is the industry standard in music recognition
technology and related content delivery. For
more information see www.gracenote.com.
Music-related data from Gracenote, Inc.,
copyright © 2000 to present Gracenote.
Gracenote Software, copyright © 2000 to
present Gracenote. One or more patents
owned by Gracenote may apply to this
product and service. See the Gracenote
website for a non-exhaustive list of
applicable Gracenote patents. Gracenote,
CDDB, MusicID, MediaVOCS, the Gracenote
logo and logotype, and the "Powered by
Gracenote" logo are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Gracenote in
the United States and/or other countries. Gracenote Terms of Use
This application or device contains software
from Gracenote, Inc. of Emeryville, California
("Gracenote"). The software from Gracenote
(the "Gracenote Software") enables this
application to do disc or file identification
and obtain music-related information,
including name, artist, track, and title
information ("Gracenote Data") from online
servers or embedded databases (collectively,
"Gracenote Servers") and to perform other
functions. You may use Gracenote Data only
by means of the intended End-User
functions of this application or device.
This application or device may contain
content belonging to Gracenote’s providers.
If so, all of the restrictions set forth herein
with respect to Gracenote Data shall also
apply to such content and such content
providers shall be entitled to all of the
benefits and protections set forth herein
that are available to Gracenote.
You agree that you will use Gracenote Data,
the Gracenote Software, and Gracenote
Servers for your own personal
non-commercial use only. You agree not to
assign, copy, transfer or transmit the
Gracenote Software or any Gracenote Data
to any third party. YOU AGREE NOT TO USE

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Driving and Operating 253
Ais green if LKA is ready to assist. LKA
may assist by gently turning the steering
wheel if the vehicle approaches a detected
lane marking.
Ais amber when
assisting. It may also provide a Lane
Departure Warning (LDW) alert by flashing
Aamber if the vehicle crosses a
detected lane marking. Additionally, there
may be three beeps on the right or left,
depending on the lane departure direction.
Take Steering
The LKA system does not continuously steer
the vehicle. If LKA does not detect active
driver steering, an alert and chime may be
provided. Steer the vehicle to dismiss. LKA
may become temporarily unavailable after
repeated take steering alerts.
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
The system performance may be
affected by:
.Close vehicles ahead.
.Sudden lighting changes, such as when
driving through tunnels.
.Banked roads.
.Roads with poor lane markings, such as
two-lane roads. If the LKA system is not functioning
properly when lane markings are clearly
visible, cleaning the windshield may help.
A camera blocked message may display if
the camera is blocked. Some driver
assistance systems may have reduced
performance or not work at all. An LKA or
LDW unavailable message may display if the
systems are temporarily unavailable. This
message could be due to a blocked camera.
The LKA system does not need service. Clean
the outside of the windshield behind the
rearview mirror.
LKA assistance and/or LDW alerts may occur
due to tar marks, shadows, cracks in the
road, temporary or construction lane
markings, or other road imperfections. This
is normal system operation; the vehicle does
not need service. Turn LKA off if these
conditions continue.
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel
GM recommends the use of TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline to keep the engine clean,
reduce engine deposits, and maintain
optimal vehicle performance. Look for the
TOP TIER Logo or see www.toptiergas.com
for a list of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
marketers and applicable countries.
Recommended Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline meeting
ASTM specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 87
—(R+M)/2 —or higher.
Do not use gasoline with a posted octane
rating of less than 87, as this may cause
engine knock and will lower fuel economy.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Vehicle Care 277
When to Add Engine Oil
2.0L L4 Turbo Engine
2.5L L4 Engine
3.6L V6 Engine
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at
the tip of the dipstick and the engine has
been off for at least 15 minutes, add 1 L
(1 qt) of the recommended oil and then recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for an
explanation of what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities
and Specifications 0359.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil levels above
or below the acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful to the
engine. If the oil level is above the
operating range (i.e., the engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper
operating range), the engine could be
damaged. Drain the excess oil or limit
driving of the vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the excess oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0271 for
the location of the engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere
in the proper operating range. Push the
dipstick all the way back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil depends on
both the proper oil specification and
viscosity grade. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0354.
Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils that meet the
dexos1 specification. Engine oils that have
been approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked with the
dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.
Caution
Failure to use the recommended engine
oil or equivalent can result in engine
damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.