2021 GMC ACADIA climate control

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
Introduction 5
1.Air Vents 0197.
2. Exterior Lamp Controls 0131.
Turn Signal Lever. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals 0134.
3. Instrument Cluster (Base and Midlevel)
097 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 0100.
4. Windshield Wiper/Washer 091.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer 092.
5. Light Sensor. See Automatic Headlamp
System 0133.
6. Infotainment. See Overview0139.
7. Dual Automatic Climate Control System
0192.
8. USB Port 0147 (If Equipped).
9. Wireless Charging 094 (If Equipped).
10. Heated and Ventilated Front Seats 041
(If Equipped).
11.
|Hazard Warning Flashers 0134.
gTraction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0226.
XPark Assist Switch. See Assistance
Systems for Parking or Backing 0241 (If
Equipped). 12.
Driver Mode Control 0228.
13.
ALane Keep Assist (LKA) 0252 (If
Equipped).
5Hill Descent Control (HDC) 0228 (If
Equipped).
14.
hAuto Stop Disable Button. See Stop/
Start System 0215 (If Equipped).
15. Power Outlets 093.
16. Shift Switches. See Automatic
Transmission 0220.
17. ENGINE START/STOP Button. See Starting
the Engine 0214.
18. Steering Wheel Controls 090 (If
Equipped).
Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons.
See Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base)
0 115 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel
and Uplevel) 0117.
19. Horn 091.
20. Steering Wheel Adjustment 090. 21.
Cruise Control 0230.
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) 0232
(If Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System
0 245 (If Equipped).
Heated Steering Wheel 090 (If
Equipped).
22. Hood Release. See Hood0270.
23. Instrument Panel Illumination Control
0135 (Out of View).
Head-Up Display (HUD) 0119 (If
Equipped).
24. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light) 0107.
25. Electric Parking Brake 0224.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
14 Keys, Doors, and Windows
The climate control system will use the
previous settings during a remote start. The
rear defog may come on during a remote
start based on cold ambient conditions. The
rear fog indicator light does not come on
during a remote start.
If the vehicle has heated or ventilated seats,
they may come on during a remote start.
SeeHeated and Ventilated Front Seats 041.
If equipped with a remote start heated
steering wheel, the heated wheel will turn
on automatically in remote start along with
the heated seats when it is cold outside. See
Heated Steering Wheel 090.
Laws in some local communities may restrict
the use of remote starters. For example,
some laws may require a person using
remote start to have the vehicle in view.
Check local regulations for any
requirements.
Do not use remote start if the vehicle is low
on fuel as it may run out of fuel.
Other conditions can affect the performance
of the transmitter. See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System 07. Starting the Engine Using Remote Start
1. Press and release
Qon the RKE
transmitter.
2. Immediately press and hold
/for at
least four seconds or until the turn
signal lamps flash. The turn signal lamps
flashing confirms the request to remote
start the vehicle has been received.
During the remote start the doors will be
locked and the parking lamps will remain
on as long as the engine is running.
The engine will shut off after 15 minutes
unless a time extension is done or the
vehicle is started.
3. With the RKE transmitter in the vehicle, press the brake pedal and start the
vehicle to drive.
Extending Engine Run Time
The engine run time can also be extended
by another 15 minutes, if during the first
15 minutes Steps 1 and 2 are repeated while
the engine is still running. An extension can
be requested 30 seconds after starting. This
provides a total of 30 minutes.
The remote start can only be extended once. When the remote start is extended, the
second 15-minute period is added on to the
first 15 minutes for a total of 30 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts, or a
remote start with an extension, are allowed
between ignition cycles.
The vehicle must be started and then turned
off before the remote start procedure can be
used again.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do any of the
following:
.Press and hold/until the parking lamps
turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Turn the vehicle on and then off.
Conditions in Which Remote Start Will
Not Work
The remote start will not operate if any of
the following occur:
.A transmitter is in the vehicle.
.The ignition is on.
.The hood is not closed.
.The hazard warning flashers are on.
.There is an emission control system
malfunction.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
18 Keys, Doors, and Windows
closed. The Open Door Anti Lock Out feature
can be turned on or off. SeeVehicle
Personalization 0123.
Safety Locks
The rear door safety locks prevent
passengers from opening the rear doors
from inside the vehicle.
Manual Safety Locks
If equipped, the safety lock is on the inside
edge of the rear doors. To use the
safety lock:
1. Move the lever down to the lock position.
2. Close the door. 3. Do the same for the other rear door.
To open a rear door when the safety lock
is on: 1. Unlock the door by activating the inside handle, by pressing the power door lock
switch, or by using the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
2. Open the door from the outside.
When the safety lock is enabled, adults and
older children will not be able to open the
rear door from the inside. Cancel the safety
locks to enable the doors to open from the
inside.
To cancel the safety lock: 1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside.
2. Move the lever up to unlock. Do the same for the other door.
Doors
Liftgate
{Warning
Exhaust gases can enter the vehicle if it
is driven with the liftgate or trunk/hatch
open, or with any objects that pass
through the seal between the body and
the trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with the
liftgate or trunk/hatch open:
.Close all of the windows.
.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
and set the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate Control Systems”
in the Index.
(Continued)

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
28 Keys, Doors, and Windows
during the resetting of the power folding
mirrors. This sound is normal after a manual
folding operation.
Remote Mirror Folding
If equipped, press and hold
Qon the RKE
transmitter for approximately one second to
automatically fold the exterior mirrors. Press
and hold
Kon the RKE transmitter for
approximately one second to unfold. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 07.
This feature is turned on or off through
vehicle personalization. See Vehicle
Personalization 0123.
Heated Mirrors
K:Press to heat the mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” underDual
Automatic Climate Control System 0192.
Automatic Dimming Mirror
If the vehicle has the automatic dimming
mirror, the driver outside mirror
automatically adjusts for the glare of
headlamps behind you.
Reverse Tilt Mirrors
If equipped with reverse tilt mirrors and
memory seats, the passenger and/or driver
mirror tilts to a preselected position when
the vehicle is in R (Reverse). This allows the
curb to be seen when parallel parking.
The mirror(s) may move from their tilted
position when:
.The vehicle is shifted out of R (Reverse),
or remains in R (Reverse) for about
30 seconds.
.The vehicle is turned off.
.The vehicle is driven in R (Reverse) above
a set speed.
To turn this feature on or off, see Vehicle
Personalization 0123.
Interior Mirrors
Interior Rearview Mirrors
Adjust the rearview mirror for a clear view
of the area behind the vehicle.
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the
mirror. Use a soft towel dampened with
water.
Manual Rearview Mirror
If equipped, push the tab forward for
daytime use and pull it rearward for
nighttime use to avoid glare of the
headlamps from behind.
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror
If equipped, automatic dimming reduces the
glare of headlamps from behind. The
dimming feature comes on when the vehicle
is started.
Rear Camera Mirror
If equipped, this automatic dimming mirror
provides a wide angle camera view of the
area behind the vehicle.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
42 Seats and Restraints
Heated and Ventilated Seat Buttons Shown,Heated Seat Buttons Similar
If equipped, the buttons are near the
climate controls on the center stack. To
operate, the engine must be running.
Press
Ior+, if available, to heat the
driver or passenger seatback only.
Press
Jorzto heat the driver or
passenger cushion and seatback.
Press
Cor{, if available, to ventilate the
driver or passenger seat. A ventilated seat
has a fan that pulls or pushes air through
the seat. The air is not cooled. When a heated seat is turned on, the
indicator on button turns red. When a
ventilated seat is turned on, the indicator on
button turns blue.
Press the button once for the highest
setting. With each press of the button, the
seat will change to the next lower setting,
and then to the off setting. The indicator
lights next to the buttons indicate three for
the highest setting and one for the lowest.
If the front heated seats are on high, the
level may automatically be lowered after
approximately 30 minutes.
The passenger seat may take longer to
heat up.
Auto Heated and Ventilated Seats
If the vehicle is equipped with auto heated
or ventilated seats, and the engine is
running, this feature will automatically
activate the heated or ventilated seats at
the level required by the vehicle's interior
temperature.
The active high, medium, low, or off heated
or ventilated seat level will be indicated by
the manual heated and ventilated seat
buttons on the center stack. Use the manual
heated and ventilated seat buttons on the
center stack to turn auto heated orventilated seats off. If the passenger seat is
unoccupied, the auto heated or ventilated
seats feature will not activate that seat. The
auto heated and ventilated seats feature can
be programmed to always be enabled when
the vehicle is on. If equipped with a heated
steering wheel, the auto heated steering
wheel activation will follow the heated seat
auto activation and the heated wheel
indicator will follow the state of the steering
wheel heat.
See
Vehicle Personalization 0123.
Remote Start Heated and Ventilated Seats
During a remote start, the heated or
ventilated seats, if equipped, can be turned
on automatically. When it is cold outside,
the heated seats will turn on followed by
the heated steering wheel, if equipped.
When it is hot outside, the ventilated seats
turn on. The heated or ventilated seats are
canceled when the ignition is turned on.
Press the heated or ventilated seat button
to use the heated or ventilated seats after
the vehicle is started.
The heated or ventilated seat indicator lights
do not turn on during a remote start.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
46 Seats and Restraints
If equipped, the buttons are on the rear of
the center console.
With the engine running, press
MorLto
heat the left or right outboard seat cushion.
On vehicles with rear climate controls, an
indicator on the climate control display
appears when this feature is on.
Press the button again to turn this feature
off. The light on the button will turn off. On
vehicles with rear climate controls, this
feature turns on at the highest setting. With
each press of the button, the heated seat
changes to the next lower setting, and then
the off setting. Three lights indicate the
highest setting, and one light indicates the lowest. If the heated seats are on high, the
level may automatically be lowered after
approximately 30 minutes.
Third Row Seats
{Warning
Using the third row seating position
while the second row is folded, or pushed
forward in the entry position, could cause
injury in a sudden stop or crash. Be sure
to return the seat to the passenger
seating position. Push and pull on the
seat to make sure it is locked into place.
Folding the Seatback
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. To fold the third row seatback:
1. Remove objects on the floor in front of or on the second row seat, or in the seat
tracks on the floor.
2. If the second row seat is in the full rear position, adjust it forward to allow the
third row seat to fold fully flat.
3. Remove anything on or under the seat.
4. Pull the strap on the seatback.
5. Push the seatback forward to lay flat.
6. Repeat for the other seatback, if necessary.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Instruments and Controls 93
information from the Global Positioning
System (GPS) antenna, StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), and vehicle speed
information.
The compass system is designed to operate
for a certain number of miles or degrees of
turn before needing a signal from the GPS
satellites. When the compass display shows
CAL, drive the vehicle for a short distance in
an open area where it can receive a GPS
signal. The compass system will
automatically determine when a GPS signal
is restored and provide a heading again.
Clock
Set the time and date using the
infotainment system. See "Time / Date"
underSettings 0174.
Power Outlets
Power Outlets 12 Volt Direct Current
The vehicle has two 12-volt outlets that can
be used to plug in electrical equipment, such
as a cell phone or MP3 player. The power outlets are located:
.On the center stack below the climate
controls.
.In the rear cargo area.
Lift the cover to access the outlet and
replace when not in use.
{Warning
Power is always supplied to the rear
cargo power outlet. Do not leave
electrical equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the vehicle
could catch fire and cause injury or
death.
Caution
Leaving electrical equipment plugged in
for an extended period of time while the
ignition is off will drain the battery.
Always unplug electrical equipment when
not in use and do not plug in equipment
that exceeds the maximum 15 amp
rating. Certain accessory plugs may not be
compatible with the accessory power outlet
and could overload vehicle and adapter
fuses. If a problem is experienced, see your
dealer.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure
to follow the proper installation instructions
included with the equipment. See
Add-On
Electrical Equipment 0266.
Caution
Hanging heavy equipment from the
power outlet can cause damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty. The
power outlets are designed for accessory
power plugs only, such as cell phone
charge cords.
Power Outlet 110V/120V Alternating
Current
If equipped with this power outlet it can be
used to plug in electrical equipment that
uses a maximum limit of 150 watts.