
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Introduction 3
9:Dispose of Used Components Properly
P:Do Not Apply High Pressure Water
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
g: First Responder
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
H: Flammable
[:Forward Collision Alert
R:Fuse Block Cover Lock Location
+:Fuses
_:High Voltage
j:ISOFIX/LATCH System Child Restraints
Q:Keep Fuse Block Covers Properly
Installed
|: Lane Change Alert
@:Lane Departure Warning
A:Lane Keep Assist
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
X:Park Assist
~:Pedestrian Ahead Indicator
O:Power
7:Rear Cross Traffic Alert
I:Registered Technician
/:Remote Vehicle Start
h:Risk of Electrical Fire
>:Seat Belt Reminders
I:Side Blind Zone Alert
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC)
a: Under Pressure
V: Vehicle Ahead Indicator

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
170 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 171
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . 185
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 190
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 191
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 192
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 202
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . 211 Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . 213
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 216
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 232

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
172 Driving and Operating
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious—or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is
being driven, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the engine
stops, there will be some power brake assist
but it will be used when the brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
178 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. Driving through flowing water
could cause the vehicle to be carried
away. If this happens, you and other
vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive through
flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build
up under the vehicle's tires so they actually
ride on the water. This can happen if the
road is wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow
down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather
driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment in
good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir
filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread depth.
SeeTires 0266.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains
is different than driving on flat or rolling
terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in good
shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going down
steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle on a
long downhill slope can cause brake
overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a loss of
braking. Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the brakes
on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. This can
cause overheating of the brakes and loss
of steering assist. Always have the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep the vehicle in
its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross
the center line.
.Be alert on top of hills; something could
be in your lane (e.g., stalled car, crash).
.Pay attention to special road signs (e.g.,
falling rocks area, winding roads, long
grades, passing or no-passing zones) and
take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the road
creates less traction or grip, so drive
carefully. Wet ice can occur at about 0 °C
(32 °F) when freezing rain begins to fall.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
210 Driving and Operating
1. View Displayed by the Camera
2. Corners of the Rear Bumper
Displayed images may be farther or closer
than they appear. The area displayed is
limited and objects that are close to either
corner of the bumper or under the bumper
do not display.
A warning triangle may appear on the
infotainment display to show the RPA or
RCTA has detected an object. This triangle
changes from amber to red and increases in
size the closer the object.
{Warning
The camera(s) do not display children,
pedestrians, bicyclists, crossing traffic,
animals, or any other object outside of
the cameras’field of view, below the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
bumper, or under the vehicle. Shown
distances may be different from actual
distances. Do not drive or park the
vehicle using only these camera(s).
Always check behind and around the
vehicle before driving. Failure to use
proper care may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage.
Hitch Guidance
If equipped, this feature displays a single,
centered guideline on the camera display to
assist with aligning a vehicle’s hitch ball
with a trailer coupler. Select the trailer
guidance line button, then align the trailer
guidance line over the trailer coupler.
Continuously steer the vehicle to keep the
guidance line centered on the coupler when
backing. RVC Park Assist overlays will not
display when the trailer guidance line is
active. Hitch Guidance is only available in
Standard View.
To check the trailer when in a forward gear
above 12 km/h (8 mph), touch CAMERA on
the infotainment display to view the rear camera. Touch X to exit the view or it will
be removed automatically after
eight seconds.
{Warning
Use Hitch Guidance only to help back the
vehicle to a trailer hitch or, when
traveling above 12 km/h (8 mph), to
briefly check the status of your trailer. Do
not use for any other purpose, such as
making lane change decisions. Before
making a lane change, always check the
mirrors and glance over your shoulder.
Improper use could result in serious
injury to you or others.
Park Assist
With RPA, as the vehicle backs up at speeds
of less than 8 km/h (5 mph), the sensors on
the rear bumper may detect objects up to
2.5 m (8 ft) behind the vehicle within a zone
25 cm (10 in) high off the ground and below
bumper level. These detection distances may
be shorter during warmer or humid weather.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Driving and Operating 217
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips
{Warning
You can lose control when towing a
trailer if the correct equipment is not
used or the vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too heavy or
the trailer brakes are inadequate for the
load, the vehicle may not stop as
expected. You and others could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged, and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Pull a
trailer only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your dealer for
advice and information about towing a
trailer with the vehicle.
Driving with a Trailer
Trailering is different than just driving the
vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are important
for your safety and that of your passengers.
Read this section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
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.
See
Tow/Haul Mode 0196. If the transmission downshifts too often, a
lower gear may be selected using Manual
Mode. See
Manual Mode 0195.
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
.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

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Driving and Operating 227
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer turn
signals will illuminate to indicate the vehicle
is turning, changing lanes, or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on the
instrument cluster will illuminate even if the
trailer is not properly connected or the bulbs
are burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter Tow/Haul
Mode, seeTow/Haul Mode 0196.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75% of the
vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR). See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0220.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when towing
a heavy trailer or carrying a large or
heavy load:
.through rolling terrain.
.in stop-and-go traffic.
.in busy parking lots. Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul Mode
when lightly loaded or not towing will not
cause damage; however, it is not
recommended and may result in unpleasant
engine and transmission driving
characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Integrated Trailer Brake Control System
The vehicle may have an Integrated Trailer
Brake Control (ITBC) system for use with
electric trailer brakes or most electric over
hydraulic trailer brake systems. These
instructions apply to both types of electric
trailer brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake Control
Panel on vehicles with an ITBC system. The
power output to the trailer brakes is
proportional to the amount of vehicle
braking. This available power output to the
trailer brakes can be adjusted to a wide
range of trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with the
vehicle’s brake, antilock brake, and
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
systems. In trailering conditions that cause
the vehicle’s antilock brake or StabiliTrak/
ESC systems to activate, power sent to the
trailer's brakes will be automatically
adjusted to minimize trailer wheel lock-up.
This does not imply that the trailer has
StabiliTrak/ESC.
If the vehicle’s brake, anti-lock brake,
or StabiliTrak/ESC systems are not
functioning properly, the ITBC system may
not function fully or at all. Make sure all of
these systems are fully operational to allow
the ITBC system to function properly.
The ITBC system is powered through the
vehicle's electrical system. Turning the
ignition off will also turn off the ITBC
system. The ITBC system is fully functional
only when the ignition is in ON/RUN.
{Warning
Connecting a trailer that has an air brake
system may result in reduced or
complete loss of trailer braking, including
increased stopping distance or trailer
instability which could result in serious
(Continued)

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Index 355
Seats (cont'd)Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Underseat Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Securing Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 69
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 234
Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . 309
Parts Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Servicing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Sidemarker
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Special Application Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Start Assist, Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Stoplamps and Back-Up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Storage Areas Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Underseat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Struts
Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Sunglass Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
System Forward Collision Alert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Global Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Systems Driver Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
TaillampsBulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Teen Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
All-Terrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267