GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - CRC - 5/18/21
2 Introduction
Helm, Incorporated
Attention: Customer Service
47911 Halyard Drive
Plymouth, MI 48170
USA
Using this Manual
To quickly locate information about the
vehicle, use the Index in the back of the
manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is
in the manual and the page number where
it can be found.
Danger, Warning, and Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle labels
and in this manual describe hazards and
what to do to avoid or reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a high
level of risk which will result in serious
injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that could
result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that could
result in property or vehicle damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a safety
symbol which means“Do not,” “Do not do
this,” or“Do not let this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that
use symbols instead of text. Symbols are
shown along with the text describing the
operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gauge,
or indicator.
M:Shown when the owner’s manual has
additional instructions or information.
*: Shown when the service manual has
additional instructions or information.
0: Shown when there is more information
on another page — “see page.” Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may
be found on the vehicle and what they
mean. See the features in this manual for
information.
u:
Air Conditioning System
G:Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components Properly
P:Do Not Apply High Pressure Water
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
H: Flammable
[:Forward Collision Alert
R:Fuse Block Cover Lock Location
+:Fuses
j:ISOFIX/LATCH System Child Restraints
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Seats and Restraints 37
Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Front Seats
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . 44
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . 54
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 59
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 63
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 64
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . 64
What Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Infants and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children(LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Passenger Seat) . . . . . 86
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Center Front Seat) . . . . . . . . 88
Head Restraints
The vehicle’s front seats have adjustable
head restraints in the outboard seating
positions.
{Warning
With head restraints that are not
installed and adjusted properly, there is a
greater chance that occupants will suffer
a neck/spinal injury in a crash. Do not
drive until the head restraints for all
occupants are installed and adjusted
properly.
If your vehicle has rear head restraints
that fold down, always return them to
the full upright position whenever an
occupant is seated in the seat.
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Seats and Restraints 39
To fold the head restraint, press the button
on the side of the head restraint.
The head restraint will fold forward
automatically.When an occupant or child restraint is in the
seat, always return the head restraint to the
full upright position. Push the head restraint
up and rearward until it locks into place.
Push and pull on the head restraint to make
sure that it is locked.
Third Row Seats
The vehicle’s third row seats have head
restraints in the outboard seating positions
that cannot be adjusted up or down.
The third row outboard head restraints are
not removable.
The third row outboard head restraints are
designed to be folded.
When folding the third row seatbacks down,
the head restraint will automatically fold
out of the way as the seat is folded down.
The head restraint can be folded forward to
allow for better visibility when the rear seat
is unoccupied.
To fold the head restraint, press the button
on the side of the head restraint.
The head restraint will fold forward
automatically.
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40 Seats and Restraints
When an occupant or child restraint is in the
seat, always return the head restraint to the
full upright position. Push the head restraint
up and rearward until it locks into place.
Push and pull on the head restraint to make
sure that it is locked.
Front Seats
Power Seat Adjustment
{Warning
You can lose control of the vehicle if you
try to adjust a driver seat while the
vehicle is moving. Adjust the driver seat
only when the vehicle is not moving.
{Warning
The power seats will work with the
ignition off. Children could operate the
power seats and be injured. Never leave
children alone in the vehicle.
To adjust the seat:
.Move the seat forward or rearward by
sliding the control forward or rearward.
.If equipped, raise or lower the front part
of the seat cushion by moving the front
of the control up or down.
.Raise or lower the seat by moving the
rear of the control up or down.
Lumbar Adjustment
.Press and hold the front or rear of the
control to increase or decrease lumbar
support.
.If equipped, press and hold the top or
bottom of the control to raise or lower
lumbar support.
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Seats and Restraints 45
unoccupied, the auto heated or ventilated
seats feature will not activate that seat. The
auto heated or ventilated seats feature can
be programmed to always be enabled when
the vehicle is on.
SeeVehicle Personalization 0126.
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 turn on, and when it is hot
outside the ventilated seats turn on. If the
auto heated or ventilated seats feature,
if equipped, is not turned on, the heated or
ventilated seats may be canceled when the
ignition is turned on. If necessary, 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
may turn on during a remote start.
The temperature performance of an
unoccupied seat may be reduced. This is
normal. The remote start heated or ventilated seats
may be enabled or disabled in the vehicle
personalization menu. See
Remote Vehicle
Start 014 and
Vehicle Personalization 0126.
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Reminder
If equipped, the message REAR SEAT
REMINDER LOOK IN REAR SEAT displays
under certain conditions indicating there
may be an item or passenger in the rear
seat. Check before exiting the vehicle.
This feature will activate when a second row
door is opened while the vehicle is on or up
to 10 minutes before the vehicle is turned
on. There will be an alert when the vehicle
is turned off. The alert does not directly
detect objects in the rear seat; instead,
under certain conditions, it detects when a
rear door is opened and closed, indicating
that there may be something in the
rear seat.
The feature is active only once each time
the vehicle is turned on and off, and will
require reactivation by opening and closing
the second row doors. There may be an
alert even when there is nothing in the rear seat; for example, if a child entered the
vehicle through the rear door and left the
vehicle without the vehicle being shut off.
The feature can be turned on or off. See
Vehicle Personalization
0126.
Heated Rear Seats
{Warning
If temperature change or pain to the skin
cannot be felt, the seat heater may cause
burns. See the Warning under Heated
and Ventilated Front Seats 044.
The buttons are on the rear of the center
console.
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54 Seats and Restraints
Warning (Continued)
injured or killed. Do not allow passengers
to ride in any area of the vehicle that is
not equipped with seats and seat belts.
Always wear a seat belt, and check that
all passenger(s) are restrained
properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to
buckle the seat belts. See Seat Belt
Reminders 0109.
Why Seat Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel as fast
as the vehicle does. If the vehicle stops
suddenly, you keep going until something
stops you. It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the seat belts!
When you wear a seat belt, you and the
vehicle slow down together. There is more
time to stop because you stop over a longer
distance and, when worn properly, your
strongest bones take the forces from the
seat belts. That is why wearing seat belts
makes such good sense.
Questions and Answers About Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a
crash if I am wearing a seat belt?
A: You could be— whether you are
wearing a seat belt or not. Your chance
of being conscious during and after a
crash, so you canunbuckle and get out,
is much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear seat belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems only.
They work withseat belts —not instead
of them. Whether or not an airbag is
provided, all occupants still have to
buckle up to get the most protection. Also, in nearly all states and in all
Canadian provinces, the law requires
wearing seat belts.
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's protection.
There are additional things to know about
seat belts and children, including smaller
children and infants. If a child will be riding
in the vehicle, see
Older Children071 or
Infants and Young Children 072. Review and
follow the rules for children in addition to
the following rules.
It is very important for all occupants to
buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted
people are hurt more often in crashes than
those who are wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know about
wearing a seat belt properly.
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Seats and Restraints 57
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you
pull the belt across you very quickly.
If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a passenger
belt is pulled out all the way, the child
restraint locking feature may be
engaged. SeeChild Restraint Systems
0 74. If this occurs, let the belt go back
all the way and start again. If the
locking feature stays engaged after
letting the belt go back to stowed
position on the seat, move the seat
rearward or recline the seat until the
shoulder belt retractor lock releases.
Engaging the child restraint locking
feature in the front outboard seating
position may affect the passenger
sensing system. See Passenger Sensing
System 066.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until
it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
it is secure.
If the belt is not long enough, see Seat
Belt Extender 059.
Position the release button on the buckle
so that the seat belt could be quickly
unbuckled if necessary.
4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the height that is
right for you. See “Shoulder Belt Height
Adjuster” in this section for instructions
on use and important safety information.5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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58 Seats and Restraints
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the
buckle. The belt should return to its stowed
position.
Always stow the seat belt slowly. If the seat
belt webbing returns quickly to the stowed
position, the retractor may lock and cannot
be pulled out. If this happens, pull the seat
belt straight out firmly to unlock the
webbing, and then release it. If the webbing
is still locked in the retractor, see your
dealer.
Before a door is closed, be sure the seat belt
is out of the way. If a door is slammed
against a seat belt, damage can occur to
both the seat belt and the vehicle.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a shoulder belt height
adjuster for the driver and front outboard
passenger positions.
Adjust the height so the shoulder portion of
the belt is on the shoulder and not falling
off of it. The belt should be close to, but not
contacting, the neck. Improper shoulder belt
height adjustment could reduce the
effectiveness of the seat belt in a crash. See
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly054.
Push the release button to move the height
adjuster to the desired position.
After the adjuster is set to the desired
position, try to move it down without
pushing the release button to make sure it
has locked into position.
Seat Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has seat belt pretensioners for
the front outboard occupants.
Although the seat belt pretensioners cannot
be seen, they are part of the seat belt
assembly. They can help tighten the seat
belts during the early stages of a moderate
to severe frontal or near frontal crash if the
threshold conditions for pretensioner
activation are met. Seat belt pretensioners can also help tighten
the seat belts in a side crash or rollover
event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners activate in a crash, the
pretensioners and probably other parts of
the vehicle's seat belt system will need to
be replaced. See
Replacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash 060.
Do not sit on the outboard seat belt while
entering or exiting the vehicle or at any
time while sitting in the seat. Sitting on the
seat belt can damage the webbing and
hardware.
Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides
Rear seat belt comfort guides may provide
added seat belt comfort for older children
who have outgrown booster seats and for
some adults. When installed on a shoulder
belt, the comfort guide positions the
shoulder belt away from the neck and head.
Comfort guides are available through your
dealer for the rear outboard seating
positions. Instructions are included with the
comfort guides.