GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16402009) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
42 Seats and Restraints
Obstructions
If something has blocked the seat while
recalling a memory position, the recall may
stop. Remove the obstruction and try the
recall again. If the memory position still
does not recall, see your dealer.
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats
{Warning
If temperature change or pain to the skin
cannot be felt, the seat heater may cause
burns. To reduce the risk of burns, use
care when using the seat heater,
especially for long periods of time. Do
not place anything on the seat that
insulates against heat, such as a blanket,
cushion, cover, or similar item. This may
cause the seat heater to overheat. An
overheated seat heater may cause a burn
or may damage the seat.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 or
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16402009) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
Seats and Restraints 45
3. Push and pull on the seatback and seatcushion to make sure they are locked in
place.
4. Check that the seat belt is not under the seat cushion.
Reclining the Seatbacks
To recline the seatbacks:
1. Leaning rearward in the seat, pull the
reclining seatback handle.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, and then release the handle to
lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
Folding the Seatbacks
To fold the second row seatbacks:
1. Remove anything on or under the seat.
2. Fold the head restraint rearward. See Head Restraints 035.
3. Pull forward on the reclining seatback handle.
To return the seatback to the seating
position, lift the seatback and push it
rearward until it locks into place. Push and
pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked. Push on the head restraint to return
it to the upright, locked position.
The second row seatbacks can also be folded
forward by pulling the levers on the driver
side of the rear cargo area. The top lever
folds the driver side seatback and the
bottom lever folds the passenger side
seatback.
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 042.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16402009) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
Seats and Restraints 61
frontal airbag, depending upon the person's
seating posture and body build. Everyone in
the vehicle who has outgrown child
restraints should wear a seat belt
properly—whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever comes
on and stays on, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag
system. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness Light 0104
for more information, including important
safety information.
If the On Indicator Is Lit for a Child
Restraint
The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag if the system determines that
an infant is present in a child restraint. If a
child restraint has been installed and the ON
indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle. 3. Remove any additional items from the
seat such as blankets, cushions, seat
covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and refer to Securing Child
Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear
Seat) 078 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat
Belt in the Front Seat) 080.
Make sure the seat belt retractor is
locked by pulling the shoulder belt all
the way out of the retractor when
installing the child restraint, even if the
child restraint is equipped with a seat
belt lock off. When the retractor lock is
set, the belt can be tightened but not
pulled out of the retractor.
5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the ON
indicator is still lit, turn the vehicle off.
Then slightly recline the vehicle seatback
and adjust the seat cushion,
if adjustable, to make sure that the
vehicle seatback is not pushing the child
restraint into the seat cushion. Also make sure the child restraint is not
trapped under the vehicle head restraint.
If this happens, adjust the head restraint.
See
Head Restraints 035.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system may or may
not turn off the airbag for a child in a child
restraint depending upon the child’s size.
It is better to secure the child restraint in a
rear seat. Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front seat, even if the ON
indicator is not lit.
If the Off Indicator Is Lit for an
Adult-Sized Occupant
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16402009) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
62 Seats and Restraints
If a person of adult size is sitting in the
front outboard passenger seat, but the OFF
indicator is lit, it could be because that
person is not sitting properly in the seat or
that the child restraint locking feature is
engaged. Use the following steps to allow
the system to detect that person and enable
the front outboard passenger frontal airbag:1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional material from the seat, such as blankets, cushions, seat
covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with legs
comfortably extended.
5. If the shoulder portion of the belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint
locking feature will be engaged. This
may unintentionally cause the passenger
sensing system to turn the airbag off for
some adult-sized occupants. If this
happens, unbuckle the belt, let the belt
go back all the way, and then buckle the
belt again without pulling the belt out
all the way. 6. Restart the vehicle and have the person
remain in this position for two to
three minutes after the ON indicator
is lit.
{Warning
If the front outboard passenger airbag is
turned off for an adult-sized occupant,
the airbag will not be able to inflate and
help protect that person in a crash,
resulting in an increased risk of serious
injury or even death. An adult-sized
occupant should not ride in the front
outboard passenger seat, if the passenger
airbag OFF indicator is lit.
Additional Factors Affecting System
Operation
Seat belts help keep the passenger in
position on the seat during vehicle
maneuvers and braking, which helps the
passenger sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See “Seat Belts”
and “Child Restraints” in the Index for
additional information about the importance
of proper restraint use. A thick layer of additional material, such as
a blanket or cushion, or aftermarket
equipment such as seat covers, seat heaters,
and seat massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates. We
recommend that you not use seat covers or
other aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific vehicle.
See
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 063 for more
information about modifications that can
affect how the system operates.
The ON indicator may be lit if an object,
such as a briefcase, handbag, grocery bag,
laptop, or other electronic device, is put on
an unoccupied seat. If this is not desired,
remove the object from the seat.{Warning
Stowing articles under the passenger seat
or between the passenger seat cushion
and seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16402009) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
Seats and Restraints 63
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be
serviced. There are parts of the airbag
system in several places around the vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the vehicle and
the airbag system. To purchase a service
manual, seePublication Ordering
Information 0358.
{Warning
For up to 10 seconds after the vehicle is
turned off and the battery is
disconnected, an airbag can still inflate
during improper service. You can be
injured if you are close to an airbag
when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the airbag
system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to
do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the vehicle's
frame, bumper system, height, front end,
or side sheet metal may keep the airbag
system from working properly.
The operation of the airbag system can also
be affected by changing, including
improperly repairing or replacing, any parts
of the following:
.Airbag system, including airbag modules,
front or side impact sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, airbag wiring, or front
center console
.Front seats, including stitching, seams or
zippers
.Seat belts
.Steering wheel, instrument panel,
overhead console, ceiling trim, or pillar
garnish trim
.Inner door seals, including speakers
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about the location of the airbag
modules and sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module, and airbag wiring along with the
proper replacement procedures. In addition, the vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the front outboard
passenger position, which includes sensors
that are part of the passenger's seat. The
passenger sensing system may not operate
properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery, or trim,
or with GM covers, upholstery, or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any object,
such as an aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort enhancing pad or device, installed
under or on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation of the
passenger sensing system. This could either
prevent proper deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing
system from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). See
Passenger Sensing
System 059.
If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags,
see Different Size Tires and Wheels 0308
for additional important information.
If the vehicle must be modified because you
have a disability and you have questions
about whether the modifications will affect
the vehicle's airbag system, or if you have
questions about whether the airbag system
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16402009) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
188 Climate Controls
If the air delivery mode or fan speed is
manually adjusted, this cancels full
automatic operation.
Manual Operation
]:Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
airflow to the rear panel outlets.
Temperature Controls : Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the
rear passenger temperature.
Air Delivery Mode Control : Press to select
the desired air delivery mode. This changes
the direction of the airflow in the rear
seating area.
If the rear floor air delivery mode is
selected, the rear fan speed indicator will
change when adjusted, but the airflow
amount directed to the floor will not. This is
normal operation for the system.
M: If equipped, press to turn on the driver
side or passenger side rear seat heater.
Press again to lower the temperature.
Indicator lights show the level of heat
activated.
Air Vents
To adjust the center and side air outlets on
the instrument panel, use the slider switch
in the center of the outlet to change the
direction of the airflow and also to shut off
the airflow.
There may be outlets overhead in the rear
passenger area; adjust as needed.
Keep all outlets open whenever possible for
best system performance.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from
the air inlets at the base of the
windshield that can block the flow of air
into the vehicle.
.Clear snow off the hood to improve
visibility and help decrease moisture
drawn into the vehicle.
.Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors
can adversely affect the performance of
the system.
.Keep the path under all seats clear of
objects to help circulate the air inside the
vehicle more effectively.
.If fogging reoccurs while inYor\
modes with mild temperature throughout
the vehicle, turn on the air conditioner to
reduce windshield fogging.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The passenger compartment air filter
reduces dust, pollen, and other airborne
irritants from outside air that is pulled into
the vehicle. The filter will need to be
replaced periodically. See Maintenance
Schedule 0339.
Using the climate control system without an
air filter installed is not recommended.
Water or other debris could enter the
system and result in leaks or noises. Always
install a new filter when removing the old
filter.
For more information on filter replacement,
see your dealer.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood that
identifies the refrigerant used in the vehicle.
The refrigerant system should only be
serviced by trained and certified technicians.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16402009) - 2023 - CRC - 3/29/22
190 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 191
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . 208
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 210
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 211
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . 223
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Assistance Systems for Parking or
Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 237
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . 249
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . 249
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16402009) - 2023 - CRC - 3/29/22
Driving and Operating 207
.The driver door has been opened or driver
seat belt has been unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached the maximum
allowed time.
Auto Stop/Start Disable Switch
The automatic engine Stop/Start feature can
be disabled and enabled by pressing
h.
Auto Stop/Start is enabled each time you
start the vehicle.
When the
hindicator is illuminated, the
system is enabled.
Engine Heater
The engine heater can provide easier
starting and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up in cold weather conditions
at or below −18 °C (0 °F). Vehicles with an
engine heater should be plugged in at least
four hours before starting. An internal
thermostat in the plug-end of the cord may
exist, which will prevent engine heater
operation at temperatures above
−18 °C (0 °F).
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block heater
while the vehicle is parked in a garage or
under a carport. Property damage or
personal injury may result. Always park
the vehicle in a clear open area away
from buildings or structures.
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Check the heater cord for damage. If it is damaged, do not use it. See your dealer
for a replacement. Inspect the cord for
damage yearly.
Base model shown