GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
34 Seats and Restraints
Questions and Answers About Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after acrash 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.
Buckle To Drive
If equipped, this feature delays the vehicle
from shifting out of P (Park) when the driver
seat belt is not buckled. The Buckle to Drive
feature must be turned ON in the
infotainment system to work. To turn the
Buckle to Drive feature on or off, select
Settings > Vehicle > Buckle to Drive. See
Teen Driver 0137, if equipped. If the vehicle is on and the brake pedal is
pressed with the vehicle in P (Park) but the
driver seat belt is not buckled, a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) and the vehicle will be delayed
from shifting out of P (Park). Buckle the
driver seat belt to clear the message and
shift out of P (Park). Shifting from P (Park)
will be delayed once for each time the
vehicle is started.
For some fleet vehicles, the feature is
always ON and cannot be turned OFF in the
infotainment system. The vehicle will be
delayed from shifting from P (Park) each
time the driver attempts to do so while the
driver seat belt is not buckled. Turning the
vehicle off then on will not change this
condition.
On some models, Buckle to Drive may also
delay shifting out of P (Park) if a front
passenger seat belt is unbuckled. A message
displays in the DIC. Buckle the front
passenger seat belt to shift out of P (Park).
This feature may delay the vehicle from
shifting out of P (Park) if an object, such as
a briefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop,
or other electronic device, is on the front
passenger seat. If this happens, remove the
object from the seat or buckle the seat belt
to shift out of P (Park).
If the driver, or on some vehicles, the
present front passenger remains unbuckled,
the DIC message will turn off after several
seconds and the vehicle can be shifted out
of P (Park). See
“Seat Belts”and“Child
Restraints” in the Index for information
about the importance of proper
restraint use.
If the driver seat belt or the front passenger
seat belt is unbuckled when driving, the seat
belt reminder chime and light(s) will come
on. See Seat Belt Reminders 087. This
feature may not function properly if the
airbag readiness light is on. See Airbag
Readiness Light 088.
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 Children051 or
Infants and Young Children 052. Review and
follow the rules for children in addition to
the following rules.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Seats and Restraints 37
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the beltacross you. Do not let it get twisted.
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. See Child Restraint Systems
0 54. 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.
If the webbing locks in the latch plate
before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch
plate flat to unlock.
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 039.
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” later in this section for
instructions on use and important safety
information.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Seats and Restraints 39
Push up on the release button and 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, near
frontal, or rear 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 a
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. SeeReplacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash 040. 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
guides.
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy
Seat belts work for everyone, including
pregnant women. Like all occupants, they
are more likely to be seriously injured if
they do not wear seat belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a
lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should
be worn as low as possible, below the
rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to
protect the mother. When a seat belt is
worn properly, it is more likely that the
fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to
making seat belts effective is wearing them
properly.
Seat Belt Extender
If the vehicle's seat belt will fasten around
you, you should use it.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
40 Seats and Restraints
But if a seat belt is not long enough, your
dealer will order you an extender. Only a
GM dealer issued extender should be used.
When you go in to order it, take the
heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender
will be long enough for you. To help avoid
personal injury, do not let someone else use
it, and use it only for the seat it is made to
fit. The extender has been designed for
adults. Never use it for securing child
restraints. For more information on the
proper use and fit of seat belt extenders see
the instruction sheet that comes with the
extender.
Safety System Check
Periodically check the seat belt reminder,
seat belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors,
shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped),
and seat belt anchorages to make sure they
are all in working order. Look for any other
loose or damaged seat belt system parts
that might keep a seat belt system from
performing properly. See your dealer to
have it repaired. Torn, frayed, or twisted
seat belts may not protect you in a crash.
Torn or frayed seat belts can rip apart under
impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed,
have it replaced immediately. If a belt is
twisted, it may be possible to untwist byreversing the latch plate on the webbing.
If the twist cannot be corrected, ask your
dealer to fix it.
Make sure the seat belt reminder light is
working. See
Seat Belt Reminders 087.
Keep seat belts clean and dry. See Seat Belt
Care 040.
Seat Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
Seat belts should be properly cared for and
maintained.
Seat belt hardware should be kept dry and
free of dust or debris. As necessary, exterior
hard surfaces and seat belt webbing may be
lightly cleaned with mild soap and water.
Ensure there is not excessive dust or debris
in the mechanism. If dust or debris exists in
the system please see the dealer. Parts may
need to be replaced to ensure proper
functionality of the system.
{Warning
Do not bleach or dye seat belt webbing.
It may severely weaken the webbing. In
a crash, they might not be able to
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
provide adequate protection. Clean and
rinse seat belt webbing only with mild
soap and lukewarm water. Allow the
webbing to dry.
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts
after a Crash
{Warning
A crash can damage the seat belt system
in the vehicle. A damaged seat belt
system may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in serious injury
or even death in a crash. To help make
sure the seat belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
After a minor crash, replacement of seat
belts may not be necessary. But the seat
belt assemblies that were used during any
crash may have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the seat belt
assemblies inspected or replaced.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
42 Seats and Restraints
Warning (Continued)
crash. Always wear a seat belt, even with
airbags. The driver should sit as far back
as possible while still maintaining control
of the vehicle. The seat belts and the
front outboard passenger airbags are
most effective when you are sitting well
back and upright in the seat with both
feet on the floor.
Occupants should not lean on or sleep
against the door or side windows in
seating positions with seat-mounted side
impact airbags and/or roof-rail airbags.
{Warning
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any airbag when it inflates can
be seriously injured or killed. Always
secure children properly in the vehicle. To
read how, seeOlder Children 051 or
Infants and Young Children 052.
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument cluster, which shows the airbag
symbol. The system checks the airbag
electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem.
See Airbag Readiness Light 088.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the center of
the steering wheel.
The front outboard passenger frontal airbag
is in the passenger side instrument panel.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger Side Similar
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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46 Seats and Restraints
United States
Canada
The words ON and OFF, or the symbols for
on and off, will be visible during the system
check. When the system check is complete,
either the word ON or OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, will be visible. See Passenger
Airbag Status Indicator 088.
The passenger sensing system turns off the
front outboard passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions. No other airbag is
affected by the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with
sensors that are part of the front outboard
passenger seat and seat belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a
properly seated occupant and determine if
the front outboard passenger frontal airbag
should be allowed to inflate or not.
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly secured in a rear seat
in the correct child restraint for their weight
and size.
Whenever possible, children aged 12 and
under should be secured in a rear seating
position.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in the
front. This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag
inflates.
{Warning
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the
passenger frontal airbag inflates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inflating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger
frontal airbag inflates and the passenger
seat is in a forward position.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing system has
turned off the passenger frontal airbag,
no system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though the airbag is turned off.
Never put a rear-facing child restraint in
the front seat, even if the airbag is off.
If securing a forward-facing child restraint
in the front outboard passenger seat,
always move the seat as far back as it
will go. It is better to secure child
restraints in the rear seat. Consider using
another vehicle to transport the child
when a rear seat is not available.
The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag if:
.The front outboard passenger seat is
unoccupied.
.The system determines an infant is
present in a child restraint.
.A front outboard passenger takes his/her
weight off of the seat for a period
of time.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Seats and Restraints 47
.There is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, the OFF indicator will light
and stay lit as a reminder that the airbag is
off. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
0 88.
The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn on the front outboard passenger frontal
airbag anytime the system senses that a
person of adult size is sitting properly in the
front outboard passenger seat. When the
passenger sensing system has allowed the
airbag to be enabled, the ON indicator will
light and stay lit as a reminder that the
airbag is active.
For some children, including children in
child restraints, and for very small adults,
the passenger sensing system may or may
not turn off the front outboard passenger
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 088
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
Front Seat) 067 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat
Belt in the Rear Seat) 065.
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 024.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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48 Seats and Restraints
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
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