
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
136 Infotainment System
Buckle to Drive
This feature can prevent shifting out of Park
when the driver, and if applicable the front
passenger, seat belt is not buckled.
Climate and Air Quality
Adjusts different climate settings.
Collision/Detection Systems
Adjusts different driver assistance system
settings.
Comfort and Convenience
Adjusts different comfort and convenience
settings.
Lighting
Adjusts different lighting settings.
Power Door Locks
Adjusts different door lock settings.
Remote Lock, Unlock, and Start
Adjusts different remote lock settings.
Seating Position
Adjusts different seating position settings.
Apps and Permissions
Shows a list of installed apps and the
permissions used.
Date / Time
Allows setting of the clock.
Display
Allows adjustment of the infotainment
display.
Sounds
Allows adjustment of the infotainment
system sounds.
Profiles and Accounts
Modifies the infotainment system’s profiles
and provides access to the accounts assigned
to the currently active profile.
Privacy
This menu allows adjustment of the
infotainment privacy settings.
Storage
This menu shows the storage info on the
infotainment system.
Security
This menu allows adjustment of the
infotainment security settings.
System
The menu may contain the following:
Language
This will set the display language used on
the infotainment display.
Keyboard & speech
Touch to change keyboard and speech
settings.
Units
Touch to change units settings.
Quick Startup
This allows your infotainment system to
quickly resume its last session.
Reset Options
Touch to change reset settings.
About
Touch to view the infotainment system
software information.
Legal Information
Touch to view legal and license information.
Updates
This menu allows adjustment of the vehicle
update settings.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Driving and Operating 149
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 150
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . 167
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 172
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 173
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 174
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Locking Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) . . . . . . 196
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 215
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . 217
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . 220
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Blind Zone Steering Assist (BZSA) . . . . . . 222
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Driving and Operating 151
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 033.
.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

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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152 Driving and Operating
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.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle is equipped with an electric
power steering system, which reduces the
amount of effort needed to steer the
vehicle. It does not have power steering
fluid. Regular maintenance is not required.
If the vehicle experiences a system
malfunction and loses power steering,
greater steering effort may be required.
Power steering assist also may be reduced if
you turn the steering wheel as far as it can
turn and hold it there with force for an
extended period of time.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady speed
through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.
.Holding both sides of the steering wheel
allows you to turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while
driving. Follow these tips:1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer the
vehicle so that it straddles the edge of
the pavement.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
168 Driving and Operating
This vehicle has pushbutton starting.
The remote key must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the pushbutton
start is not working, the vehicle may be
near a strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the Keyless Access system.
SeeRemote Key Operation 07.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition must be
on or in Service Mode and the brake pedal
must be applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No Indicator
Lights) : When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP once to turn the
engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the ignition will
turn off, and Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) 0172.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the ignition
will return to accessory mode and display
the message SHIFT TO PARK in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). When the vehicle
is shifted into P (Park), the ignition will
turn off.
Do not turn the engine off when the vehicle
is moving. This will cause a loss of power
assist in the brake and steering systems and
disable the airbags. If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes repeatedly. This
may deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the vehicle is moving.
After shifting to N (Neutral), firmly apply
the brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the ignition off. The
shift lever must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition off.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0183.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while moving may
cause loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable the
airbags. While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency. If the vehicle cannot be pulled over, and
must be shut off while driving, press and
hold ENGINE START/STOP for longer than
two seconds, or press twice in five seconds.
Accessory Mode (Amber Indicator Light) :
This mode allows some electrical accessories
to be used when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the button
one time without the brake pedal applied
will place the ignition system in
accessory mode.
The ignition will switch from accessory
mode to OFF after five minutes to prevent
battery rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator Light) :
This
mode is for driving and starting. With the
ignition off, and the brake pedal applied,
pressing the button once will place the
ignition system in ON/RUN/START. Once
engine cranking begins, release the button.
Engine cranking will continue until the
engine starts. See Starting the Engine 0169.
The ignition will then remain in ON/RUN.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction indicator lamp
as may be required for emission inspection

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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184 Driving and Operating
Before leaving the vehicle, check the red
parking brake status light to ensure that the
parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Pull the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light will flash
and then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the red parking brake status light
flashes continuously, the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a problem with
the EPB. A DIC message will display. Release
the EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps flashing,
have the vehicle serviced. Do not drive the
vehicle if the red parking brake status light
is flashing. See your dealer.
If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, pull the EPB switch. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see your
dealer. If the EPB is applied while the vehicle is
moving, the vehicle will decelerate as long
as the switch is pulled. If the switch is
pulled until the vehicle comes to a stop, the
EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply the EPB
in some situations when the vehicle is not
moving. This is normal, and is done to
periodically check the correct operation of
the EPB system, or at the request of other
safety functions that utilize the EPB.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the vehicle on.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the red parking
brake status light is off.
If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by pressing and
holding the EPB switch. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake status
light is off. If either light stays on after
release is attempted, see your dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake
system parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if the
vehicle is running, placed into gear, and an
attempt is made to drive away. Avoid rapid
acceleration when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake pedal
applications due to emergency braking
situations and provides additional braking to
activate the Antilock Brake System (ABS) if
the brake pedal is not pushed hard enough
to activate ABS normally. Minor noise, brake
pedal pulsation, and/or pedal movement
during this time may occur. Continue to
apply the brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates. Brake Assist disengages
when the brake pedal is released.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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186 Driving and Operating
The indicator light for both systems is in the
instrument cluster. This light:
.Flashes when TCS is limiting wheel spin
.Flashes when ESC is activated
.Turns on and stays on when either
system is not working
See Traction Control System (TCS)/Electronic
Stability Control Light 094.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. Adjust driving
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the vehicle off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the vehicle.
4. Drive the vehicle.
If the above steps does not remove
d, see
your dealer as soon as possible.
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn Traction (TCS) on and off, in the
controls app on the infotainment home
screen, select Controls > DRIVE & PARK >
Traction Control. To turn ESC on or off,
select
Tnext to the Traction Control menu.
The following options appear:
.Traction Control Off
.ESC Off and Traction Control Off
.ESC On and Traction Control On
.Traction Control and ESC On
The traction control off light
idisplays in
the instrument cluster when the traction
control is turned off. When the traction
control is turned back on, the traction
control off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off. See Traction
Off Light 094.
If TCS is actively limiting wheel spin when
disabled, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning. To turn ESC off, select
Tnext to the
Traction Control menu. Select the Traction
Control and ESC Off option. The ESC off light
gwill display in the instrument cluster. See
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light
0 95.
The light strategy may differ depending on
the vehicle model, trim, and mode the
vehicle is in. The ESC light may be on in
addition to the TCS light on certain vehicle
models, trims, and/or in certain modes. See
Driver Mode Control 0187.
TCS cannot be on when ESC is off.
In Normal mode, ESC will automatically turn
on if the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h (35 mph)
and cannot be turned off again until speed
is reduced. Traction control will remain off.
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
feature and a Hill Start Assist (HSA) feature.
See Trailer Sway Control (TSC) 0242 or
Hill Start Assist (HSA) 0185.
Entering Teen Driver will automatically
enable both TCS and ESC, and prevent these
safety features from being turned off. See
Teen Driver 0137.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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206 Driving and Operating
.Low sun angles cause the camera to not
detect objects, or it is more difficult to
detect objects in the same traffic lane.
.Lighting is poor in the evening or early
morning
.There are multiple changes in brightness
or shadows along the vehicle roadway.
.In a tunnel without the headlamps on,
or in a tunnel when there is a vehicle in
front that does not have its taillamps on.
.Subjected to strong light from opposing
lane traffic in the front of the vehicle,
such as high-beam headlamps from
oncoming traffic.
Accessory Installations and Vehicle
Modifications
Do not install or place any object around
the front camera windshield area that would
obstruct the front camera view.
Do not install objects on top of the vehicle
that overhang and obstruct the front
camera, such as a canoe, kayak, or other
items that can be transported on the
vehicle roof.
Do not modify the hood, headlamps, or fog
lamps, as this may limit the camera’s ability
to detect an object. Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the windshield behind
the rearview mirror can become blocked by
snow, ice, dirt, mud, or debris. This area
needs to be cleaned for ACC to operate
properly.
The vehicle headlamps may need to be
cleaned due to dirt, snow, or ice. Objects
that are not illuminated correctly may be
difficult to detect.
If ACC will not operate, regular cruise control
may be available. See
“Switching Between
ACC and Regular Cruise Control” previously
in this section. Always consider driving
conditions before using either cruise control
system.
For cleaning instructions, see “Washing the
Vehicle” underExterior Care 0319.
Driver Assistance Systems
This vehicle may have features that work
together to help avoid crashes or reduce
crash damage while driving, backing, and
parking. Read this entire section before
using these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver Assistance
Systems. These systems do not replace
the need for paying attention and driving
safely. You may not hear or see alerts or
warnings provided by these systems.
Failure to use proper care when driving
may result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. See Defensive Driving 0151.
Under many conditions, these systems
will not:
.Detect children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals.
.Detect vehicles or objects outside the
area monitored by the system.
.Work at all driving speeds.
.Warn you or provide you with enough
time to avoid a crash.
.Work under poor visibility or bad
weather conditions.
.Work if the detection sensor is not
cleaned or is covered by ice, snow,
mud, or dirt. (Continued)