
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 65
.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 061.
If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags,
see Different Size Tires and Wheels 0262 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
will be affected if the vehicle is modified for
any other reason, call Customer Assistance.
See Customer Assistance Offices 0300.
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need regularly
scheduled maintenance or replacement.
Make sure the airbag readiness light is
working. See Airbag Readiness Light 0100.
Caution
If an airbag covering is damaged, opened,
or broken, the airbag may not work
properly. Do not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any opened or
broken airbag coverings, have the airbag
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
covering and/or airbag module replaced.
For the location of the airbags, see Where
Are the Airbags? 057. See your dealer for
service.
Replacing Airbag System Parts
after a Crash
{Warning
A crash can damage the airbag systems
in the vehicle. A damaged airbag system
may not properly protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash, resulting in
serious injury or even death. To help
make sure the airbag systems are
working properly after a crash, have
them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
If an airbag inflates, you will need to
replace airbag system parts. See your dealer
for service.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
66 Seats and Restraints
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
the vehicle is started or comes on when you
are driving, the airbag system may not work
properly. Have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light 0100.
Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster
seats should wear the vehicle seat belts.
Refer to How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
0 49. The manufacturer instructions that come
with the booster seat state the weight and
height limitations for that booster. Use a
booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until
the child passes the fit test below:
.Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the
knees bend at the seat edge? If yes,
continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
.Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the
shoulder belt rest on the shoulder? If yes,
continue. If no, try using the rear seat
belt comfort guide, if available. See
“Rear
Seat Belt Comfort Guides” under
Lap-Shoulder Belt 051. If a comfort guide
is not available, or if the shoulder belt
still does not rest on the shoulder, then
return to the booster seat.
.Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the
hips, touching the thighs? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
.Can proper seat belt fit be maintained for
the length of the trip? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
Q: What is the proper way to wear seat belts?
A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder
belt and get the additional restraint a
shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder
belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the
hips, just touching the top of the thighs.
This applies belt force to the child's
pelvic bones in a crash. It should never
be worn over the abdomen, which could
cause severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.
Also see “Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides”
under Lap-Shoulder Belt 051.
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in a rear
seating position.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up
can strike other people who are buckled up,
or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older
children need to use seat belts properly.
{Warning
Never allow more than one child to wear
the same seat belt. The seat belt cannot
properly spread the impact forces. In a
crash, they can be crushed together and
seriously injured. A seat belt must be
used by only one person at a time.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
Seats and Restraints 67
{Warning
Never allow a child to wear the seat belt
shoulder belt under both arms or behind
their back. A child can be seriously
injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder
belt properly. In a crash, the child would
not be restrained by the shoulder belt.
The child could move too far forward
increasing the chance of head and neck
injury. The child might also slide under
the lap belt. The belt force would then be
applied right on the abdomen. That could
cause serious or fatal injuries. The
shoulder belt should go over the shoulder
and across the chest.
Infants and Young Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This
includes infants and all other children.
Neither the distance traveled nor the age
and size of the traveler changes the need,
for everyone, to use safety restraints. In
fact, the law in every state in the United
States and in every Canadian province says
children up to some age must be restrained
while in a vehicle.
{Warning
Children can be seriously injured or killed
if the shoulder belt is worn behind their
back, under their legs, or wrapped around
their neck. The shoulder belt can tighten
but cannot be loosened if it is locked. The
shoulder belt locks when it is pulled all
the way out of the retractor. It unlocks
when the shoulder belt is allowed to go
all the way back into the retractor, but it
cannot do this if it is wrapped around the
child. Never leave children unattended in
a vehicle and never allow children to
improperly wear, or play with, the seat
belts.
Every time infants and young children ride
in vehicles, they should have the protection
provided by appropriate child restraints.
Neither the vehicle seat belt system nor its
airbag system is designed for them.
Children who are not restrained properly can
strike other people, or can be thrown out of
the vehicle.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
68 Seats and Restraints
{Warning
Never hold an infant or a child while
riding in a vehicle. Due to crash forces, an
infant or a child will become so heavy it
is not possible to hold it during a crash.
For example, in a crash at only
40 km/h (25 mph), a 5.5 kg (12 lb) infant
will suddenly become a 110 kg (240 lb)
force on a person's arms. An infant or
child should be secured in an appropriate
child restraint.
{Warning
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any airbag when it inflates can
be seriously injured or killed. Never put a
rear-facing child restraint in the front
outboard seat. Secure a rear-facing child
restraint in a rear seat. It is also better to
secure a forward-facing child restraint in
a rear seat. If you must secure a
forward-facing child restraint in the front
outboard seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go.
Child restraints are devices used to restrain,
seat, or position children in the vehicle and
are sometimes called child seats or car seats.There are three basic types of child
restraints:
.Forward-facing child restraints
.Rear-facing child restraints
.Belt-positioning booster seats
The proper child restraint for your child
depends on their size, weight, and age, and
also on whether the child restraint is
compatible with the vehicle in which it will
be used.
For each type of child restraint, there are
many different models available. When
purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is
designed to be used in a motor vehicle and
is designed by a genuine child restraint
manufacturer. If it is, the child restraint will
have a label saying that it meets federal
motor vehicle safety standards.
The instruction manual that is provided with
the child restraint states the weight and
height limitations for that particular child
restraint. In addition, there are many kinds
of child restraints available for children with
special needs.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 71
Securing the Child Within the Child
Restraint
{Warning
A child can be seriously injured or killed
in a crash if the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint. Secure the
child properly following the instructions
that came with that child restraint.
Where to Put the Restraint
According to accident statistics, children and
infants are safer when properly restrained in
an appropriate child restraint secured in a
rear seating position.
Whenever possible, children aged 12 and
under should be secured in a rear seating
position.
Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the
front. This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great if the airbag
deploys.
{Warning
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the front
passenger 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 front passenger airbag inflates and
the passenger seat is in a forward
position.
Even if the passenger sensing system has
turned off the front passenger frontal
airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a
rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you
secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the front seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go.
It is better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
SeePassenger Sensing System 061 for
additional information. When securing a child restraint with the
seat belts in a rear seat position, study the
instructions that came with the child
restraint to make sure it is compatible with
this vehicle.
Child restraints and booster seats vary
considerably in size, and some may fit in
certain seating positions better than others.
Do not install a child restraint in any rear
seating position where it cannot be installed
securely.
Depending on where you place the child
restraint and the size of the child restraint,
you may not be able to access adjacent seat
belts or LATCH anchors for additional
passengers or child restraints. Adjacent
seating positions should not be used if the
child restraint prevents access to or
interferes with the routing of the seat belt.
Adjust the seat in front of a child restraint
to ensure proper installation according to
the child restraint manual. Move the front
seat forward to avoid contact between the
child restraint and the seat or any
accessories mounted to the seat.
Wherever a child restraint is installed, be
sure to follow the instructions that came
with the child restraint and secure the child
restraint properly.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
80 Seats and Restraints
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the Front Seat)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear seat is a
safer place to secure a forward-facing child
restraint. SeeWhere to Put the Restraint
0 71.
In addition, the vehicle has a passenger
sensing system which is designed to turn off
the front outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag under certain conditions.
See Passenger Sensing System 061 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator 0101 for
more information, including important
safety information.
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
deploys.
{Warning
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the front
outboard 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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
forward-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag inflates
and the passenger seat is in a forward
position.
Even if the passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard passenger
airbag(s), no system is fail-safe. No one
can guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual circumstance,
even though the airbag(s) are off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a
rear seat, even if the airbag(s) are off.
If you secure 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 the child
restraint in a rear seat.
SeePassenger Sensing System 061 for
additional information.
If the child restraint uses a top tether, see
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 072 for top tether anchor
locations. Do not secure a child seat in a position
without a top tether anchor if a national or
local law requires that the top tether be
anchored, or if the instructions that come
with the child restraint say that the top
tether must be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have a top
tether, and that the tether be attached.
When using the lap-shoulder belt to secure
the child restraint in this position, follow the
instructions that came with the child
restraint and the following instructions:
1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child
restraint. Move the seat upward or the
seatback to an upright position,
if needed, to get a tight installation of
the child restraint. There must be finger
clearance between the release
pushbutton and the child restraint.
When the passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag and knee airbag, the OFF
indicator on the passenger airbag status
indicator should light and stay lit when
you start the vehicle. See Passenger
Airbag Status Indicator 0101.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
82 Seats and Restraints
6. To tighten the belt, push down on thechild restraint, pull the shoulder portion
of the belt to tighten the lap portion of
the belt, and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor.
There must be finger clearance between
the release pushbutton and the child
restraint. If there is not clearance
between the buckle release pushbutton
and the child restraint, move the seat
upward and repeat prior installation
steps. Otherwise secure the child
restraint in a rear seat.
When installing a forward-facing child
restraint, it may be helpful to use your
knee to push down on the child restraint
as you tighten the belt. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor
to make sure the retractor is locked.
If the retractor is not locked, repeat
Steps 5 and 6.
7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in
place. To check, grasp the child restraint
at the seat belt path and attempt to
move it side to side and back and forth.
When the child restraint is properly
installed, there should be no more than
2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
If the airbags are off, the OFF indicator in
the passenger airbag status indicator will
come on and stay on when the vehicle is
started.
If a child restraint has been installed and
the ON indicator is lit, see “If the On
Indicator Is Lit for a Child Restraint” under
Passenger Sensing System 061.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the
vehicle seat belt and let it return to the
stowed position.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
88 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . 99
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . 101
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . 103 Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 104
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
All-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
Disabled Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Traction Control System (TCS)/ Electronic Stability Control Light . . . . . 106
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Auto Stop Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Adaptive Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 109
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . 109
Vehicle Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Universal Remote System Operation . . . 116