Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
Seats and Restraints 75
To assist in locating the lower anchors, each
row anchor position has a label, near the
crease on the seat cushion.
The lower anchors are behind the vertical
openings in the seat cushion trim located
below the anchor label.
To assist in locating the top tether anchors,
the top tether anchor symbol is near the
top tether anchors.
Top Tether Anchors
The top tether anchors for each rear seating
position are on the back of the rear
seatback. For models with a cargo cover,
remove the cargo cover before installing the
top tether. The cargo cover should remain
off while the top tether is in use. Be sure touse an anchor on the same side of the
vehicle as the seating position where the
child restraint will be placed.
Do not secure a child restraint in a position
without a top tether anchor if a national or
local law requires that the top tether be
attached, or if the instructions that come
with the child restraint say that the top
tether must be attached.
According to accident statistics, children and
infants are safer when properly restrained in
a child restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating position.
See
Where to Put the Restraint 071 for
additional information.
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
{Warning
A child could be seriously injured or killed
in a crash if the child restraint is not
properly attached to the vehicle using
either the LATCH anchors or the vehicle
seat belt. Follow the instructions that
came with the child restraint and the
instructions in this manual.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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76 Seats and Restraints
{Warning
To reduce the risk of serious or fatal
injuries during a crash, do not attach
more than one child restraint to a single
anchor. Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single anchor could cause
the anchor or attachment to come loose
or even break during a crash. A child or
others could be injured.
{Warning
Children can be seriously injured or
strangled if a shoulder belt is 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 a child’s neck. If the
shoulder belt is locked and tightened
around a child’s neck, the only way to
loosen the belt is to cut it.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Buckle any unused seat belts behind the
child restraint so children cannot reach
them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way
out of the retractor to set the lock, and
tighten the belt behind the child restraint
after the child restraint has been
installed.
Caution
Do not let the LATCH attachments rub
against the vehicle’s seat belts. This may
damage these parts. If necessary, move
buckled seat belts to avoid rubbing the
LATCH attachments.
Do not fold the rear seatback when the
seat is occupied. Do not fold the empty
rear seat with a seat belt buckled. This
could damage the seat belt or the seat.
Unbuckle and return the seat belt to its
stowed position, before folding the seat.
If you need to secure more than one child
restraint in the rear seat, see Where to Put
the Restraint 071. 1. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments to the lower anchors. If the
child restraint does not have lower
attachments or the desired seating
position does not have lower anchors,
secure the child restraint with the top
tether and the seat belts. Refer to the
child restraint manufacturer instructions
and the instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating position.
1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the child restraint
to the lower anchors.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be
attached, adjust the top tether to its full
length and attach it to the anchor. Refer
to the child restraint instructions and the
following steps:
2.1. Find the top tether anchor.
2.2. Route, attach and tighten the top tether according to your child
restraint instructions and the
following instructions:
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 77
If the position you are using does
not have a head restraint and you
are using a single tether, route the
tether over the seatback.
If the position you are using does
not have a head restraint and you
are using a dual tether, route the
tether over the seatback.
If the position you are using has an
adjustable headrest or head
restraint, adjust it accordingly to
allow proper fitment. If you are
using a single tether, route the
tether in between the headrest or
head restraint posts.
If the position you are using has an
adjustable headrest or head
restraint, adjust it accordingly to
allow proper fitment. If you areusing a dual tether, route the
tether around the headrest or head
restraint posts.
If the child restraint is installed next
to a center seat, make sure the top
tether does not interfere with the
center seating position shoulder
belt/retractor. If it does, find
another suitable seating position to
install the child restraint.
3. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure it is securely held in
place. To check, grasp the child restraint
at the LATCH path and attempt to move
it side to side and back and forth. There
should be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of
movement, for proper installation.
Replacing LATCH System Parts
After a Crash
{Warning
A crash can damage the LATCH system in
the vehicle. A damaged LATCH system
may not properly secure the child
restraint, resulting in serious injury or
even death in a crash. To help make sure
the LATCH system is working properly
(Continued)
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78 Seats and Restraints
Warning (Continued)
after a crash, see your dealer to have the
system inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
If the vehicle has the LATCH system and it
was being used during a crash, new LATCH
system parts may be needed.
New parts and repairs may be necessary
even if the LATCH system was not being
used at the time of the crash.
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat)
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.
If the child restraint has the LATCH system,
see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 072 for how and where to
install the child restraint using LATCH. If a
child restraint is secured in the vehicle using
a seat belt and it 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. Refer to the
instructions that came with the child
restraint and see
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH System) 072.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have a top
tether, and that the tether be attached.
If the child restraint or vehicle seat position
does not have the LATCH system, you will
be using the seat belt to secure the child
restraint. Be sure to follow the instructions
that came with the child restraint.
If more than one child restraint needs to be
installed in the rear seat, be sure to read
Where to Put the Restraint 071.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle seat
belt through or around the restraint.
Ensure the seat belt webbing is routed
as direct as possible, and is not caught
on seat handles or plastic trim. The child
restraint instructions will show you how.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle untilit clicks.
Position the release pushbutton on the
buckle, away from the child restraint, so
that the seat belt could be quickly
unbuckled if necessary.
There must not be direct contact of the
child restraint to the release pushbutton.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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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-
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Storage 83
Storage
Storage Compartments
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Additional Storage Features
Rear Compartment/Storage PanelCover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Cargo Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Cargo Management System . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Roof Rack System
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Storage Compartments
{
Warning
Do not store heavy or sharp objects in
storage compartments. In a crash, these
objects may cause the cover to open and
could result in injury.
Glove Box
Lift up on the glove box lever to open it.
Cupholders
Two cupholders are in the center console.
Cupholders may be located in the rear seat
armrest. To access, pull the armrest down.
Center Console Storage
There is a storage area in the center console
in front of the shift lever.
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Storage 85
Cargo Cover
{Warning
An unsecured cargo cover could strike
people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a
crash. Store the cargo cover securely or
remove it from the vehicle.
{Warning
Do not place objects on the cargo cover.
Sudden stops or turns can cause objects
to be thrown in the vehicle. You or
others could be injured.
Use the cargo cover to cover items in the
rear of the vehicle.
Installing the Cargo Cover1. Slide the cargo cover into the two front corner brackets and push down until it
snaps in place.
2. Attach the cords to the fixed retainers on the liftgate.
Removing the Cargo Cover
Disengage the cords on the liftgate, lift up
on the cover, and pull the cover out of the
vehicle.
Cargo Tie-Downs
The vehicle may be equipped with four
cargo tie-downs in the rear compartment.
Cargo Management System
Lift the load floor to access the cargo
management system.
After storing items, make sure to properly
secure the load floor.
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86 Storage
The cargo management system has a height
adjustment. Place the load floor on the
holders.
To access the spare tire, lift the load floor
and place it into the load floor holding slots.
SeeTire Changing 0266.
Convenience Net
This vehicle may have a convenience net in
the rear of the vehicle. Attach it to the
cargo tie-downs for storing small loads.
Do not use the net to store heavy loads.
Roof Rack System
{
Warning
If something is carried on top of the
vehicle that is longer or wider than the
roof rack—like paneling, plywood, or a
mattress —the wind can catch it while
the vehicle is being driven. The item
being carried could be violently torn off,
and this could cause a collision and
damage the vehicle. Never carry
something longer or wider than the roof
rack on top of the vehicle unless using a
GM certified accessory carrier.
If equipped, the roof rack can be used to
load items. For roof racks that do not have
crossrails included, GM certified crossrails
can be purchased as an accessory. See your
dealer.