Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
18 Keys, Doors, and Windows
After the vehicle's engine has been started
two times using the remote start button or
a start with an extension, the ignition must
be turned on and then back off before the
remote start procedure can be used again.
Canceling a Remote Start
To manually shut off a remote start:
.Press and hold/until the lamps
turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Turn the ignition on and then off.
Conditions in Which the Remote Start
Will Not Work
The vehicle cannot be started using the
remote start feature if the remote key is in
the vehicle, the hood is open, the vehicle is
not in P (Park), the hazard flashers are on,
the vehicle is on, two remote starts or a
start with an extension have been used,
or there is an emission control system
malfunction.
The engine turns off during a remote start if
the coolant temperature gets too high or if
the oil pressure gets low.
Door Locks
{Warning
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
.Passengers, especially children, can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. The doors can be
unlocked and opened while the vehicle
is moving. The chance of being thrown
out of the vehicle in a crash is
increased if the doors are not locked.
So, all passengers should wear seat
belts properly and the doors should be
locked whenever the vehicle is driven.
.Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out.
A child can be overcome by extreme
heat and can suffer permanent injuries
or even death from heat stroke.
Always lock the vehicle whenever
leaving it.
.Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down
or stop the vehicle. Locking the doors
can help prevent this from happening. To lock/unlock the doors from the outside:
.PressQorKon the remote key. See
Remote Key Operation 010.
.Use the key in the driver door. The key
lock cylinder is covered with a cap.
To lock/unlock the doors from the inside:
.PressQorKon the power door lock
switch.
.Push down on the door lock knob to lock
a door.
.Pull the door handle once to unlock it.
Pull the door handle again to unlatch it.
Keyless Access
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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34 Keys, Doors, and Windows
The vehicle aerodynamics are designed to
improve fuel economy performance. This
may result in a pulsing sound when either
rear window is down and the front windows
are up. To reduce the sound, open either a
front window or the sunroof, if equipped.
Power Windows
{Warning
Children could be seriously injured or
killed if caught in the path of a closing
window. Never leave the remote key in a
vehicle with children. When there are
children in the rear seat, use the window
lockout switch to prevent operation of
the windows. SeeKeys09.
The power windows work when the ignition
is on, in accessory mode, or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) 0167.
Using the window switch, press to open or
pull to close the window.
The windows may be temporarily disabled if
they are used repeatedly within a
short time.
Window Lockout
This feature stops the rear passenger
window switches from working.
.Press2to engage the rear window
lockout feature. The indicator light is on
when engaged.
.Press2again to disengage.
Window Express Movement
All windows can be opened without holding
the window switch. Press the switch down
fully and quickly release to express open the
window.
If equipped, pull the window switch up fully
and quickly release to express close the
window.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 37
Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Buckle To Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . 49
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 54
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 58
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 59
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . 59
What Will You See after an AirbagInflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Infants and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children(LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Head Restraints
{
Warning
With head restraints that are not
installed and adjusted properly, there is a
greater chance that occupants will suffer
a neck/spinal injury in a crash. Do not
drive until the head restraints for all
occupants are installed and adjusted
properly.
Front Seats
The vehicle's front seats have adjustable
head restraints in the outboard seating
positions.
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Seats and Restraints 39
The head restraint will fold rearward
automatically.
When an occupant or child restraint is in the
seat, always return the head restraint to the
full upright position. Pull the head restraint
up and forward until it locks into place.
Push and pull on the head restraint to make
sure that it is locked.
Always adjust the head restraint so that the
top of the restraint is at the same height as
the top of the occupant's head.
Rear outboard head restraints are not
removable.
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment
Seat Position
{Warning
You can lose control of the vehicle if you
try to adjust a driver seat while the
vehicle is moving. Adjust the driver seat
only when the vehicle is not moving.
To adjust a manual seat:1. Pull the handle at the front of the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the handle. 3. Try to move the seat back and forth to
be sure it is locked in place.
Height Adjustment
If equipped, move the lever up or down to
manually raise or lower the seat.
Power Seat Adjustment
{Warning
You can lose control of the vehicle if you
try to adjust a driver seat while the
vehicle is moving. Adjust the driver seat
only when the vehicle is not moving.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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40 Seats and Restraints
{Warning
The power seats will work with the
ignition off. Children could operate the
power seats and be injured. Never leave
children alone in the vehicle.
To adjust the seat:
.Move the seat forward or rearward by
sliding the control forward or rearward.
.Raise or lower the front part of the seat
cushion by moving the front of the
control up or down.
.Raise or lower the entire seat by moving
the rear of the control up or down.To adjust the seatback, see
Reclining
Seatbacks 040.
To adjust the lumbar support, see Lumbar
Adjustment 041.
Reclining Seatbacks
{Warning
If either seatback is not locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or crash.
That could cause injury to the person
sitting there. Always push and pull on
the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
To recline the seatback:
1. Lift the lever. If necessary, move the seat belt out of the way to access the lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock
the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
To return the seatback to an upright
position: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback, and the
seatback returns to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
{Warning
Sitting in a reclined position when the
vehicle is in motion can be dangerous.
Even when buckled up, the seat belts
cannot do their job.
The shoulder belt will not be against
your body. Instead, it will be in front of
you. In a crash, you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
(Continued)
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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46 Seats and Restraints
4. Continue lowering the seatback until it iscompletely folded and locks in place.
To raise the seatback: 1. Lift the lever fully to unlock the seatback. Then, raise the seatback and
push it rearward until it re-engages.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked in place.
{Warning
If either seatback is not locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or crash.
That could cause injury to the person
sitting there. Always push and pull on
the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Reminder
If equipped, the message REAR SEAT
REMINDER LOOK IN REAR SEAT displays
under certain conditions indicating there
may be an item or passenger in the rear
seat. Check before exiting the vehicle.
This feature will activate when a rear door is
opened while the vehicle is on or up to
10 minutes before the vehicle is turned on. There will be an alert when the vehicle is
turned off. The alert does not directly detect
objects in the rear seat; instead, under
certain conditions, it detects when a rear
door is opened and closed, indicating that
there may be something in the rear seat.
The feature is active only once each time
the vehicle is turned on and off, and will
require reactivation by opening and closing
the rear doors. There may be an alert even
when there is nothing in the rear seat; for
example, if a child entered the vehicle
through the rear door and left the vehicle
without the vehicle being shut off.
The feature can be turned on or off. Select
Settings > Vehicle > Rear Seat Reminder >
ON or OFF.
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can be folded for
more cargo space. Fold a seatback only
when the vehicle is not moving.
{Warning
Folding a rear seat with the seat belts
still fastened may cause damage to the
seat or the seat belts. Always unbuckle
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the seat belts and return them to their
normal stowed position before folding a
rear seat.
To fold the seatback: 1. Fold the head restraint. See Head
Restraints 037.
2. Make sure the seat belt is in the
retainer hook
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Seats and Restraints 49
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, shifting out of
P (Park) will be delayed each time the driver
attempts to do so while the driver seat belt
is not buckled, whether Teen Driver is ON or
OFF. 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 is unbuckled under similar
conditions. 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 seat belt remains
unbuckled, the DIC message will turn off
after several seconds and the vehicle can beshifted 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 0100. This
feature may not function properly if the
airbag readiness light is on. See Airbag
Readiness Light 0100.
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 Children066 or
Infants and Young Children 067. Review
and follow the rules for children in addition
to the following rules.
It is very important for all occupants to
buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted
people are hurt more often in crashes than
those who are wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know about
wearing a seat belt properly.
.Sit up straight and always keep your feet
on the floor in front of you (if possible).
.Wear the lap part of the belt low and
snug on the hips, just touching the
thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the
strong pelvic bones and you would be
less likely to slide under the lap belt.
If you slid under it, the belt would apply
force on your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
.Wear the shoulder belt over the shoulder
and across the chest. These parts of the
body are best able to take belt
restraining forces. The shoulder belt locks
if there is a sudden stop or crash.
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Seats and Restraints 51
Never route the lap or shoulder belt over an
armrest.
{Warning
The seat belt can be pinched if it is
routed under plastic trim on the seat,
such as trim around the rear seatback
folding handle or side airbag. In a crash,
pinched seat belts might not provide
adequate protection. Never allow seat
belts to be routed under plastic trim
pieces.
{Warning
You can be seriously injured or killed if
the shoulder belt is worn behind your
back, under your legs, or wrapped around
your 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
you. You may have to cut the seat belt if
it is locked and tightened around you.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle have a
lap-shoulder belt.
The following instructions explain how to
wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up straight. To see how,
see “Seats” in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt
across 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 69. 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