tow GMC YUKON 2021 Owner's Guide

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
Instruments and Controls 117
This light comes on when Snow Mode is
selected.
This light comes on when Terrain Mode is
selected.
This light comes on when Off-Road Mode is
selected.
This light comes on when the Tow/Haul
Mode is selected.
Four Corner Air Suspension Light
This light comes on when the air suspension
is raised to maximum ground clearance
height.
This light comes on when the air suspension
is raised to increased ground clearance
height.
It will flash green and give an alert to
indicate that the vehicle is changing to a
higher ride height.
This light comes on when the air suspension
is lowered for easy entry and exit from the
vehicle.
It will flash green and give an alert to
indicate that the vehicle is changing to a
lower ride height.
This light comes on when the air suspension
is in Service Mode or Alignment Mode.
SeeFour Corner Air Suspension System
0 248.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
122 Instruments and Controls
brake pad wear and the state of the system.
Reset the Brake Pad Life display after
replacing the brake pads. SeeBrake Pad Life
System 0325.
Fuel Economy : Displays average fuel
economy, the best fuel economy over the
selected distance, and a bar graph showing
instantaneous fuel economy.
Press the thumbwheel to change the
selected distance. Press and hold the
thumbwheel while this display is active to
reset the best fuel economy and average
fuel economy. This display can also be reset
by selecting reset in the menu.
Engine Hours (Hourmeter) : Shows the total
number of hours the engine has run. This
display also shows the engine idle hours.
Transmission Fluid Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the automatic transmission
fluid in either degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Trailer Brake : On vehicles with the
Integrated Trailer Brake Control (ITBC)
system, the trailer brake display appears in
the DIC. TRAILER GAIN shows the trailer gain setting.
This setting can be adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0
with either a trailer connected or
disconnected.
OUTPUT shows the power output to the
trailer any time a trailer with electric brakes
is connected. Output is displayed as a bar
graph. Dotted lines may appear in the
OUTPUT display if a trailer is not connected.
Off Road :
If equipped, displays vehicle pitch
and roll information, road wheel angle, and
four-wheel drive (4WD) status.
Follow Distance : If equipped, the current
follow time to the vehicle ahead is displayed
as a time value on this page.
Driver Assistance : If equipped, shows
information for Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and
Forward Collision Alert (FCA).
Info Page Options : Scroll to choose which
info pages appear on the DIC. Press the
thumbwheel to select or deselect.
Blank Page : Shows no information.Head-Up Display (HUD)
{Warning
If the HUD image is too bright or too
high in your field of view, it may take
you more time to see things you need to
see when it is dark outside. Be sure to
keep the HUD image dim and placed low
in your field of view.
If equipped with HUD, some information
about the operation of the vehicle is
projected onto the windshield. The image is
projected through the HUD lens on top of
the instrument panel. The information
appears as an image focused out toward the
front of the vehicle.
Caution
If you try to use the HUD image as a
parking aid, you may misjudge the
distance and damage your vehicle. Do not
use the HUD image as a parking aid.
The HUD information can be displayed in
various languages. The speedometer reading
and other numerical values can be displayed
in either English or metric units.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
136 Lighting
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder
A reminder chime sounds when the
headlamps or parking lamps are manually
turned on, the ignition is off, and a door is
open. To disable the chime, turn the
lamps off.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
Push the turn signal lever away from you
and release to turn the high beams on.
To return to low beams, push the lever
again or pull it toward you and release.
When the high-beam headlamps are on, this
indicator light on the instrument cluster will
also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam
headlamps to signal a driver in front of you
that you want to pass. It works even if the
headlamps are in the automatic position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward
you, then release it.
If the headlamps are in the automatic
position or on low beam, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. Depending on the
type of headlamp, they will either turn off
after a short duration or stay on as long as
you hold the lever toward you. The
high-beam indicator on the instrument
cluster will come on. Release the lever to
return to normal operation.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to see the
front of the vehicle during the day. Fully
functional DRL are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
The DRL system comes on when the
following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
.The light sensor determines it is daytime.When the DRL system is on, only the DRL
are on. The taillamps, sidemarker lamps,
instrument panel lights, and other lamps
will not be on.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic
headlamp system switches from DRL to the
headlamps.
To turn off the DRL, turn the exterior lamp
control to
Oand then release. For vehicles
first sold in Canada, off will only work when
the vehicle is parked.
Automatic Headlamp System
When the exterior lamp control is set to
AUTO and it is dark enough outside, the
headlamps come on automatically.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
138 Lighting
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
An arrow on the instrument cluster flashes
in the direction of the turn or lane change.
Move the turn signal lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever for less than
one second until the arrow starts to flash to
signal a lane change. This causes the turn
signals to automatically flash three times.
It will flash six times if Tow/Haul Mode is
active. Holding the turn signal lever for
more than one second will cause the turn
signals to flash until the lever is released.
The lever returns to its starting position
whenever it is released.
If after signaling a turn or a lane change the
arrows flash rapidly or do not come on, a
signal bulb could be burned out.Replace any burned out bulbs. If a bulb is
not burned out, check the fuse. See
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers 0331.
Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more than
1.2 km (0.75 mi), a chime sounds at each
flash of the turn signal. The message TURN
SIGNAL ON will also appear in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). To turn the chime
and message off, move the turn signal lever
to the off position.
Fog Lamps
If equipped with fog lamps, the button is on
the exterior lamp control, to the left of the
steering column. The ignition must be on for the fog lamps
to come on.
#:
Press to turn the fog lamps on or off.
A light will come on in the instrument
cluster.
When the fog lamps are turned on, the
parking lamps automatically turn on.
When the headlamps are changed to high
beam, the fog lamps also go off. When the
high-beam headlamps are turned off, the fog
lamps will come on again.
Some localities have laws that require the
headlamps to be on with the fog lamps.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
144 Infotainment System
.USB/Bluetooth: Press to seek to
the beginning of the current or
previous track. Press and hold to
quickly reverse through a track.
Release to return to playing speed.
SeeUSB Port 0152 or
Bluetooth Audio 0154.
3.{
.Press to go to the Home Page. See
“Home Page” later in this section.
.Press to exit Android Auto or Apple
CarPlay. To enter back into Android
Auto or Apple CarPlay, press and
hold. SeeApple CarPlay and
Android Auto 0186.
4.6
.Radio: Press and release to go to
the next station or channel. Press
and hold to fast seek the next
strongest station or channel.
.USB/Bluetooth: Press to seek the
next track. Press and hold to fast
forward through a track. Release to
return to playing speed. See USB
Port 0152 or
Bluetooth Audio 0154.
5.oBACK
.Press to return to the previous
display in a menu.
6.V
.Turn to highlight a feature. Press
to activate the highlighted feature.
Home Page
The Home Page is where vehicle application
icons are accessed. Some applications are
disabled when the vehicle is moving.
The Home Page can be set up to have up to
four pages with eight icons per page.
Swipe left or right across the display to
access the pages of icons.
Managing Home Page Icons 1. Touch and hold any of the Home Page icons to enter edit mode.
2. Continue holding the icon and drag it to the desired position.
3. Release your finger to drop the icon in the desired position.
4. To move an application to another page, drag the icon to the edge of the display
toward the desired page.
5. Continue dragging and dropping application icons as desired.
Steering Wheel Controls
If equipped, some audio controls can be
adjusted at the steering wheel.
g:Press to answer an incoming call or
start voice recognition. See Bluetooth
(Pairing and Using a Phone) 0182 or
Bluetooth (Overview) 0181.
c:Press to decline an incoming call or
end a current call. Press to mute or unmute
the infotainment system when not on a call.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
Infotainment System 151
SiriusXM with 360L
SiriusXM with 360L interface has enhanced
in-vehicle listening experience for
subscribers. The experience now offers more
categories and system learned
recommendations toward discovering more
personalized content.
To use the full SiriusXM 360L program,
including streaming content and listening
recommendations, OnStar Connected Access
is required. Connected vehicle services vary
by model and require a complete working
electrical system, cell reception, and GPS
signal. An active connected plan is required.
Reference the SiriusXM user guide for use
and subscription information.
Radio Reception
Unplug electronic devices from the accessory
power outlets if there is interference or
static in the radio.
FM
FM signals only reach about 16 to 65 km (10
to 40 mi). Although the radio has a built-in
electronic circuit that automatically works toreduce interference, some static can occur,
especially around tall buildings or hills,
causing the sound to fade in and out.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater
than for FM, especially at night. The longer
range can cause station frequencies to
interfere with each other. Static can also
occur when things like storms and power
lines interfere with radio reception. When
this happens, try reducing the treble on the
radio.
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Service
If equipped, SiriusXM Satellite Radio Service
provides digital radio reception. Tall
buildings or hills can interfere with satellite
radio signals, causing the sound to fade in
and out. In addition, traveling or standing
under heavy foliage, bridges, garages,
or tunnels may cause loss of the SiriusXM
signal for a period of time. Some cellular
services may interfere with SXM reception
causing loss of signal.
Mobile Device Usage
Mobile device usage, such as making or
receiving calls, charging, or just having the
mobile device on may cause static
interference in the radio. Unplug the mobile
device or turn it off if this happens.
Multi-Band Antenna
The roof antenna is for AM, FM, SiriusXM
Satellite Radio, OnStar, and GPS (Global
Positioning System). Keep clear of
obstructions for clear reception. If the
vehicle has a sunroof, and it is open,
reception can also be affected.
Audio Players
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices
When using media devices such as SD cards,
USB devices, and mobile devices, consider
the source. Untrusted media devices could
contain files that affect system operation or
performance. Avoid use if the content or
origin cannot be trusted.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
164 Infotainment System
4. Replace the battery door and tighten thescrew.
Remove the batteries if the headphones will
not be used for a long time.
RSI Troubleshooting
No power : The ignition might not be on or
in ACC/ACCESSORY.
There is no sound from the headphones
with the indicator light on : If the batteries
are good, make sure the headphones are
programmed to the correct screen and on
the correct channel for the screen being
viewed.
Sometimes the wireless headphone audio
cuts out or buzzes : Check for obstructions,
low batteries, reception range, and
interference from cell phone towers or from
cellular telephone use in the vehicle. Check
that the headphones are on correctly using
the L (Left) and R (Right) on the
headphones. Check that the headphones are
positioned properly with the headband
across the top of the head.
Newer mobile phones and tablets emit
infrared light for features like face and iris
detection. This infrared light can interfere
with both the headphone operation. If your headphones experience static or dropouts,
place your mobile device away from the
rear seat displays.
I lost the headphones :
See your dealer for
assistance.
Video Distortion
Video distortion can occur when operating
cellular phones, scanners, CB radios, Global
Positioning Systems (GPS), two-way radios,
mobile faxes, or walkie talkies.
It might be necessary to turn off the video
player when operating one of these devices
in or near the vehicle.
Navigation
Using the Navigation System
If equipped, launch the Nav application by
touching the Nav icon on the Home Page or
on the shortcut tray near the bottom of the
infotainment display.
When the Nav application is launched for
the first time, a product walkthrough is
available. Use of the feature requires the
Terms and Conditions and the Privacy statement to be confirmed. If available and
signed into a profile, it is also suggested to
enable and confirm Predictive Navigation.
Predictive Navigation (If Equipped)
If Predictive Navigation is available and
confirmed, this feature learns preferences by
remembering where the vehicle has been.
It uses the locations and navigation history
to personalize routes and results.
Predictive Navigation may learn elements
such as:
.Personalized routes based on preferred
streets.
.Search results that provide best matches
at the top of the list.
.Predictive traffic.
.Local map content updating.
Predictive Navigation can also be enabled or
disabled at a later time by touching
A
(Options). While in Options, touch Settings,
then Map and Navigation Settings, and then
Predictive Navigation. See Settings0187.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
Infotainment System 195
Set Teen Driver Speed Warning :Displays a
warning in the DIC when exceeding a
selectable speed. Choose the desired speed
warning level. The speed warning does not
limit the speed of the vehicle.
SiriusXM Explicit Content Filter (if
equipped) : Allows the SiriusXM Explicit
Content Filter to be turned ON or OFF.
When ON, the teen driver will not be able
to listen to SiriusXM stations that contain
explicit content, and the Explicit Content
Filter selection in the Audio Settings will be
unavailable for change.
When Teen Driver is Active:
.If equipped with Buckle to Drive, shifting
out of P (Park) will be prevented if the
driver seat belt, and in some vehicles the
front passenger seat belt, is not buckled.
.The radio will mute when the driver seat
belt, and in some vehicles the front
passenger seat belt, is not buckled. The
audio from any device paired to the
vehicle will also be muted.
.An object placed on the front passenger
seat, such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other electronic
device, could cause the passenger sensing
system to falsely sense an unbuckled
front passenger and mute the radio. If this happens, remove the object from
the seat. See
Passenger Sensing System
0 66.
.Some safety systems, such as Forward
Collision Alert, if equipped, cannot be
turned off.
.The gap setting for the Forward Collision
Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control,
if equipped, cannot be changed.
.When trying to change a safety feature
that is not configurable in Teen Driver,
the DIC displays a message indicating
that Teen Driver is active and the action
is not available.
.Super Cruise, if equipped, is not available.
.Enhanced Low Fuel Warning (if equipped)
–When the vehicle is low on fuel, the
low fuel light on the instrument cluster
flashes and the DIC low fuel warning
cannot be dismissed.
.Do not tow a trailer.
Report Card
The vehicle owner must secure the driver’s
consent to record certain vehicle data when
the vehicle is driven with a registered Teen
Driver key. There is one Report Card per vehicle. Data is only recorded when a
registered Teen Driver key is used to
operate the vehicle.
The Report Card data is collected from the
time Teen Driver is activated or the last
time the Report Card was reset. The
following items may be recorded:
.Distance Driven
–the total distance
driven.
.Maximum Speed –the maximum vehicle
speed detected.
.Overspeed Warnings –the number of
times the speed warning setting was
exceeded.
.Wide Open Throttle –the number of
times the accelerator pedal was pressed
nearly all the way down.
.Forward Collision Alerts –the number of
times the driver was notified when
approaching a vehicle ahead too quickly
and at potential risk for a crash.
.Forward Automatic Braking, also called
Automatic Emergency Braking (if
equipped) –the number of times the
vehicle detected that a forward collision
was imminent and applied the brakes.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
212 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 213
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 229
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 231
Dynamic Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 232
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 240
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Four Corner Air Suspension System . . . 248
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . 253
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 267
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Recommended Fuel (5.3L Engine) . . . . . . 277
Recommended Fuel (6.2L Engine) . . . . . . 277
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 279
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . 280
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
Driving and Operating 213
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Trailering App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . 306
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.