warning BUICK ENCORE 2021 User Guide

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Keys, Doors, and Windows 21
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 Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter in a vehicle with
children. When there are children in the(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
rear seat, use the window lockout switch
to prevent operation of the windows. See
Keys06.
Power windows work when the ignition is
on, in ACC/ACCESSORY, or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) 0178.
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
windows from working.
.PressZto engage the rear window
lockout feature. The indicator light is on
when engaged.
.PressZagain 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 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
22 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Briefly press or pull the window switch in
the same direction to stop that window’s
express movement.
Window Automatic Reversal System
The express-close feature will reverse
window movement if it comes in contact
with an object. Extreme cold or ice could
cause the window to auto-reverse. The
window will operate normally after the
object or condition is removed.
Automatic Reversal System Override
{Warning
If automatic reversal system override is
active, the window will not reverse
automatically. You or others could be
injured and the window could be
damaged. Before using automatic reversal
system override, make sure that all
people and obstructions are clear of the
window path.
When the engine is on, override the
automatic reversal system by pulling and
holding the window switch if conditions
prevent it from closing.
Programming the Power Windows
Programming may be necessary if the
vehicle battery has been disconnected or
discharged. If the window is unable to
express-up, program each express-close
window: 1. Close all doors.
2. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
3. Partially open the window to be programmed. Then close it and continue
to pull the switch briefly after the
window has fully closed.
4. Open the window and continue to press the switch briefly after the window has
fully opened.
Sun Visors
Pull the sun visor down to block glare.
If equipped, detach the sun visor from the
center mount to pivot to the side window
or to extend along the rod.
If equipped, there is a lighted mirror on the
sun visor. Lift the cover to open.
Roof
Sunroof
If equipped, the sunroof only operates when
the ignition is on or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) 0178.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
24 Seats and Restraints
Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . 33
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 37
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 41
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 42
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . 42
What Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Infants and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children(LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
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 front seats have adjustable head
restraints in the outboard seating positions.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 25
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of
the restraint is at the same height as the
top of the occupant's head. This position
reduces the chances of a neck injury in a
crash.
The height of the head restraint can be
adjusted. Pull the head restraint up to raise
it. Try to move the head restraint to make
sure that it is locked in place.
To lower the head restraint, press the
button, located on the top of the seatback,
and push the head restraint down. Try to
move the head restraint after the button is
released to make sure that it is locked in
place.The front seat outboard head restraints are
not removable.
Rear Seats
The rear seats have head restraints in the
outboard seating positions that can be
lowered for better visibility when the rear
seat is unoccupied.
To lower the head restraint, press the
button, located on the top of the seatback,
and push the head restraint down.
When an occupant is in the seat, always
return the head restraint to the upright
position. Pull the head restraint up and push
it rearward until it locks into place. Push and
pull on the head restraint to make sure that
it is locked.
If you are installing a child restraint in the
rear seat, see
“Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH System” under
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 054.
Front Seats
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 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
26 Seats and Restraints
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.
Power Seat Adjustment
{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 a power 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 026.
To adjust the lumbar support, see Lumbar
Adjustment 026.
Lumbar Adjustment
If available, press the front or rear of the
switch to increase or decrease lumbar
support. Release the switch when the
desired level of support is reached.
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.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 27
Manual Seat Shown, Power Seat Similar
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.
The lap belt could go up over your
abdomen. The belt forces would be there,
not at your pelvic bones. This could cause
serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is
in motion, have the seatback upright.
Then sit well back in the seat and wear
the seat belt properly.
Do not have a seatback reclined if the
vehicle is moving.
Front Seat Armrest

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
28 Seats and Restraints
There is an armrest on the inboard side of
the driver seat. To raise or lower the
armrest, push up or pull down on the
armrest.
Folding Seatback
The front passenger seatback folds flat.
{Warning
If you fold the seatback forward to carry
longer objects, such as skis, be sure any
such cargo is not near an airbag. In a
crash, an inflating airbag might force that
object toward a person. This could cause
severe injury or even death. Secure
objects away from the area in which an
airbag would inflate. For more
information, seeWhere Are the Airbags?
0 40 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0170.
{Warning
Things you put on this seatback can
strike and injure people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in a crash. Remove or secure
all items before driving. To fold the seatback:
1. Lower the head restraint all the way. See Head Restraints 024.
2. Move the seat as far back as possible. See Seat Adjustment 025.
3. Lift the lever fully and fold the seatback
forward.
If necessary, move the seat belt out of
the way to access the lever.
4. Continue lowering the seatback until it is completely 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 second row
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.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
30 Seats and Restraints
Rear Seat with Retainer Hook on theSeatback
5. Make sure the seat belt is in the retainer hook on top of the seatback, if equipped.
{Warning
Do not allow the seat belt webbing to
become caught under the retainer hook
trim, as this may cause the seat belt to
not be worn properly.
6. Reach under the belt and pull the leveron top of the seatback to unlock the
seatback.
A tab near the seatback lever raises
when the seatback is unlocked.
7. Fold the seatback forward and down.
Seat Belt Clip on Side Trim

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 31
8. Place the outboard seat belt in the seatbelt clip (if equipped) on the side trim of
the vehicle.
9. Repeat Steps 1–8 for the other seatback and seat cushion, if desired.
Raising the Seatback
{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.
{Warning
A seat belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not
provide the protection needed in a crash.
The person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After raising the rear
seatback, always check to be sure that
the seat belts are properly routed and
attached, and are not twisted. To return the rear seatback to the normal
seating position:
Seat Belt Clip on Side Trim
1. Remove the outboard seat belt from the seat belt clip (if equipped) on the side
trim of the vehicle.
2. Lift the seatback and push it rearward to lock it in place. A tab near the seatback
lever retracts when the seatback is
locked in place.
Make sure the seat belts are not pinched
by the seatback locking mechanism. The center rear seat belt may lock when
you raise the seatback. If this happens,
let the belt go back all the way and start
again. If the seat belt is still locked, try
again after pulling the seat cushion out.
3. Push and pull the top of the seatback to be sure it is locked into position.
4. Return the seat cushion to its original position and push down on the front
part of the seat cushion until it latches.
Make sure the seat belts and seat belt
buckles are not trapped under the seat
cushion and are properly positioned
for use.
5. Repeat Steps 1–4 for the other seatback and seat cushion, if necessary.
If additional cargo space is not needed, the
seatbacks should be kept in the upright,
locked position.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
32 Seats and Restraints
Rear Seat Armrest
The rear seat has an armrest in the center
of the seatback. Lower the armrest to access
the cupholders.
To fold, lift the armrest up and push it
rearward until it is flush with the seatback.
Seat Belts
This section describes how to use seat belts
properly, and some things not to do.
{Warning
Do not let anyone ride where a seat belt
cannot be worn properly. In a crash,
if you or your passenger(s) are not
wearing seat belts, injuries can be much
worse than if you are wearing seat belts.
You can be seriously injured or killed by
hitting things inside the vehicle harder or
by being ejected from the vehicle. In
addition, anyone who is not buckled up
can strike other passengers in the vehicle.
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a
cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle.
In a collision, passengers riding in these
areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed. Do not allow passengers
to ride in any area of the vehicle that is
not equipped with seats and seat belts.
Always wear a seat belt, and check that
all passenger(s) are restrained
properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to
buckle the seat belts. See Seat Belt
Reminders 079.
Why Seat Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel as fast
as the vehicle does. If the vehicle stops
suddenly, you keep going until something
stops you. It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the seat belts!
When you wear a seat belt, you and the
vehicle slow down together. There is more
time to stop because you stop over a longer
distance and, when worn properly, your
strongest bones take the forces from the
seat belts. That is why wearing seat belts
makes such good sense.