BUICK ENCORE 2021 Repair Manual

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
60 Seats and Restraints
the floor of the cargo area. The
cargo cover should remain off while
the top tether is in use.
2.3. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether according to your child
restraint instructions and the
following instructions:
If the position you are using does
not have a headrest or 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 headrest or 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 and you are using a single
tether, raise the headrest or head
restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and
in between the headrest or head
restraint posts.
If the position you are using has an
adjustable headrest or head
restraint and you are using a dual
tether, raise the headrest or head
restraint and route the tether under
the headrest or head restraint and
around the headrest or head
restraint posts.
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.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 61
Head Restraint Removal and
Reinstallation
The rear outboard head restraints can be
removed if they interfere with the proper
installation of the child restraint.
To remove the head restraint:1. Partially fold the seatback forward. See Rear Seats 028.
2. Press both buttons on the head restraint
posts at the same time, and pull up on
the head restraint.
3. Store the head restraint in a secure place. 4. When the child restraint is removed,
reinstall the head restraint before the
seating position is used.
{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.
To reinstall the head restraint:
1. Insert the head restraint posts into the holes in the top of the seatback. The
notches on the posts must face the
driver side of the vehicle.
2. Push the head restraint down.
If necessary, press the height adjustment
release button to further lower the head
restraint. See Rear Seats028.
3. Try to move the head restraint to make sure it is locked in place.
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
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.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
62 Seats and Restraints
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,
seeLower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 054 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) 054 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.
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
053.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat. For outboard second row seating
positions, remove the seat belt from the
guide. Do not secure the child restraint
with the seat belt routed through the
guide.
When installing a rear-facing child
restraint, it may be necessary to move
the front seat forward to properly install
the child restraint per the child restraint
manufacturer instructions.
If the head restraint interferes with the
proper installation of the child restraint,
the head restraint may be removed. See
"Head Restraint Removal and
Reinstallation" under Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH System) 054. 2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap
and shoulder portions of the vehicle seat
belt through or around the restraint. The
child restraint instructions will show
you how.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle untilit clicks.
Position the release button on the
buckle, away from the child restraint, so
that the seat belt could be quickly
unbuckled if necessary.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 63
4. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out ofthe retractor to set the lock. When the
retractor lock is set, the belt can be
tightened but not pulled out of the
retractor.5. 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. 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 4 and 5. 6. If the child restraint has a top tether,
follow the child restraint manufacturer's
instructions regarding the use of the top
tether. See Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH System) 054.
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.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the
vehicle seat belt and let it return to the
stowed position. If the top tether is attached
to a top tether anchor, disconnect it.
If the head restraint was removed, reinstall
it before the seating position is used. See
"Head Restraint Removal and Reinstallation"
under Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) 054 for additional
information on installing the head restraint
properly.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
64 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 53.
In addition, the vehicle has a passenger
sensing system which is designed to turn off
the front outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag (if equipped) under certain
conditions. See Passenger Sensing System
0 44 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator 080 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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
close to the inflating airbag. A child in a
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 044 for
additional information.
If the child restraint uses a top tether, see
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 054 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.
When the passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag and knee airbag (if
equipped), the OFF indicator on the
passenger airbag status indicator should
light and stay lit when you start the
vehicle. See Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator 080.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Seats and Restraints 65
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lapand shoulder portions of the vehicle seat
belt through or around the restraint. The
child restraint instructions will show
you how.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle untilit clicks.
Position the release button on the
buckle, away from the child restraint, so
that the seat belt could be quickly
unbuckled if necessary.
5. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out ofthe retractor to set the lock. When the
retractor lock is set, the belt can be
tightened but not pulled out of the
retractor.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. 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

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
66 Seats and Restraints
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 airbag or 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 044.
To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the
vehicle seat belt and let it return to the
stowed position.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Storage 67
Storage
Storage Compartments
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Instrument Panel Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Underseat Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Additional Storage Features
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Cargo Management System . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Roof Rack System
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
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.
Instrument Panel Storage
Pull the handle to open.
Pull up on the handle to open.
Glove Box
Lift up on the glove box lever to open it.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
68 Storage
Cupholders
If equipped, pull the rear seat armrest down
to access.
Underseat Storage
If equipped, there is storage under the front
passenger seat. Lift the end of the tray and
pull it forward to open. Push it in toward
the seat to close.
Center Console Storage
For vehicles with center console storage,
press the button and slide rearward to open.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Storage 69
Additional Storage Features
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.If equipped, use the cargo cover to cover
items in the rear of the vehicle.
To install, hang the loops on the liftgate
anchors.
Cargo Management System
This vehicle has a cargo management
system in the rear.
Pull the strap to lift.
Fold the load floor. Place the hook from the
load floor inside the hook on the side trim.