fold seats BUICK ENCORE GX 2021 Owner's Manual

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
26 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Do not leave the transmitter or device that
disarms or deactivates the theft-deterrent
system in the vehicle.
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors
{Warning
A convex mirror can make things, like
other vehicles, look farther away than
they really are. If you cut too sharply
into the adjacent lane, you could hit a
vehicle that is driving next to you. Check
the inside mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex shaped.
A convex mirror's surface is curved so more
can be seen from the driver seat.
Power Mirrors
To adjust a mirror: 1. Press
}or|to choose the driver or
passenger mirror.
2. Press one of the four arrows on the control pad to move the mirror in the
desired direction.
3. Adjust each outside mirror so that a little of the vehicle and the area behind it can
be seen.
4. Press
}or|again to deselect the
mirror. If you do not deselect the mirror,
the mirror adjustment will turn off after
about one minute.
Memory Mirrors
The vehicle may have memory mirrors. See
Memory Seats 038.
Lane Change Alert (LCA)
The vehicle may have LCA. See Lane Change
Alert (LCA) 0235.
Folding Mirrors
Manual Folding Mirrors
(If equipped), the mirrors can be folded
inward by hand to prevent damage when
going through tight maneuvers such as an
automatic car wash. Afterward, fold the
mirror outward by hand to return it to the
original position.
Heated Mirrors
K:Press to heat the mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” underDual
Automatic Climate Control System 0182.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 33
Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . 44
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 48
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 53
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 54
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . 54
What Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Infants and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children(LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
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.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
34 Seats and Restraints
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.
To raise or lower the head restraint, press
the button located on the side of the head
restraint, and pull up or push the head
restraint down, and release the button. Pull
and push on 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 vehicle’s rear seats have adjustable head
restraints in the outboard seating positions.
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 it is locked in place.
To lower the head restraint, press the
button 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 it is locked in place.
Folding the Rear Head Restraint
The head restraint can be folded rearward to
allow for better visibility when the rear seat
is unoccupied.
To fold the head restraint, press the button
on the side of the head restraint.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 35
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-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Seats and Restraints 41
The heated seats will not turn on during a
remote start unless the heated seat feature
is enabled in the vehicle
personalization menu.
SeeRemote Vehicle Start 013 and
Vehicle Personalization 0114.
Folding Seatback
The front passenger seatback may fold 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. Where Are the
Airbags? 051. Vehicle Load Limits 0193.
{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 033
2. Move the seat as far back as possible. See Seat Adjustment 035 or
Power Seat Adjustment 035
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 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.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
42 Seats and Restraints
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. See
Vehicle Personalization0114.
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.
Caution
Folding a rear seat with the seat belts
still fastened may cause damage to the
seat or the seat belts. Always unbuckle
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 033.
2. Make sure the seat belt is in the
retainer hook
3. Pull the lever on top of the seatback tounlock the seatback. A red indicator near the seatback lever is
exposed when the seatback is unlocked.
4. Fold the seatback down. Repeat Steps 1–3 for the other seatback,
if desired.
Raising the 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.
{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 raise a seatback:

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 43
1. Lift the seatback up and push it rearwardto lock it in place.
A red indicator near the seatback lever
retracts when the seatback is locked in
place.
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.
2. Return the head restraint to the upright position. See Head Restraints 033.
3. Push and pull the top of the seatback to be sure it is locked into position.
4. Check if the seat belt is stowed within hook at side. If not, stow seat belt in it
appropriately.
5. Repeat the steps to raise the other seatback, if necessary.
When the seat is not in use, it should be
kept in the upright, locked position.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 095.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
46 Seats and Restraints
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 be able to
provide adequate protection. Never allow
seat belts to be routed under plastic trim
pieces.
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 64. 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
position on the seat, move the seat
rearward or recline the seat until the
shoulder belt retractor lock releases.
Engaging the child restraint locking
feature in the front outboard seating
position may affect the passenger
sensing system. See Passenger Sensing
System 055.
If the webbing locks in the latch plate
before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch
plate flat to unlock.

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Seats and Restraints 71
{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 065. 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, attach and tighten the top
tether to the top tether anchor,
if equipped. 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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196 Driving and Operating
front and rear axles, weigh the vehicle at a
weigh station. Your dealer can help with
this. Be sure to spread the load equally on
both sides of the centerline.
Caution
Overloading the vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not overload the
vehicle.
{Warning
Things inside the vehicle can strike and
injure people in a sudden stop or turn,
or in a crash.
.Put things in the cargo area of the
vehicle. In the cargo area, put them as
far forward as possible. Try to spread
the weight evenly.
.Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops of
the seats.
.Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in the vehicle.
.Secure loose items in the vehicle.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Do not leave a seat folded down
unless needed.
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Caution
The vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the
long run if you follow these guidelines:
.Do not drive at any one constant
speed, fast or slow, for the first
800 km (500 mi). Do not make
full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting
to brake or slow the vehicle.
.Avoid making hard stops for the first
300 km (200 mi) or so. During this
time the new brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with new linings
can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new
brake linings.
Following break-in, engine speed and load
can be gradually increased.
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic keyless ignition
with pushbutton start.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
must be in the vehicle for the system to
operate. If the pushbutton start is not
working, the vehicle may be near a strong
radio antenna signal causing interference to
the Keyless Access system. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation 07.
Stopping the Engine/Off (No Indicator
Lights)
When the vehicle is stopped, press ENGINE
START/STOP once to turn the engine off.