ABS GMC YUKON 2021 User Guide

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
282 Driving and Operating
beyond the passed vehicle before returning
to the lane. Pass on level roadways. Avoid
passing on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with
one hand. To move the trailer to the left,
move that hand to the left. To move the
trailer to the right, move that hand to the
right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make wider arcs
when towing a trailer to prevent damage
to your vehicle. Making very sharp turns
could cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when towing,
so trailer will not go over soft shoulders,
over curbs, or strike road signs, trees,
or other objects. Always signal turns well in
advance. Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting down a long or steep
downhill grade. If the transmission is not
shifted down, the brakes may overheat and
result in reduced braking efficiency.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift the
transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes, engine
coolant will boil at a lower temperature
than at lower altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle
could show signs similar to engine
overheating. To avoid this, let the engine
run, preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see Engine
Overheating 0322.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer on a
level surface when possible.
When parking your vehicle and your trailer
on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the wheels into
the curb if facing downhill or into traffic
if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the brake pedal to
allow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
.Shift into a gear.
.Release the parking brake.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
Driving and Operating 283
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear ofthe chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Launching and Retrieving a Boat
Backing the Trailer into the Water
{Warning
.Have all passengers get out of the
vehicle before backing onto the sloped
part of the ramp. Lower the driver and
passenger side windows before
backing onto the ramp. This will
provide a means of escape in the
unlikely event the vehicle slides into
the water.
.If the boat launch surface is slippery,
have the driver remain in the vehicle
with the brake pedal applied while the
boat is being launched. The boat
launch can be especially slippery at
low tide when part of the ramp was
previously submerged at high tide. Do
not back onto the ramp to launch the
boat if you are not sure the vehicle
can maintain traction.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Do not move the vehicle if someone is
in the path of the trailer. Some parts
of the trailer might be underwater and
not visible to people who are assisting
in launching the boat.
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before
backing the trailer into the water to prevent
damage to the electrical circuits on the
trailer. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer from the water.
If the trailer has electric brakes that can
function when the trailer is submerged, it
might help to leave the electrical trailer
connector attached to maintain trailer brake
functionality while on the boat ramp.
To back the trailer into the water: 1. If equipped, place the vehicle in four-wheel-drive high.
2. Slowly back down the boat ramp until the boat is floating, but no further than
necessary.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet.
4. Have someone place chocks under the front wheels of the vehicle. 5. Gradually release the brake pedal to
allow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer.
6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift into P (Park).
7. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water 1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into a gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the sloped part of the boat
ramp, the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into the drive
mode that is appropriate for the road
conditions.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
288 Driving and Operating
coupler latched to the hitch ball, or a tow
eye latched to a pintle hook. Other trailers
may require a weight-distributing hitch that
uses spring bars to distribute the trailer
tongue weight between your vehicle and
trailer axles. See“Maximum Trailer Tongue
Weight Rating” underTrailer Towing 0284
for weight limits with various hitch types.
Avoid sharp turns when using a step-bumper
hitch to prevent damage. Make wider turns
to prevent contact between your trailer and
your bumper.
Hitch Cover
To remove hitch cover, if equipped:
1. Remove the two fasteners on the lower tabs (2).
2. Pull the lower edge of the cover to about a 45 degree angle.
3. Pull the cover upward to disengage the upper attachments (1).
To reinstall hitch cover: 1. Hold cover at a 45 degree angle to the vehicle and push the upper tabs into the
slots in the bumper.
2. Push the bottom of the cover forward until the lower tabs line up with the
lower slots.
3. Snap the hitch cover into place by pushing the upper corners forward (1).
4. Reinstall the two fasteners on the lower tabs (2). Consider using mechanical sway controls
with any trailer. Ask a trailering professional
about sway controls or refer to the trailer
manufacturer's recommendations and
instructions.
Weight-Distributing Hitch and
Adjustment
A weight-distributing hitch may be useful
with some trailers. Use the following
guidelines to determine if a
weight-distributing hitch should be used.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
326 Vehicle Care
and rear brake pad life percentages will not
display. However, the built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake pads are worn can
still determine when the pads should be
replaced. SeeBrakes0324.
To turn off the brake pad life system: 1. Display Brake Pad Life on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC) 0120.
2. Select DISABLE.
To turn the brake pad life system back on,
follow the above steps but select ENABLE in
Step 2.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is filled
with GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0312 for the
location of the reservoir. Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum marks
on the brake fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake
fluid level in the reservoir may go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When new
linings are installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic system.
Have the brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap
and the area around the cap before
removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding fluid
does not correct a leak. If fluid is added
when the linings are worn, there will be too
much fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it can
spill on the engine and burn, if the
engine is hot enough. You or others could
be burned, and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake fluid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low level,
the brake warning light comes on. See Brake
System Warning Light 0112.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time which
degrades the effectiveness of the brake fluid.
Replace brake fluid at the specified intervals
to prevent increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0384.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid
from a clean, sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0392.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake fluid
could result in damage to the brake
system. This could result in the loss of
(Continued)

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
Vehicle Care 327
Warning (Continued)
braking leading to a possible injury.
Always use the proper GM approved
brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the vehicle's
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Immediately wash off any
painted surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the cap
and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number shown on
the original battery label when a new
battery is needed. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview 0312 for battery location.
The vehicle has an Absorbed Glass Mat
(AGM) 12-volt battery. Installation of a
standard 12-volt battery will result in
reduced 12-volt battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery charger on the
12-volt AGM battery, some chargers have an
AGM battery setting on the charger. If available, use the AGM setting on the
charger, to limit charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
Follow the charger manufacturer's
instructions.
Stop/Start System
This vehicle has a Stop/Start system to shut
off the engine to help conserve fuel. See
Stop/Start System
0229.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Batteries also contain other chemicals
known to the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING.
For more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning 0309
and the back cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. See Jump
Starting - North America 0367 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery to keep
the battery from running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery or use a
battery trickle charger.
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to Maintenance Schedule 0384 to
determine when to check the lubricant.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
336 Vehicle Care
There are relays on the back of the fuse
block. To access, press the tabs and remove
the fuse block.The vehicle may not be equipped with all of
the fuses, relays, and features shown. Fuses Usage
Fuses Usage
F1 Right door
F2 Left door
F3 UGDO/OHC/camera
F4 BCM 2 F5 Displays
F6 Front blower
F8 Left door panel
F10 Tilt/column lock F11 USB/DLC
F12 CGM/onstar
F14 Right door panel F17 Steering wheel control
F18 AVM 1
F19 –
F20 –
F21 –
F22 Heated wheel
F23 –
F24 –

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
374 Vehicle Care
Dolly TowingCaution
Do not tow this vehicle with two wheels
on the ground, or vehicle damage could
occur. This damage would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Dolly towing this vehicle is not allowed with
either the front or the rear tires on the
ground for two-wheel drive or four-wheel
drive, regardless of transfer case.
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Locks
Locks are lubricated at the factory. Use a
de-icing agent only when absolutely
necessary, and have the locks greased after
using. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0392.
Washing the Vehicle
To preserve the vehicle's finish, wash it
often and out of direct sunlight.
Caution
Do not use petroleum-based, acidic,
or abrasive cleaning agents as they can
damage the vehicle's paint, metal,
or plastic parts. If damage occurs, it
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Approved cleaning products can
be obtained from your dealer. Follow all
manufacturer directions regarding correct
product usage, necessary safety
precautions, and appropriate disposal of
any vehicle care product.
Caution
Avoid using high-pressure washes closer
than 30 cm (12 in) to the surface of the
vehicle. Use of power washers exceeding
8 274 kPa (1,200 psi) can result in
damage or removal of paint and decals.
If using an automatic car wash, follow the
car wash instructions. The windshield wiper
and rear window wiper, if equipped, must
be off. Remove any accessories that may be
damaged or interfere with the car wash
equipment.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Cana-
da/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
418 Index
IndexA
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Additional InformationOnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . 390
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Agreements Trademarks and License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204, 207
Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . 209
Air Suspension Four Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . 64
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 64
What Will You See after an AirbagInflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 63 Airbag System (cont'd)
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Airbags Adding Equipment to the Vehicle . . . . . . . 69
Passenger Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . 69
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Rear Pedestrian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Antenna Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . 186
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . 267

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Cana-
da/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
Index 423
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204, 207
I
If the System Needs Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
IndicatorPedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . .72
Information Publication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409 Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Instrument Panel Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 142
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . 367
K
Keyless Entry Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .341
Lamps
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . 136
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . 141
Malfunction Indicator (CheckEngine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
LATCH System Replacing Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 83
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 Lights
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Four Corner Air Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Four-Wheel-Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Hill Descent Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119