light NISSAN LEAF 2012 Owners Manual

EMERGENCY SHUT-OFF SYSTEM
The emergency shut-off system is activated and
the high-voltage system automatically turns off in
the following conditions:
- Front and side collisions in which the air bags
are deployed.
- Certain rear collisions.
- Certain EV (Electric Vehicle) system malfunc-
tions
For the above collisions and certain other EV
(Electric Vehicle) system malfunctions, the
READY to drive indicator light will turn off. See
“Warning/indicator lights and audible remin-
ders” in the “2. Instruments and controls”
section.
The emergency shut-off activates for the above
collisions to minimize risk of an event that could
cause injury or an accident. If the emergency
shut-off system activates, the EV system may
not be switched to READY to drive position,
contact a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. Even if
the power switch is switched to READY to drive
position, the system may shut-off suddenly.
Therefore, drive cautiously to the nearest
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer or contact a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer as soon as
possible.WARNING
.Pay special attention to pedes-
trians. Because there is no engine
noise, pedestrians may not know
the vehicle is approaching, moving
or about to move, and may step into
the path of vehicle travel.
. When leaving the vehicle, be sure to
turn off the EV (Electric Vehicle)
system.
. Be sure to push the P (Park) posi-
tion switch on the selector lever and
apply the parking brake when park-
ing because the vehicle can move
when the READY to drive indicator
light is ON. When the READY to
drive indicator light is ON, do not
leave your vehicle in a shift position
other than the P (Park) position.
. Keep the brake pedal depressed
until you are ready to drive. When
the vehicle is in the D (drive) posi-
tion or ECO or R (reverse) position,
if you release the brake pedal and
do not depress accelerator, the
vehicle will creep and may start
abruptly. This may cause serious injury or death.
NOTE:
. The vehicle cannot run with a dis-
charged Li-ion battery. Repeated accel-
eration consumes more power from the
Li-ion battery than driving at a steady
speed.
. This vehicle is equipped with a regen-
erative brake system. The primary pur-
pose of regenerative brake system is to
provide some power to recharge the Li-
ion battery and extend driving range. A
secondary benefit is “engine braking”
that operates based on Li-ion battery
conditions.
. In the D (Drive) position, when the
accelerator pedal is released, the re-
generative brake system provides
some deceleration.
. When you put the shift selector in the
ECO position and take your foot off the
accelerator pedal, more regenerative
brake is applied than in the D (Drive)
position.
. Less deceleration is provided by the
regenerative brake system when the Li-
EV OverviewEV-9
EV (Electric Vehicle)
CHARACTERISTICS

illuminates, the Li-ion battery charge is too low
for travel. See “Low battery charge warning
light” in the “2. Instruments and controls”
section. Charge the Li-ion battery as soon as
possible.
EV OverviewEV-19

The sound stops when the vehicle stops.
The sound does not stop with the vehicle in the
R (Reverse) position even if the vehicle stops.
WARNING
.If the sound cannot be heard, pe-
destrians may not notice the on-
coming vehicle, which may cause an
accident resulting in serious injury
or death. Immediately contact a
NISSAN certified LEAF for VSP
system inspection.
. If the VSP system warning light
illuminates while the power switch
is in the ON position, or in the
READY to drive position, it may
indicate the VSP system is not
functioning properly. Have the sys-
tem checked by a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer. See “Approaching Ve-
hicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP)
system warning light” in the “2.
Instruments and controls” section.

CHECKING BULBS
With all doors closed, apply the parking brake,
and push the power switch in the ON position.
The following lights will illuminate (if so
equipped):

—If the 12-volt charge warning light
turns off when the vehicle is in the
READY to drive mode, the 12-volt
battery may be discharged or there
may be a malfunction in the 12-volt
battery related system.
— If the 12-volt charge warning light
continues to illuminate when the
vehicle is in the READY to drive
mode, there may be a malfunction
in the DC/DC converter. Contact a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for
inspection.

0 Illustrated table of contents
Seats, seat belts and Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) ........................................................................... 0-2
Exterior front .............................................................................. 0-3
Exterior rear ............................................................................... 0-4
Passenger compartment ........................................................ 0-5 Cockpit ....................................................................................... 0-6
Instrument panel ...................................................................... 0-7
Meters and gauges ................................................................. 0-8
Motor compartment ................................................................ 0-9
Warning and indicator lights ............................................. 0-10

Driving range button
— Audio control
— Bluetooth
®Hands-Free Phone System control
6. Steering wheel
— Electric power steering system (P.5-21) — Horn (P.2-46)
— Driver’s supplemental air bag (P.1-36)
7. Wiper and washer switch (P.2-38)
8. Steering-wheel-mounted controls (right side)
— Cruise control switches (P.5-17)
9. Fuse box cover (P.8-16)
10. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF switch (P.2-48)
11. Headlight aiming control (P.2-44)
12. Immediate charge switch (P.CH-24)
13. Heated steering wheel switch (P.2-45)
14. Tilting steering wheel lever (P.3-19)
15. Heated seat switch (P.2-46)
16. Selector lever (P.5-12)
17. Electric parking brake (P.5-15)
*: if so equipped
COCKPIT

WARNING
.The front air bags ordinarily will not
inflate in the event of a side impact,
rear impact, rollover or lower sever-
ity frontal collision. Always wear
your seat belts to help reduce the
risk or severity of injury in various
kinds of accidents.
. The front passenger air bag will not
inflate if the passenger air bag
status light is lit or if the front
passenger seat is unoccupied. See
“Front passenger air bag and status
light” later in this section.
. The seat belts and the front air bags
are most effective when you are
sitting well back and upright in the
seat with both feet on the floor. The
front air bags inflate with great
force. Even with the NISSAN Ad-
vanced Air Bag System, if you are
unrestrained, leaning forward, sit-
ting sideways or out of position in
any way, you are at greater risk of
injury or death in a crash. You may
also receive serious or fatal injuries
from the front air bag if you are up
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-37

against it when it inflates. Always sit
back against the seatback and as
far away as practical from the steer-
ing wheel or instrument panel. Al-
ways use the seat belts.
. The driver and front passenger seat
belt buckles are equipped with
sensors that detect if the seat belts
are fastened. The Advanced Air Bag
System monitors the severity of a
collision and seat belt usage then
inflates the air bags as needed.
Failure to properly wear seat belts
can increase the risk or severity of
injury in an accident.
. The front passenger seat is
equipped with occupant classifica-
tion sensors (weight sensors) that
turn the front passenger air bag
OFF under some conditions. This
sensor is only used in this seat.
Failure to be properly seated and
wearing the seat belt can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an
accident. See “Front passenger air
bag and status light” later in this
section. .
Keep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could in-
crease the risk that they are injured
if the front air bag inflates.

your NISSAN certified LEAF dealer
to check the occupant classification
system.
. Until you have confirmed with your
dealer that your passenger seat
occupant classification system is
working properly, position the occu-
pants in the rear seating positions.
This vehicle is equipped with the NISSAN
Advanced Air Bag System for the driver and
front passenger seats. This system is designed
to meet certification requirements under U.S.
regulations. It is also permitted in Canada.
However, all of the information, cautions
and warnings in this manual still apply and
must be followed.
The driver supplemental front-impact air bag is
located in the center of the steering wheel. The
passenger supplemental front-impact air bag is
mounted in the instrument panel above the glove
box. The front air bags are designed to inflate in
higher severity frontal collisions, although they
may inflate if the forces in another type of
collision are similar to those of a higher severity
frontal impact. They may not inflate in certain
frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is
not always an indication of proper front air bag operation.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System has
dual stage air bag inflators. The system monitors
information from the Air bag Control Unit (ACU) ,
seat belt buckle sensors and the occupant
classification sensors (weight sensors) . Inflator
operation is based on the severity of a collision
and seat belt usage for the driver. For the front
passenger, the occupant classification sensors
are also monitored. Based on information from
the sensors, only one front air bag may inflate in
a crash, depending on the crash severity and
whether the front occupants are belted or
unbelted. Additionally, the front passenger air
bag may be automatically turned OFF under
some conditions, depending on the information
provided by the occupant classification sensors.
If the front passenger air bag is OFF, the
passenger air bag status light will be illuminated
(if the seat is unoccupied, the light will not be
illuminated, but the air bag will be off) . See
“Front passenger air bag and status light” later
in this section for further details. One front air
bag inflating does not indicate improper perfor-
mance of the system.
If you have any questions about your air bag
system, contact NISSAN or a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer. If you are considering modification
of your vehicle due to a disability, you may alsocontact NISSAN. Contact information is con-
tained in the front of this Owner’s Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise
may be heard, followed by release of smoke.
This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate
a fire. Care should be taken not to inhale it, as it
may cause irritation and choking. Those with a
history of a breathing condition should get fresh
air promptly.
Front air bags, along with the use of seat belts,
help to cushion the impact force on the head
and chest of the front occupants. They can help
save lives and reduce serious injuries. However,
an inflating front air bag may cause facial
abrasions or other injuries. Front air bags do
not provide restraint to the lower body.
Even with NISSAN Advanced Air Bags, seat
belts should be correctly worn and the driver
and passenger seated upright as far as practical
away from the steering wheel or instrument
panel. The front air bags inflate quickly in order
to help protect the front occupants. Because of
this, the force of the front air bag inflating can
increase the risk of injury if the occupant is too
close to, or is against, the air bag module during
inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a collision.
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-43