4WD NISSAN PATHFINDER 2015 R52 / 4.G Owners Manual

For descriptions specified for 4-wheel drive
models, a4WDmark is placed at the beginning
of the applicable sections/items.
As with other vehicles with features for
off-road use, failure to operate 4-wheel
drive models correctly may result in loss of
control or an accident. Be sure to read
“Driving safety precautions” in the “Start-
ing and driving” section of this manual.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD DRIV-
ING
This vehicle will handle and maneuver
differently from an ordinary passenger
car because it has a higher center of
gravity for off-road use. As with other
vehicles with features of this type, fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or an accident.
For additional information, refer to “On-
pavement and off-road driving
precautions,” “Avoiding collision and
rollover” and “Driving safety precau-
tions” in the “Starting and driving” sec-
tion of this manual.
MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
This vehicle should not be modified.
Modification could affect its
performance, safety or durability and may
even violate governmental regulations. In
addition, damage or performance prob-
lems resulting from modifications may
not be covered under NISSAN warranties. This manual includes information for all features
and equipment available on this model. Features
and equipment in your vehicle may vary depend-
ing on model, trim level, options selected, order,
date of production, region or availability. There-
fore, you may find information about features or
equipment that are not included or installed on
your vehicle.
All information, specifications and illustrations in
this manual are those in effect at the time of print-
ing. NISSAN reserves the right to change specifi-
cations, performance, design or component sup-
pliers without notice and without obligation. From
time to time, NISSAN may update or revise this
manual to provide Owners with the most accurate
information currently available. Please carefully
read and retain with this manual all revision up-
dates sent to you by NISSAN to ensure you have
access to accurate and up-to-date information re-
garding your vehicle. Current versions of vehicle
Owner’s Manuals and any updates can also be
found in the Owner section of the NISSAN website
at
https://owners.nissanusa.com/nowners/
navigation/manualsGuide
. If you have ques-
tions concerning any information in your Owner’s
Manual, contact NISSAN Consumer Affairs. Re-
fer to NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE PROGRAM
page in this Owner’s Manual for contact informa-
tion.
WHEN READING THE MANUAL

Main Menu Selection
The items that display can be enabled/disabled
when the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position. To change the items that display.
Use the
button to select and the ENTER
button to change a menu item:
● Trip Computer
● Tire Pressures
● 4WD (if so equipped)
● Fuel Economy
Trip Computer
The trip computer can be enabled/disabled to
display in the vehicle information display when
the ignition switch is placed in the ON position.
From the “Main Menu Selection” select “Trip
Computer” to display in the vehicle information
display when the ignition is placed in the ON
position.
Tire Pressures
The tire pressures can be enabled/disabled to
display in the vehicle information display when
the ignition switch is placed in the ON position. From the “Main Menu Selection” select “Tire
Pressures” to display in the vehicle information
display when the ignition is placed in the ON
position.
4WD (if so equipped)
The 4WD can be enabled/disabled to display in
the vehicle information display when the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position.
From the “Main Menu Selection” select “4WD” to
display the 4WD information when the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position.
Fuel Economy
The fuel economy can be enabled/disabled to
display in the vehicle information display when
the ignition switch is placed in the ON position.
From the “Main Menu Selection” select “Fuel
Economy” to display in the vehicle information
display when the ignition is placed in the ON
position.
Body Color
The color of the vehicle that displays in the ve-
hicle information display when the ignition switch
is placed in the ON position can be changed.
1. scheduled service: oil and oil filter
2. tires
3. other
Maintenance
The maintenance mode allows you to set alerts
for the reminding of maintenance intervals. To
change an item:
1. Press the
button.
2. Use the
button until “Settings” is se-
lected, and press ENTER.
LIC2773
Instruments and controls2-21

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..................5-2
Three-way catalyst ..............................5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ..........5-3
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions ....................................5-6
Avoiding collision and rollover . . ..................5-6
Off-road recovery ...............................5-7
Rapid air pressure loss ..........................5-7
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................5-8
Driving safety precautions .......................5-8
Push-Button Ignition Switch .......................5-10
Operating range ............................... 5-11
Push-button ignition switch positions . . . .........5-11
Emergency engine shut off .....................5-12
NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery discharge .......5-12
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System .............5-13
Before starting the engine ......................... 5-13
Starting the engine ............................... 5-14
Remote start (if so equipped) ...................5-14
Driving the vehicle ................................ 5-15
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) ........5-15
Parking brake .................................... 5-18Blind Spot Warning (BSW) System
(if so equipped)
.................................. 5-19
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system ..............5-19
BSW system operation ........................ 5-20
BSW system precautions ......................5-22
BSW driving situations ......................... 5-23
Radar maintenance ............................ 5-26
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-27
RCTA system operation ........................ 5-27
RCTA system precautions ......................5-28
RCTA system operation ........................ 5-30
Radar maintenance ............................ 5-31
Cruise control .................................... 5-32
Precautions on cruise control ...................5-32
Cruise control operations .......................5-33
Break-in schedule ................................ 5-34
Fuel
efficient driving tips ........................... 5-34
Increasing fuel economy ........................... 5-36
Intelligent 4WD (if so equipped) ....................5-36
4x4–i system operation ........................ 5-36
Parking/parking on hills ............................ 5-40
Power steering ................................... 5-41

3. When appropriate, slowly release the accel-erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and contact a roadside emergency service to
change the tire. For additional information,
refer to “Changing a flat tire” in the “In case
of emergency” section of this manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream re-
duces coordination, delays reaction time
and impairs judgement. Driving after
drinking alcohol increases the likelihood
of being involved in an accident injuring
yourself and others. Additionally, if you
are injured in an accident, alcohol can
increase the severity of the injury. NISSAN is committed to safe driving. However,
you must choose not to drive under the influence
of alcohol. Every year thousands of people are
injured or killed in alcohol-related collisions. Al-
though the local laws vary on what is considered
to be legally intoxicated, the fact is that alcohol
affects all people differently and most people
underestimate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix! That is
true for drugs (over-the-counter, prescription)
and illegal drugs too. Don’t drive if your ability to
operate your vehicle is impaired by alcohol,
drugs, or some other physical condition.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your NISSAN is designed for both normal and
off-road use. However, avoid driving in deep wa-
ter or mud as your NISSAN is mainly designed for
leisure use, unlike a conventional off-road ve-
hicle.
Remember that 2-wheel drive models are less
capable than 4-wheel drive models for rough
road driving and extrication when stuck in deep
snow or mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
●
Spinning the front wheels on slippery
surface may cause the 4WD warning
message to display and the 4WD sys-
tem to automatically switch from the
4WD to the 2WD mode. This could re-
duce the traction. Be especially careful
when towing a trailer. (4WD models)
● Drive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Every person
who drives or rides in this vehicle
should be seated with their seat belt
fastened. This will keep you and your
passengers in position when driving
over rough terrain.
● Do not drive across steep slopes. In-
stead drive either straight up or straight
down the slopes. Off-road vehicles can
tip over sideways much more easily
than they can forward or backward.
● Many hills are too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you may stall. If
you drive down them, you may not be
able to control your speed. If you drive
across them, you may roll over.
5-8Starting and driving

●Do not shift gears while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
● Stay alert when driving to the top of a
hill. At the top there could be a drop-off
or other hazard that could cause an
accident.
● If your engine stalls or you cannot make
it to the top of a steep hill, never at-
tempt to turn around. Your vehicle could
tip or roll over. Always back straight
down in R (Reverse) gear and apply
brakes to control your speed.
● Heavy braking going down a hill could
cause your brakes to overheat and fade,
resulting in loss of control and an acci-
dent. Apply brakes lightly and use a low
gear to control your speed.
● Unsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Prop-
erly secure all cargo so it will not be
thrown forward and cause injury to you
or your passengers.
● Secure heavy loads in the cargo area as
far forward and as low as possible. Do
not equip the vehicle with tires larger
than specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to roll over. ●
Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel when driving off-road.
The steering wheel could move sud-
denly and injure your hands. Instead
drive with your fingers and thumbs on
the outside of the rim.
● Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers have
their seat belts fastened.
● Always drive with the floor mats in place
as the floor may become hot.
● Lower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher center
of gravity, your NISSAN is more affected
by strong side winds. Slower speeds
ensure better vehicle control.
● Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged.
● For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt to raise 2 wheels off the ground
and shift the transmission to any drive
or reverse position with the engine run-
ning. Doing so may result in drivetrain
damage or unexpected vehicle move-
ment which could result in serious ve-
hicle damage or personal injury. ●
Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped
vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer
(such as the dynamometers used by
some states for emissions testing) , or
similar equipment even if the other 2
wheels are raised off the ground. Make
sure you inform test facility personnel
that your vehicle is equipped with 4WD
before it is placed on a dynamometer.
Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
● When a wheel is off the ground due to
an unlevel surface, do not spin the
wheel excessively.
● Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
● If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high speeds.
Your NISSAN vehicle has a higher cen-
ter of gravity than a passenger car. The
vehicle is not designed for cornering at
the same speeds as passenger cars.
Starting and driving5-9

●Keep your engine tuned up.
● Follow the recommended scheduled main-
tenance.
● Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
● Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im-
proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
● Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
For additional information, refer to “Engine
oil and oil filter recommendations” in the
“Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.4X4–I SYSTEM OPERATION
WARNING
● Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires. Accelerating
quickly, sharp steering maneuvers or
sudden braking may cause loss of con-
trol, even with Intelligent 4WD engaged.
● For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt to raise 2 wheels off the ground
and shift the transmission to any drive
or reverse position with the engine run-
ning. Doing so may result in drivetrain
damage or unexpected vehicle move-
ment which could result in serious per-
sonal injury or vehicle damage. ●
Do not attempt to test an 4WD equipped
vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer
(such as the dynamometers used by
some states for emissions testing) or
similar equipment even if the other 2
wheels are raised off the ground. Make
sure that you inform the test facility
personnel that your vehicle is equipped
with 4WD before it is placed on a dyna-
mometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement which
could result in serious personal injury
or vehicle damage.
CAUTION
● Do not operate the engine on a free
roller when any of the wheels are
raised.
● If you use the free roller, rotate 4 wheels
with the same speed without raising
any wheels.
● If an 4WD warning message is dis-
played while driving there may be a
malfunction in the 4WD system. Reduce
the vehicle speed immediately and have
your vehicle checked by a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY INTELLIGENT 4WD (if so equipped)
5-36Starting and driving

●If the 4WD high temperature message is
displayed while you are driving, pull off
the road in a safe area, and idle the
engine. The driving mode will change to
2WD to prevent the 4WD system from
malfunctioning. If the warning message
turns off, you can drive again.
● If the tire size incorrect message is dis-
played while you are driving, pull off the
road in a safe area with the engine
idling. Check that all tire sizes are the
same, that the tire pressure is correct
and that the tires are not excessively
worn.
● If a warning message continues to be
displayed after the above operations,
have your vehicle checked by a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
4WD shift switch
The 4WD system is used to select the 2WD,
AUTO or LOCK mode depending on the driving
conditions.
Turn the 4WD mode switch, located on the cen-
ter console, to select 2WD, AUTO, or LOCK.
● 2WD – Turn the 4WD mode switch to the
2WD position. The 2WD indicator light in
the vehicle information display illuminates.
● AUTO – Turn the 4WD mode switch to the
neutral (AUTO) position. The 4WD AUTO
indicator light in the vehicle information dis-
play illuminates. ●
LOCK – To engage the LOCK mode, turn
the 4WD mode switch to the LOCK posi-
tion. The switch will return to the AUTO
position automatically and the 4WD LOCK
indicator light in the vehicle information dis-
play illuminates. To disengage the LOCK
mode, turn the switch to the LOCK position
again. The switch will return to the AUTO
position automatically, and the 4WD LOCK
indicator light turns into the AUTO indicator
light. The LOCK mode will automatically be
cancelled when the ignition switch is turned
to the OFF position.
LSD2206
Starting and driving5-37

4WD modeWheels driven4WD mode indicator
light Use conditions
2WD Front only – This mode
is used when driving on
a normal road *1 2WD
For driving on dry paved
roads.
AUTO Distribution of torque to
the front and rear
wheels changes auto-
matically depending on
road conditions
encountered. This re-
sults in improved driving
stability. AUTO
For driving on paved or
slippery roads.
LOCK 4-Wheel Drive *2 *3
LOCKFor driving on rough
roads.
*1 The 2WD mode may change to the 4WD mode automatically depending on the driving conditions.
*2 The LOCK mode will change to the AUTO mode automatically when the vehicle has been driven at
a high speed. The 4WD LOCK indicator light turns into the AUTO indicator light.
*3 The LOCK mode will automatically be cancelled when the ignition switch is turned to the OFF
position.
4WD shift tips
●
If the 4WD mode switch is operated while
making a turn, accelerating or decelerating,
or if the ignition switch is turned off while in
the AUTO or LOCK mode, you may feel a
jolt. This is normal.
● The oil temperature of power train parts will
increase if the vehicle is continuously oper-
ated under conditions where the difference
between the front and rear wheels is large
(wheel slip) , such as when driving the ve-
hicle on rough roads through sand or mud or
when freeing a stuck vehicle. In these cases,
the 4WD mode changes to the 2WD mode
to protect the powertrain parts.
● Brake distance in the 4WD mode is the
same as 2WD.
5-38Starting and driving

CAUTION
●Depending on the driving condition, the
4WD mode may automatically change
from 2WD to 4WD even when the 2WD
mode is selected. If this occurs while
driving, the 4WD mode indicator light
will not illuminate.
● Do not start the engine with the 4WD
mode switch in any mode in the follow-
ing cases:
– when the vehicle is placed on a fre- eroller or jacking up the vehicle with
the front tires raised and the rear
tires on the ground.
– when towing the vehicle with the rear tires raised from the ground.
● Operate the 4WD mode switch only
when driving straight. Do not operate
the 4WD mode switch when making a
turn or backing up.
● Do not operate the 4WD mode switch
with the front wheel spinning.
● Engine idling speed is high while warm-
ing up the engine. Be especially careful
when starting or driving on slippery sur-
faces with the 4WD mode switch set in
the AUTO mode.
4WD mode indicator lights
The 2WD, 4WD AUTO and LOCK mode indica-
tor lights are located in the vehicle information
display.
The 4WD mode indicator lights will display the
mode selected by the 4WD mode switch while
the engine is running.
The 4WD AUTO indicator light illuminates when
selecting the AUTO mode.
The 4WD LOCK indicator light illuminates when
selecting the LOCK mode and the 2WD indicator
light illuminates when selecting the 2WD mode.
Starting and driving5-39

●When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the VDC warning light may illumi-
nate. This is not a malfunction. Restart
the engine after driving onto a stable
surface.
● If wheels or tires other than the NISSAN
recommended ones are used, the VDC
system may not operate properly and
the VDC warning light may illuminate.
● The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.WARNING
● Never rely solely on the hill descent
control system to control vehicle speed
when driving on steep downhill grades.
Always drive carefully and attentively
when using the hill descent control sys-
tem and decelerate the vehicle speed by
depressing the brake pedal if neces-
sary. Be especially careful when driving
on frozen, muddy or extremely steep
downhill roads. Failure to control ve-
hicle speed may result in a loss of con-
trol of the vehicle and possible serious
injury or death.
● The hill descent control may not control
the vehicle speed on a hill under all load
or road conditions. Always be prepared
to depress the brake pedal to control
vehicle speed. Failure to do so may re-
sult in a collision or serious personal
injury.
The hill descent control system can only be acti-
vated when the 4WD LOCK switch is engaged.
The hill descent control system helps maintain
vehicle speed when driving under 15 MPH
(25 km/h) on steeper downhill grades. Hill de-
scent control is useful when engine braking alone
cannot control vehicle speed. Hill descent con- trol applies the vehicle brakes to control vehicle
speed allowing the driver to concentrate on
steering while reducing the burden of brake and
accelerator operation.
If the hill descent control light is blinking, the hill
descent control is engaged; however, the hill
descent control will not control the vehicle
speed.
● Once the system is activated, the indicator
light will remain on in the instrument panel.
For additional information, refer to “Hill de-
scent control system on indicator light” in the
“Instruments and controls” section of this
manual.
If the accelerator or brake pedal is depressed
while the hill descent control system is on, the
system will stop operating temporarily. As soon
as the accelerator or brake pedal is released, the
hill descent control system begins to function
again if the hill descent control operating condi-
tions are fulfilled.
For the best results, when descending steep
downhill grades, the hill descent control switch
should be ON and the shift lever in L (Low gear)
for engine braking.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
5-46Starting and driving