tires NISSAN PATHFINDER 2023 Owner's Manual

AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss
of control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden
steering maneuvers, because these driving
practices could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle.
As with any vehicle, loss of control could
result in a collision with other vehicles or
objects or cause the vehicle to roll over,
particularly if the loss of control causes
the vehicle to slide sideways.
Be attentive at all times, and avoid driving
when tired. Never drive when under the in-
fluence of alcohol or drugs (including pre-
scription or over-the-counter drugs which
may cause drowsiness). Always wear your
seat belt as outlined in the “Safety – Seats,
seat belts and supplemental restraint sys-
tem” section of this manual, and also in-
struct your passengers to do so. Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in
collisions and rollovers.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
While driving, the right side or lef t side
wheels may unintentionally leave the road
surface. If this occurs, maintain control of
the vehicle by following the procedure be-
low. Please note that this procedure is only
a general guide. The vehicle must be driven
as appropriate based on the conditions of
the vehicle, road and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering
wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the ac- celerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while vehicle
speed is reduced. Do not attempt to
drive the vehicle back onto the road sur-
face until vehicle speed is reduced. 6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn
the steering wheel until both tires return
to the road surface. When all tires are on
the road surface, steer the vehicle to
stay in the appropriate driving lane.
• If you decide that it is not safe to return the vehicle to the road surface based
on vehicle, road or traffic conditions,
gradually slow the vehicle to a stop in
a safe place off the road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS
Rapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out” can
occur if the tire is punctured or is damaged
due to hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air
pressure loss can also be caused by driving
on under-inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the han-
dling and stability of the vehicle, especially
at highway speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by
maintaining the correct air pressure and
visually inspecting the tires for wear and
damage. For additional information, see
“Wheels and tires” (P. 8-28). If a tire rapidly
loses air pressure or “blows-out” while driv-
ing, maintain control of the vehicle by fol-
lowing the procedure below. Please note
that this procedure is only a general guide.
Starting and driving5-9

Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
• Spinning the front wheels on slippery
surfaces may cause the AWD
warning message to display and the
4WD system to automatically switch
from the 4WD to the 2WD mode. This
could reduce the traction. Be espe-
cially 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 ve-
hicle. 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. •
Do not shif t 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 attempt 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 accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low gear to control your
speed.
• Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly 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
suddenly and injure your hands. In-
stead 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 encounter-
ing 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 perfor-
mance capability of the tires, even
with 4WD engaged.
Starting and driving5-11

•For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result
in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
• Do not attempt to test an 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamom-
eters used by some states for emis-
sions testing), or similar equipment
even if the other two 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 dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment
may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal 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 center of gravity than a pas-
senger car. The vehicle is not de-
signed for cornering at the same
speeds as passenger cars.
• Failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly could result in loss of control
and/or a rollover accident.
• Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted, or radial), and tread pattern
on all four wheels. Install tire chains
on the front wheels when driving on
slippery roads and drive carefully.
• Be sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately af ter driving in mud or water.
For additional information, see
“Brake system” (P. 5-175).
• Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or side-
ways, you could be injured. •
Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. For addi-
tional information, see “Additional
maintenance items for severe oper-
ating conditions” (P. 9-7).
5-12Starting and driving

NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
The NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
will not allow the engine to start without
the use of the registered key.
If the engine fails to start using a registered
key (for example, when interference is
caused by another registered key, an auto-
mated toll road device or automatic pay-
ment device on the key ring), restart the
engine using the following procedure:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON posi-tion for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Place the ignition switch in the OFF or LOCK position, and wait approximately
10 seconds.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Restart the engine while holding the de- vice (which may have caused the inter-
ference) separate from the registered
key.
If the no start condition re-occurs, NISSAN
recommends placing the registered key on
a separate key ring to avoid interference
from other devices. • Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
• Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool- ant, brake fluid, and windshield-washer
fluid as frequently as possible, or at least
whenever you refuel.
• Check that all windows and lights are clean.
• Visually inspect tires for their appearance and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
• Lock all doors.
• Position seat and adjust headrests/head restraints.
• Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
• Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to do likewise.
• Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position. For additional information,
see “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P. 2-12). 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Confirm that the vehicle is in the P (Park)
position.
The Intelligent Key must be carried
when operating the ignition switch.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion. Depress the brake pedal and push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while de-
pressing the brake pedal with the igni-
tion switch in any position.
• If the engine is very hard to start in extremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to the
floor) and while holding, crank the en-
gine. Release the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.
• If the engine is very hard to start be- cause it is flooded, depress the accel-
erator pedal all the way to the floor
and hold it. Push the ignition switch to
the ON position to start cranking the
engine. Af ter 5 or 6 seconds, stop
cranking by pushing the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. Af ter
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the engine with
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-16Starting and driving

•Always check your surroundings and
turn to check what is behind you be-
fore and while backing up. The RAB
system detects stationary objects
behind the vehicle. The RAB system
does not detect the following ob-
jects:
– Moving objects
– Low objects
– Narrow objects
– Wedge-shaped objects
– Objects close to the bumper (less
than approximately 1 f t [30 cm])
– Objects that suddenly appear
– Thin objects such as rope, wire,
chain, etc.
• The RAB system may not operate for
the following obstacles:
– Obstacles located high off the
ground
– Obstacles in a position offset from
your vehicle
– Obstacles, such as spongy materi-
als or snow, that have sof t outer
surfaces and can easily absorb a
sound wave •
The RAB system may not operate in
the following conditions:
– There is rain, snow, ice, dirt, etc.,
attached to the sonar sensors.
– A loud sound is heard in the area
around the vehicle.
– The surface of the obstacle is di-
agonal to the rear of the vehicle.
• The RAB system may unintentionally
operate in the following conditions:
– There is overgrown grass in the
area around the vehicle.
– There is a structure (e.g., a wall, toll
gate equipment, a narrow tunnel,
a parking lot gate) near the side of
the vehicle.
– There are bumps, protrusions, or
manhole covers on the road
surface.
– The vehicle drives through a
draped flag or a curtain.
– There is an accumulation of snow
or ice behind the vehicle.
– An ultrasonic wave source, such as
another vehicle’s sonar, is near
the vehicle. •
Once the automatic brake control
operates, it does not operate again if
the vehicle approaches the same
obstacle.
• The automatic brake control can only
operate for a short period of time.
Therefore, the driver must depress
the brake pedal.
• In the following situations, the RAB
system may not operate properly or
may not function sufficiently:
– The vehicle is driven in bad
weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.).
– The vehicle is driven on a steep
hill.
– The vehicle’s posture is changed
(e.g., when driving over a bump).
– The vehicle is driven on a slippery
road.
– The vehicle is turned sharply by
turning the steering wheel fully.
– Snow chains are used.
– Wheels or tires other than NISSAN
recommended are used.
– The brakes are cold at low ambi-
ent temperatures or immediately
af ter driving has started.
Starting and driving5-135

•The AEB with Pedestrian Detection
system does not detect the following
objects:
– Pedestrians that are small (for ex- ample, children), in a sitting posi-
tion, operating toys/skateboards,
on scooters or in wheelchairs, or
not in an upright standing or
walking position.
– Animals of any size.
– Obstacles (for example, cargo or debris) on the roadway or
roadside.
– Oncoming or crossing vehicles.
– Vehicles where the tires are diffi- cult to see or the shape of the rear
of the vehicle is unclear or
obstructed.
– Parked vehicles.
• The AEB with Pedestrian Detection
system has some performance limi-
tations.
– If a stationary vehicle is in the ve-
hicle’s path, the system will not
function when the vehicle ap-
proaches the stationary vehicle at
speeds over approximately 50
mph (80 km/h). –
Pedestrian and cyclist detection
will not function when the vehicle
is driven at speeds over approxi-
mately 37 mph (60 km/h) or below
approximately 6 mph (10km/h).
• For pedestrians, the AEB with Pedes-
trian Detection system will not issue
the first warning.
• The AEB with Pedestrian Detection
system may not function properly or
detect a vehicle, pedestrians or cy-
clists ahead in the following condi-
tions:
– In poor visibility conditions (such
as rain, snow, fog, dust storms,
sand storms, smoke, and road
spray from other vehicles).
– If dirt, ice, snow, fog or other ma-
terial is covering the radar sensor
area or camera area of
windshield.
– If a strong light (for example, sun-
light or high beams) enters the
front camera or a sudden change
in brightness occurs (for example,
entering a tunnel or driving in
lightning). –
In dark or dimly lit conditions,
such as at night or in tunnels, in-
cluding cases where your vehi-
cle’s headlights are off or dim, or
the tail lights of the vehicle ahead
are off.
– When the direction of the camera
is misaligned.
– When driving on a steep downhill
slope, on roads with sharp curves,
and/or bumpy or dirt roads.
– If there is interference by other ra-
dar sources.
– When your vehicle’s position or
movement is changed quickly or
significantly (for example, lane
change, turning vehicle, abrupt
steering, sudden acceleration or
deceleration).
– When your vehicle or the vehicle,
pedestrian or cyclist ahead moves
quickly or significantly such that
the system cannot detect and re-
act in time (for example, pedes-
trian moving quickly toward the
vehicle at close range, vehicle cut-
ting in, changing lanes, making a
turn, steering abruptly, sudden
acceleration or deceleration).
5-142Starting and driving

• Keep your engine tuned up.
• Follow the recommended scheduledmaintenance.
• 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, see “Engine
oil and oil filter recommendations”
(P. 10-7).
If any malfunction occurs in the I-4X4 sys-
tem while the engine is running, messages
are displayed in the meter.
If the “AWD error” warning appears, there
may be a malfunction in the I-4X4 system.
Reduce vehicle speed and have your ve-
hicle checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer as soon as possible. The “AWD High Temp. Stop Vehicle” (high
temperature) warning appears when the
oil temperature of the powertrain parts will
increase due to the difference in rotation
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 freeing a stuck vehicle. If this warning is
displayed, stop the vehicle with the engine
idling, as soon as it is safe to do so. In these
cases, the 4WD changes to 2WD to protect
the powertrain parts. Then if the warning
turns off, you continue 4WD driving.
LSD3252LSD3253
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
INTELLIGENT 4X4 (I-4X4) (if so
equipped)
Starting and driving5-171

The “Tire Size Incorrect” warning may be
displayed if there is a large difference be-
tween the diameters of front and rear
wheels and tires. Pull off the road in a safe
area, with the engine idling. Check that all
tire sizes, brand, construction and tread
pattern are the same, that the tire pressure
is correct and that the tires are not exces-
sively worn. If you have any problems,
please change tires or adjust the correct
tire pressure. Do not select the SNOW, MUD/
RUT, or SAND modes with the Drive Mode
Selector and do not drive fast.
If any warning message continues to be
displayed, have your vehicle checked. It isrecommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
• For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result
in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
• Do not attempt to test an 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamom-
eters used by some states for emis-
sions testing) or similar equipment
even if the other two 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
equipment may result in drivetrain
damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal
injury.
CAUTION
• Do not operate the engine on a free
roller when any of the wheels are
raised.
• The powertrain may be damaged if
you continue driving with the “AWD
Error” warning on.
• If the warning message remains on
af ter the above operation, have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
• If the “AWD Error” warning appears
while driving, there may be a mal-
function in the 4WD system.
Reduce the vehicle speed and have
your vehicle checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
When the vehicle is in the P (Park) position,
the operation noise may be heard from the
lower part of the vehicle. This is not a
malfunction.
LSD3254
5-172Starting and driving

•Tire type and condition may also af-
fect braking effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
– When installing a spare tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. For ad-
ditional information, see “Tire and
Loading Information label”
(P. 8-30).
– For additional information, see
“Wheels and tires” (P. 8-28).
The ABS controls the brakes so the wheels
do not lock during hard braking or when
braking on slippery surfaces. The system
detects the rotation speed at each wheel
and varies the brake fluid pressure to pre-
vent each wheel from locking and sliding.
By preventing each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
Anti-lock Braking System will operate to
prevent the wheels from locking up. Steer
the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
Self-test feature
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in-
cludes electronic sensors, electric pumps,
hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start
the engine and move the vehicle at a low
speed in forward or reverse. When the self-
test occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise
and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal.
This is normal and does not indicate a mal-
function. If the computer senses a mal-
function, it switches the ABS off and illumi-
nates the ABS warning light on the instrument panel. The brake system then
operates normally, but without anti-lock
assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the ve-
hicle checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) oper-
ates at speeds abov
e3-6mph(5-10
km/h). The speed varies according to road
conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres-
sure. This action is similar to pumping the
brakes very quickly. You may feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal and hear a noise
from under the hood or feel a vibration
from the actuator when it is operating. This
is normal and indicates that the ABS is op-
erating properly. However, the pulsation
may indicate that road conditions are haz-
ardous and extra care is required while
driving.
5-176Starting and driving

When the vehicle information display is
used to turn off the system, the VDC sys-
tem still operates to prevent one drive
wheel from slipping by transferring power
to a non-slipping drive wheel. The
indicator light flashes if this occurs. All
other VDC functions are off and the
indicator light will not flash.
The VDC system is automatically reset to
on when the ignition switch is placed in the
OFF position then back to the ON position.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic fea-
ture that tests the system each time you
start the engine and move the vehicle for-
ward or in reverse at a slow speed. When
the self-test occurs, you may hear a clunk
noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and is not an indica-
tion of a malfunction.
WARNING
• The VDC system is designed to help
the driver maintain stability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or
by careless or dangerous driving
techniques. Reduce vehicle speed
and be especially careful when driv-
ing and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
• Do not modif y the vehicle's suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs, sta-
bilizer bars, bushings and wheels are
not NISSAN recommended for your
vehicle or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly. This could adversely af-
fect vehicle handling performance,
and the
indicator light may flash
or both theandindicator
lights may illuminate.
• If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and
both the
and theindicator
lights may illuminate. •
If engine control related parts are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, both the
andindicator lights may
illuminate.
• When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly and the
indicator
light may flash or both theandindicator lights may illuminate.
Do not drive on these types of roads.
• When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator light may
flash or both theandindi-
cator lights may illuminate. This is
not a malfunction. Restart the engine
af ter driving onto a stable surface.
• If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly and the
indicator
light may flash or both theandindicator lights may illuminate.
• The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow covered road.
5-178Starting and driving