traction control NISSAN PATHFINDER 2023 Owners Manual

Genuine NISSAN accessory roof rack attach-
ments may be available through a NISSAN
dealer. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for additional information.
The service load capacity for the tubular
roof rack is 220 lbs. (100 kg.).
Be careful that your vehicle does not exceed
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or its
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR front and
rear).
For additional information regarding GVWR
and GAWR, refer to:
• F.M.V.S.S. or C.V.M.S.S. certification label
(located on the driver’s door pillar).
TIRE CHAINS
WARNING
Do not use tire chains with vehicles
equipped with 265/60R18 size tires.
Use of tire chains on this tire size would
cause damage to the suspension com-
ponents or the vehicle’s body compo-
nents. This damage could cause you to
lose control of the vehicle, leading to an
accident resulting in possible injury or
death.Use of tire chains may be prohibited ac-
cording to location. Check the local laws
before installing tire chains. When installing
tire chains, make sure they are the proper
size for the tires on your vehicle and are
installed according to the chain manufac-
turer's suggestions.Use only SAE class “S”
chains.Class “S” chains are used on ve-
hicles with restricted tire to vehicle clear-
ance. Vehicles that can use Class “S” chains
are designed to meet the minimum clear-
ances between the tire and the closest
vehicle suspension or body component re-
quired to accommodate the use of a win-
ter traction device (tire chains or cables).
The minimum clearances are determined
using the factory equipped tire size. Other
types may damage your vehicle. Use chain
tensioners when recommended by the
tire chain manufacturer to ensure a tight
fit. Loose end links of the tire chain must
be secured or removed to prevent the
possibility of whipping action damage to
the fenders or underbody. If possible, avoid
fully loading your vehicle when using tire
chains. In addition, drive at a reduced speed.
Otherwise, your vehicle may be damaged
and/or vehicle handling and performance
may be adversely affected.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving
with chains in such conditions can cause
damage to the various mechanisms of the
vehicle due to some overstress.
OFF-ROAD MODE (for Rock Creek)
When the shif t lever is out of the R (Reverse)
position, selecting the Drive Mode Selector
(SAND or MUD/RUT) affects the Intelligent
Around View® Monitor display as follows:
1. Selecting the Drive Mode Selector (SAND
or MUD/RUT) position will activate the
Intelligent Around View® Monitor. The
front view/front-side view split screen
will be displayed.
2. When the vehicle is shif ted to the Drive
Mode Selector (SAND or MUD/RUT) posi-
tion with the bird’s-eye view displayed,
the passenger side of the display will
change to the front-side view.
When in the off-road mode, the Intelligent
Around View® Monitor will not return to the
previous screen.
The screen displayed on the Intelligent
Around View® Monitor will automatically re-
turn to the previous screen 3 minutes af ter
the vehicle was shif ted out of the Drive
Mode Selector (SAND or MUD/RUT) position.

The MIL may stop blinking and come on
steady. Have the vehicle inspected. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service. You do not need to have
your vehicle towed to the dealer.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation without
having the emission control system
checked and repaired as necessary
could lead to poor driveability, reduced
fuel economy, and possible damage to
the emission control system.
Master warning light (if so
equipped)
When the ignition is in the ON position, the
master warning light illuminates if a
warning message appears in the vehicle
information display.
For additional information, see “Vehicle in-
formation display–7 inch (18 cm) Type A”
(P. 2-23) or “Vehicle information display—12.3
inch (31 cm) Type B” (P. 2-48).
Rear Automatic Braking
(RAB) system warning light
(if so equipped)
This light comes on when the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position. It turns
off af ter the engine is started.
This light illuminates when the RAB system
is turned off in the vehicle information
display.
If the light illuminates when the RAB sys-
tem is on, it may indicate that the system is
unavailable. For additional information, see
“Rear Automatic Braking (RAB)” (P. 5-130).
Slip indicator light
This indicator light will blink when the Ve-
hicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system is op-
erating, thus alerting the driver to the fact
that the road surface is slippery and the
vehicle is nearing its traction limits.
You may feel or hear the system working;
this is normal.
The light will blink for a few seconds af ter
the VDC system stops limiting wheel spin. The
indicator light also comes on
when you place the ignition switch in the
ON position. The light will turn off af ter ap-
proximately 2 seconds if the system is op-
erational. If the light does not come on
have the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) OFF indicator light
This indicator light comes on when the
VDC system is disabled in the vehicle infor-
mation display. This indicates the VDC sys-
tem has been turned off.
Enable the VDC system in the vehicle infor-
mation display or restart the engine and
the system will operate normally. For addi-
tional information, see “Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) system” (P. 5-177).
The VDC OFF indicator light also comes on
when you place the ignition switch in the
ON position. The light will turn off af ter
about 2 seconds if the system is opera-
tional. If the light stays on or comes on
along with the
indicator light while
you are driving, have the VDC system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
Instruments and controls2-21

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

SYSTEM TEMPORARILY
UNAVAILABLE
Condition A:
The warning and assist functions of the I-LI
system are not designed to work under the
following conditions:
• When you operate the lane change signaland change the traveling lanes in the di-
rection of the signal. (The I-LI system will
be deactivated for approximately 2 sec-
onds af ter the lane change signal is
turned off.)
• When the vehicle speed lowers to less than approximately 37 mph (60 km/h).
Af ter the above conditions have finished
and the necessary operating conditions
are satisfied, the warning and assist func-
tions will resume.
Condition B:
The assist function of the I-LI system is not
designed to work under the following con-
ditions (warning is still functional):
• When the brake pedal is depressed.
• When the steering wheel is turned as far as necessary for the vehicle to change
lanes.
• When the vehicle is accelerated during I-LI system operation. • When the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
approach warning occurs.
• When the hazard warning flashers are operated.
• When driving on a curve at high speed.
Af ter the above conditions have finished
and the necessary operating conditions
are satisfied, the I-LI system application of
the brakes will resume.
Condition C:
If the following messages appear in the
vehicle information display, the I-LI system
will be turned off automatically.
• “Not Available Poor Road Conditions” When the VDC system (except Traction
Control System [TCS] function) or ABS
operates.
• “Currently not available”: – When the VDC system is turned off.
– When the SNOW mode, or the MUD/ RUT mode or SAND mode (4WD mod-
els only) is selected.
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist,
turn off the I-LI system. Push the ProPILOT
Assist switch (for vehicles with ProPILOT
Assist) on the steering wheel again to turn
the I-LI system back on. Temporary disabled status at high
temperature:
If the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight
under high temperature conditions (over
approximately 104°F [40°C]) and then the
I-LI system is turned on, the I-LI system
may be deactivated automatically and the
following message will appear on the ve-
hicle information display: “Unavailable: High
Cabin Temperature.”
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
If the I-LI system malfunctions, it will cancel
automatically. The LDW indicator (orange)
and the “Not Available System Malfunction”
warning message will display. If the LDW
indicator (orange) and the warning mes-
sage appear in the display, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle. Turn
the engine/motor off and restart the
engine/motor. If the LDW indicator (orange)
and warning message continue to appear,
have the I-LI system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
Starting and driving5-51

When driving on some roads, such as wind-
ing, hilly, curved, narrow roads, or roads
which are under construction, the radar
sensor may detect vehicles in a different
lane, or may temporarily not detect a ve-
hicle traveling ahead. This may cause the
radar system to decelerate or accelerate
the vehicle.
The detection of vehicles may also be af-
fected by vehicle operation (steering ma-
neuver or traveling position in the lane, etc.)
or vehicle condition.If this occurs, the ICC system may warn you
by blinking the system indicator and sound-
ing the chime unexpectedly. You will have to
manually control the proper distance away
from the vehicle traveling ahead.
System Temporarily Unavailable
The following are conditions in which the
ICC system may be temporarily unavail-
able. In these instances, the ICC system
may not cancel and may not be able to
maintain the selected following distance
from the vehicle ahead.Condition A
Under the following conditions, the ICC sys-
tem is automatically canceled. A chime will
sound and the system will not be able to be
set:
• Any door is open.
• The driver’s seat belt is not fastened.
• The vehicle ahead is not detected and
your vehicle is traveling below the speed
of 15 mph (24 km/h). For ProPILOT Assist
with Navi-link equipped vehicles on a lim-
ited access freeway as identified in the
navigation map data, the ICC system
cancels and a warning chime sounds if
your vehicle is at a standstill for more
than approximately 3 seconds and a ve-
hicle is not detected ahead.
• Your vehicle has been stopped by the ICC system for approximately 3 minutes or
longer.
• The shif t lever is not in the D (Drive) posi- tion or manual shif t mode.
• The electronic parking brake is applied.
• The VDC system is turned off.
• The AEB with Pedestrian Detection ap- plies harder braking.
• VDC (including the traction control sys- tem) operates.
SSD0253
5-116Starting and driving

RF Exposure Information according 2.1091/
2.1093/OET bulletin 65:
Radiofrequency radiation exposure
information:
This equipment complies with FCC radia-
tion exposure limits set forth for an uncon-
trolled environment. This equipment
should be installed and operated with
minimum distance of 20 cm between the
radiator and your body.
The transmitter must not be co-located or
operating in conjunction with any other an-
tenna or transmitter.
For Canada
Type approval number:
IC: 3387A-FR5CPEC
Legal warning for RF equipment:
This device complies with Industry Canada
licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation
is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference,
and (2) this device must accept any inter-
ference, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and in-
structions for proper use of the I-DA
system could result in serious injury or
death.
• The I–DA system is only a warning to
inform the driver of a potential lack
of driver attention or drowsiness. It
will not steer the vehicle or prevent
loss of control.
• The I–DA system does not detect and
provide an alert of the driver’s lack of
attention or fatigue in every
situation.
• It is the driver’s responsibility to:
– stay alert,
– drive safely,
– keep the vehicle in the traveling lane,
– be in control of the vehicle at all times,
– avoid driving when tired,
– avoid distractions (texting, etc.). The I–DA system helps alert the driver if the
system detects a lack of attention or driv-
ing fatigue.
The system monitors driving style and
steering behavior over a period of time,
and it detects changes from the normal
pattern. If the system detects that driver
attention is decreasing over a period of
time, the system uses audible and visual
warnings to suggest that the driver take a
break.
INTELLIGENT DRIVER ALERTNESS
(I-DA)
Starting and driving5-165

BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force
than a conventional brake booster even
with light pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. It is the
driver’s responsibility to stay alert,
drive safely and be in control of the ve-
hicle at all times. The VDC system uses various sensors to
monitor driver inputs and vehicle motion.
Under certain driving conditions, the VDC
system helps to perform the following
functions:
• Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel
slip on one slipping drive wheel so power
is transferred to a non-slipping drive
wheel on the same axle.
• Controls brake pressure and engine out- put to reduce drive wheel slip based on
vehicle speed (traction control function).
• Controls brake pressure at individual wheels and engine output to help the
driver maintain control of the vehicle in
the following conditions:– Understeer (vehicle tends to not follow the steered path despite increased
steering input)
– Oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain road or driving conditions)
The VDC system can help the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle, but it can-
not prevent loss of vehicle control in all driv-
ing situations. When the VDC system operates, the
indicator light in the instrument panel
flashes so note the following:
• The road may be slippery or the system
may determine some action is required
to help keep the vehicle on the steered
path.
• You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or vibration from
under the hood. This is normal and indi-
cates that the VDC system is working
properly.
• Adjust your speed and driving to the road conditions.
For additional information, see “Slip indica-
tor light” (P. 2-21) and “Vehicle Dynamic Con-
trol (VDC) OFF indicator light” (P. 2-21).
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
andindicator lights come on in
the instrument panel. The VDC system au-
tomatically turns off when these indicator
lights are on.
The vehicle information display is used to
turn off the VDC system. The
indicator
light and the AEB with Pedestrian Detec-
tion system warning light illuminate to in-
dicate the VDC and AEB with Pedestrian
Detection systems are off.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-177

•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. • The ABLS system uses automatic brak-
ing to transfer power from a slipping drive
wheel to the wheel on the same axle with
more traction. The ABLS system applies
braking to the slipping wheel, which helps
redirect power to the other wheel.
• The ABLS system is always on. In some conditions, the system may automati-
cally turn the ABLS system off. If the sys-
tem is automatically turned off, normal
brake function will continue. ABLS will
function even when the Vehicle Dynamic
Control system is turned off.
• The ABLS does not operate if both wheels on a drive axle are slipping.
WARNING
• The ABLS system helps provide in-
creased traction, but will not prevent
accidents due to abrupt steering op-
eration or by careless driving or dan-
gerous driving practices. Reduce ve-
hicle speed and be especially careful
when driving and cornering on slip-
pery surfaces. Always drive carefully.
ACTIVE BRAKE LIMITED SLIP (ABLS)
SYSTEM
5-180Starting and driving

•Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shif ting too fast, the drive wheels will
lose even more traction.
• Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry
pavement.
• Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
• Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while on
the ice, and avoid any sudden steer-
ing maneuvers.
• Do not use the cruise control on slip-
pery roads.
• Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
Engine block heaters are used to assist
with cold temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20°F (-7°C)
or lower.
WARNING
• Do not use your engine block heater
with an ungrounded electrical sys-
tem or a 2-pronged adapter. You can
be seriously injured by an electrical
shock if you use an ungrounded
connection.
• Disconnect and properly store the
engine block heater cord before
starting the engine. Damage to the
cord could result in an electrical
shock and can cause serious injury.
• Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged
extension cord rated for at least 10 A.
Plug the extension cord into a
Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) pro-
tected, grounded 110-VAC outlet.
Failure to use the proper extension
cord or a grounded outlet can result
in a fire or electrical shock and cause
serious personal injury. To use the engine block heater:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine
block heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-volt AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be plugged in for at least2-4hours, de-
pending on outside temperatures, to
properly warm the engine coolant. Use
an appropriate timer to turn the engine
block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and properly store the cord to keep it away
from moving parts.
Starting and driving5-197

O6Term of “tubeless” or “tube type”
Indicates whether the tire requires
an inner tube (“tube type”) or not
(“tubeless”).
O7The word “radial”
The word “radial” is shown if the tire
has radial structure.
O8Manufacturer or brand name
Manufacturer or brand name is
shown.
Other Tire-related Terminology
In addition to the many terms that
are defined throughout this section,
Intended Outboard Sidewall is (1) the
sidewall that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering or bears
manufacturer, brand, and/or model
name molding that is higher or
deeper than the same molding on
the other sidewall of the tire, or (2)
the outward facing sidewall of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particu- lar side that must always face out-
ward when mounted on a vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
• When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e., Summer, All Season or Snow)
and construction. A NISSAN dealer
may be able to help you with infor-
mation about tire type, size, speed
rating and availability.
• Replacement tires may have a lower
speed rating than the factory
equipped tires, and may not match
the potential maximum vehicle
speed. Never exceed the maximum
speed rating of the tire.
• Replacing tires with those not origi-
nally specified by NISSAN could af-
fect the proper operation of the low
tire pressure warning system. •
Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction and tread
pattern on all four wheels. Failure to
do so may result in a circumference
difference between tires on the front
and rear axles which can cause the
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) sys-
tem to malfunction resulting in per-
sonal injury or death, excessive tire
wear and may damage the transmis-
sion and differential gears.
• For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety In-
formation” (Canada) in the Warranty
Information Booklet.
All season tires
NISSAN specifies All Season tires on some
models to provide good performance all
year, including snowy and icy road condi-
tions. All Season tires are identified by ALL
SEASON and/or M&S on the tire sidewall.
Snow tires have better snow traction than
All Season tires and may be more appropri-
ate in some areas.
Do-it-yourself8-37