NISSAN PATHFINDER HYBRID 2015 Owners Manual

When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise
may be heard, followed by the release of smoke.
This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate a
fire. Care should be taken to not 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 face 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 pas-
senger 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 front air bag module during inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a collision.The front air bags operate only when the
ignition switch is placed in the ON position.
After placing the ignition switch in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7 sec-
onds if the system is operational.
Front passenger air bag and status light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF under some condi-
tions. Read this section carefully to learn
how it operates. Proper use of the seat,
seat belt and child restraints is necessary
for most effective protection. Failure to
follow all instructions in this manual con-
cerning the use of seats, seat belts and
child restraints can increase the risk or
severity of injury in an accident.
LRS0865
1-56Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

Status light
The front passenger seat is equipped with an
Occupant Classification Sensor (weight sensor)
that turns the front passenger air bag on or off
depending on the weight applied to the passen-
ger seat. The status of the passenger air bag (ON
or OFF) is indicated by a passenger air bag
status light
which is located on the instru-
ment panel.
After the ignition switch is placed in theON
position, the front passenger air bag status light
on the instrument panel illuminates for about
7 seconds and then turns off or remains illumi-
nated depending on the front passenger seat
occupied status. The light operates as follows:
●Unoccupied passenger’s seat: The
light is OFF and the front passenger air bag
is OFF and will not inflate in a crash.
●Passenger’s seat occupied by a small adult,
child or child restraint as outlined in the
Safety section of the owner’s manual:
The
light illuminates to indicate that
the front passenger air bag is OFF and will
not inflate in a crash.●Occupied passenger seat and the passen-
ger meet the conditions as outlined in the
Safety section of the owner’s manual:
The
light is OFF to indicate that the
front passenger air bag is operational.
In addition to the above, certain objects placed
on the front passenger seat may also cause the
light to operate as described above depending
on their weight.
For additional information related to the normal
operation and troubleshooting of this Occupant
Classification Sensor system, please refer to
“Normal operation” and “Troubleshooting” in this
section.
Front passenger air bag
The front passenger air bag is designed to auto-
matically turn OFF when the vehicle is operated
under some conditions as described below in
accordance with U.S. regulations. If the front
passenger air bag is OFF it will not inflate in a
crash. The driver air bag and other air bags in your
vehicle are not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help reduce
the risk of injury or death from an inflating air bag
to certain front passenger seat occupants, such
as children, by requiring the air bag to be auto-
matically turned OFF. Certain sensors are used to
meet the requirements.The occupant classification sensor in this vehicle
is a weight sensor. It is designed to detect an
occupant and objects on the seat by weight. For
example, if a child is in the front passenger seat,
the Advanced Air Bag System is designed to turn
the passenger air bag OFF in accordance with
the regulations. Also, if a child restraint of the type
specified in the regulations is on the seat, its
weight and the child’s weight can be detected
and cause the air bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who are
properly seated and using the seat belt as out-
lined in this manual should not cause the passen-
ger air bag to be automatically turned OFF. For
small adults it may be turned OFF, however if the
occupant takes his/her weight off the seat cush-
ion (for example, by not sitting upright, by sitting
on an edge of the seat, or by otherwise being out
of position) , this could cause the sensor to turn
the air bag OFF. Always be sure to be seated and
wearing the seat belt properly for the most effec-
tive protection by the seat belt and supplemental
air bag.
NISSAN recommends that pre-teens and chil-
dren be properly restrained in a rear seat.
NISSAN also recommends that appropriate child
restraints and booster seats be properly installed
in a rear seat. If this is not possible, the occupant
classification sensor is designed to operate as
described above to turn the front passenger air
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-57

bag OFF for specified child restraints as required
by the regulations. Failing to properly secure
child restraints and to use the ALR mode may
allow the restraint to tip or move in a collision or
sudden stop. This can also result in the passen-
ger air bag inflating in a crash instead of being
OFF. For additional information, refer to “Child
restraints” in this section for proper use and in-
stallation.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the
passenger air bag is designed not to inflate in a
crash. However, heavy objects placed on the
seat could result in air bag inflation, because of
the object’s weight detected by the occupant
classification sensor. Other conditions could also
result in air bag inflation, such as if a child is
standing on the seat, or if two children are on the
seat, contrary to the instructions in this manual.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle occupants
are seated and restrained properly.
Using the passenger air bag status light, you can
monitor when the front passenger air bag is au-
tomatically turned OFF with the seat occupied.
The light will not illuminate when the front pas-
senger seat is unoccupied.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the passen-
ger air bag status light is illuminated (indicating
that the air bag is OFF) , it could be that theperson is a small adult, or is not sitting on the seat
properly or not using the seat belt properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front seat,
the passenger air bag status light may or may not
be illuminated, depending on the size of the child
and the type of child restraint being used. If the air
bag status light is not illuminated (indicating that
the air bag might inflate in a crash) , it could be
that the child restraint or seat belt is not being
used properly. Make sure that the child restraint is
installed properly, the seat belt is used properly
and the occupant is positioned properly. If the air
bag status light is not illuminated, reposition the
occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.
If the passenger air bag status light will not illu-
minate even though you believe that the child
restraint, the seat belts and the occupant are
properly positioned, the system may be sensing
an unoccupied seat (in which case the air bag is
OFF) . Your NISSAN dealer can check that the
system is OFF by using a special tool. However,
until you have confirmed with your dealer that
your air bag is working properly, reposition the
occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.
The air bag system and passenger air bag status
light will take a few seconds to register a change
in the passenger seat status. For example, if a
large adult who is sitting in the front passenger
seat exits the vehicle, the passenger air bagstatus light will go from OFF to ON for a few
seconds and then to OFF. This is normal system
operation and does not indicate a malfunction.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger air
bag system, the supplemental air bag warning
light
, located in the meter and gauges area
of the instrument panel, will blink. Have the sys-
tem checked by a NISSAN dealer.
Normal operation
In order for the Occupant Classification System
to classify the right front passenger based on
weight, please follow the precautions and steps
outlined below:
Precautions
●Make sure there are no objects weighing
over 2.2 lbs (1 kg) hanging on the seat or
placed in the seat-back pocket.
●Make sure that a child seat or other object is
not pressing against the rear of the seat-
back.
●Make sure that a rear passenger is not push-
ing or pulling on the back of the front pas-
senger’s seat.
●Make sure that the front seat or seat-back is
not forced back against an object on the
seat or floor behind it.
1-58Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

●Make sure that there is no object placed
under the front passenger’s seat.
Steps
1. Adjust the seat as outlined in the “Seats”
section of the Owner’s Manual. Sit upright,
leaning against the seat back, and centered
on the seat cushion with your feet comfort-
ably extended to the floor.
2. Make sure there are no objects on the occu-
pant’s lap.
3. Fasten the seat belt as outlined in the “Seat
belts” section of the Owner’s Manual.
4. Remain in this position for 30 seconds al-
lowing the system to classify the passenger
before the vehicle is put into motion.
5. Ensure proper classification by checking the
passenger air bag status light.NOTE:
This vehicle’s Occupant Classification Sys-
tem locks the classification during driving
so it is important that you confirm that the
passenger is properly classified prior to
driving. Also, the Occupant Classification
System may recalculate the weight of the
occupant when the vehicle comes to a stop
(i.e stop light, stop sign etc.) , so front pas-
senger seat occupants should continue to
remain seated as outlined above.
Troubleshooting
If you think the passenger air bag status light is
incorrect:
1. If the light is ON with no front passenger and
no objects on the front passenger seat:
This may be due to the following conditions that
may be interfering with the weight sensors:
●An object weighing over 2.2 lbs (1 kg) hang-
ing on the seat or placed in the seat-back
pocket.
●A child seat or other object pressing against
the rear of the seat-back.
●A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the
back of the front passenger’s seat.●The front seat or seat-back is forced back
against an object on the seat or floor behind
it.
●An object placed under the front passen-
ger’s seat.
●An object placed between the seat cushion
and center console or between door and
cushion.
If the vehicle is moving please come to a stop
when it is safe to do so. Check and correct any of
the above conditions. Restart the vehicle and
wait one minute.
NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the passenger air bag status light
will remain lit for about 7 seconds initially.
If the light is still on after this, the vehicle should
be checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
2. If the light is ON with an adult occupying the
front passenger seat:
●Occupant is a small adult→the air bag light
is functioning as intended. The front passen-
ger air bag is suppressed.
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-59

However, if the occupant is not a small adult, then
this may be due to the following conditions that
may be interfering with the weight sensors:
●Occupant is not sitting upright, leaning
against the seat back, and centered on the
seat cushion with feet comfortably extended
to the floor.
●A child seat or other object pressing against
the rear of the seat-back.
●A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the
back of the front passenger’s seat.
●The front seat or seat-back is forced back
against an object on the seat or floor behind
it.
●An object placed under the front passen-
ger’s seat.
●An object placed between the seat cushion
and center console or between the seat
cushion and the door.
If the vehicle is moving please come to a stop
when it is safe to do so. Check and correct any of
the above conditions. Restart the vehicle and
wait one minute.NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the passenger air bag status light
will remain lit for about 7 seconds initially.
If the light is still on after this, the person should
be advised not to ride in the front passenger seat
and the vehicle should be checked by a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
3. If the light is OFF with small adult, child or
child restraint occupying the front passen-
ger seat.
This may be due to the following conditions
that may be interfering with the weight sen-
sors:
●Small adult or child is not sitting upright,
leaning against the seat back, and centered
on the seat cushion with feet comfortably
extended to the floor.
●The child restraint is not properly installed,
as outlined in the “Child restraints” section of
the Owner’s Manual.
●An object weighing over 2.2 lbs (1 kg) hang-
ing on the seat or placed in the seat-back
pocket.
●A child seat or other object pressing against
the rear of the seat-back.●A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the
back of the front passenger’s seat.
●The front seat or seat-back is forced back
against an object on the seat or floor behind
it.
●An object placed under the front passen-
ger’s seat.
●An object placed between the seat cushion
and center console.
If the vehicle is moving please come to a stop
when it is safe to do so. Check and correct any of
the above conditions. Restart the vehicle and
wait one minute.
NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the passenger air bag status light
will remain lit for about 7 seconds initially.
If the light is still OFF after this, the small adult,
child or child restraint should be repositioned in
the rear seat and the vehicle should be checked
by a NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
1-60Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

Other supplemental front-impact air bag
precautions
WARNING
●Do not place any objects on the steering
wheel pad or on the instrument panel.
Also, do not place any objects between
any occupant and the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Such objects may be-
come dangerous projectiles and cause
injury if the front air bags inflate.
●Immediately after inflation, several
front air bag system components will be
hot. Do not touch them; you may se-
verely burn yourself.
●No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the supplemental air bag system. This is
to prevent accidental inflation of the
supplemental air bag or damage to the
supplemental air bag system.
●Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle’s electrical system, sus-
pension system or front end structure.
This could affect proper operation of
the front air bag system.●Tampering with the front air bag system
may result in serious personal injury.
Tampering includes changes to the
steering wheel and the instrument
panel assembly by placing material
over the steering wheel pad and above
the instrument panel or by installing
additional trim material around the air
bag system.
●Removing or modifying the front pas-
senger seat may affect the function of
the air bag and result in serious per-
sonal injury.
●Modifying or tampering with the front
passenger seat may result in serious
personal injury. For example, do not
change the front seats by placing mate-
rial on the seat cushion or by installing
additional trim material, such as seat
covers, on the seat that are not specifi-
cally designed to assure proper air bag
operation. Additionally, do not stow any
objects under the front passenger seat
or the seat cushion and seatback. Such
objects may interfere with the proper
operation of the occupant classification
sensor (weight sensor) .●No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the seat belt system. This may affect the
front air bag system. Tampering with
the seat belt system may result in seri-
ous personal injury.
●Work on and around the front air bag
system should be done by a NISSAN
dealer. Installation of electrical equip-
ment should also be done by a NISSAN
dealer. The Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) wiring harnesses* should
not be modified or disconnected. Unau-
thorized electrical test equipment and
probing devices should not be used on
the air bag system.
●A cracked windshield should be re-
placed immediately by a qualified repair
facility. A cracked windshield could af-
fect the function of the supplemental air
bag system.
*The SRS wiring harness connectors are
yellow and orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the front air bag system
and guide the buyer to the appropriate sections
in this Owner’s Manual.
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-61

Front seat-mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag and roof-
mounted curtain side-impact and
rollover supplemental air bag systems
The side air bags are located in the outside of the
seatback of the front seats. The curtain air bags
are located in the side roof rails in all three rows.
All of the information, cautions and warn-
ings in this manual must be followed.The
side air bags and curtain air bags are designed to
inflate in higher severity side collisions, although
they may inflate if the forces in another type of
collision are similar to those of a higher severity
impact. They are designed to inflate on the sidewhere the vehicle is impacted. They may not
inflate in certain side collisions.
Curtain air bags are also designed to inflate in
certain types of rollover collisions or near roll-
overs. As a result, certain vehicle movements (for
example, during severe off-roading) may cause
the curtain air bags to inflate.
Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always an
indication of proper side air bag and curtain air
bag operation.
When the side air bags and curtain air bags
inflate, 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 con-
dition should get fresh air promptly.
Side air bags, along with the use of seat belts,
help to cushion the impact force on the chest of
the front occupants. Curtain air bags help to
cushion the impact force to the head of occu-
pants in the front and rear outboard seating po-
sitions in all rows. They can help save lives and
reduce serious injuries. However, an inflating
side air bag or curtain air bag may cause abra-
sions or other injuries. Side air bags and curtain
air bags do not provide restraint to the lower
body.The seat belts should be correctly worn and the
driver and passenger seated upright as far as
practical away from the side air bag. Rear seat
passengers should be seated as far away as
practical from the door finishers and side roof
rails. The side air bags and curtain air bags inflate
quickly in order to help protect the occupants.
Because of this, the force of the side air bags and
curtain air bags inflating can increase the risk of
injury if the occupant is too close to, or is against,
these air bag modules during inflation. The side
air bag will deflate quickly after the collision is
over.
The curtain air bag will remain inflated for a short
time.
The side air bags and curtain air bags op-
erate only when the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position.
After placing the ignition switch in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7 sec-
onds if the system is operational.
WRS0381
1-62Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

WARNING
●Do not place any objects near the seat-
back of the front seats. Also, do not
place any objects (an umbrella, bag,
etc.) between the front door finisher
and the front seat. Such objects may
become dangerous projectiles and
cause injury if a side air bag inflates.
●Right after inflation, several side air bag
and curtain air bag system components
will be hot. Do not touch them; you may
severely burn yourself.
●No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the side air bag and curtain air bag
systems. This is to prevent damage to or
accidental inflation of the side air bag
and curtain air bag systems.
●Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle’s electrical system, sus-
pension system or side panel. This
could affect proper operation of the cur-
tain air bag systems.●Tampering with the side air bag system
may result in serious personal injury.
For example, do not change the front
seats by placing material near the seat-
backs or by installing additional trim
material, such as seat covers, around
the side air bag.
●Work around and on the side air bag
and curtain air bag systems should be
done by a NISSAN dealer. Installation
of electrical equipment should also be
done by a NISSAN dealer. The SRS wir-
ing harnesses* should not be modified
or disconnected. Unauthorized electri-
cal test equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the side air bag
or curtain air bag systems.
* The SRS wiring harness or connectors are
yellow or orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the side air bags and
curtain air bag system and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this Owner’s Manual.
Seat belts with pretensioners (front
seats)
WARNING
●If the vehicle becomes involved in a
collision but a pretensioner is not acti-
vated, be sure to have the pretensioner
system checked and, if necessary, re-
placed by your NISSAN dealer.
●No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the pretensioner system. This is to pre-
vent damage to or accidental activation
of the pretensioners. Tampering with
the pretensioner system may result in
serious personal injury.
●Work around and on the pretensioner
system should be done by a NISSAN
dealer. Installation of electrical equip-
ment should also be done by a NISSAN
dealer. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices should
not be used on the pretensioner system.
●If you need to dispose of a pretensioner
or scrap the vehicle, contact a NISSAN
dealer. Incorrect disposal procedures
could cause personal injury.
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-63

The pretensioner system may activate with the
supplemental air bag system in certain types of
collisions. Working with the seat belt retractor,
the pretensioner helps tighten the seat belt when
the vehicle becomes involved in certain types of
collisions, helping to restrain front seat occu-
pants.
The pretensioner is encased with the seat belt
retractor. These seat belts are used the same way
as conventional seat belts.
When a pretensioner activates, smoke is re-
leased and a loud noise may be heard. 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.
After pretensioner activation, load limiters allow
the seat belt to release webbing (if necessary) to
reduce forces against the chest.
The supplemental air bag warning light
is
used to indicate malfunctions in the pretensioner
system. For additional information, refer to
Supplemental air bag warning light” in this sec-
tion. If the operation of the supplemental air bag
warning light indicates there is a malfunction,
have the system checked by a NISSAN dealer.When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the pretensioner system
and guide the buyer to the appropriate sections
in this Owner’s Manual.
1. SRS Air Bag Warning Labels
The warning labels are located on the sur-
face of the sun visor.
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LABELS
Warning labels about the supplemental front-
impact air bag system are placed in the vehicle as
shown in the illustration.
WRS0885
1-64Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHT
The supplemental air bag warning light,
displaying
in the instrument panel, moni-
tors the circuits for the air bag systems, preten-
sioners and all related wiring.
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning light
illuminates for about 7 seconds and then turns
off. This means the system is operational.If any of the following conditions occur, the front
air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag and preten-
sioner systems need servicing:
●The supplemental air bag warning light re-
mains on after approximately 7 seconds.
●The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
●The supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.
Under these conditions, the front air bag, side air
bag, curtain air bag or pretensioner systems may
not operate properly. They must be checked and
repaired. Take your vehicle to the nearest
NISSAN dealer.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning light
is on, it could mean that the front air bag,
side air bag, curtain air bag and/or preten-
sioner systems will not operate in an acci-
dent. To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have your vehicle checked by a
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
Repair and replacement procedure
The front air bags, side air bags, curtain air bags
and pretensioners are designed to inflate on a
one-time-only basis. As a reminder, unless it is
damaged, the supplemental air bag warning light
remains illuminated after inflation has occurred.
Repair and replacement of these supplemental
air bag systems should be done only by a
NISSAN dealer.
When maintenance work is required on the ve-
hicle, the front air bags, side air bags, curtain air
bags, pretensioners and related parts should be
pointed out to the person performing the mainte-
nance. The ignition switch should always be in
the LOCK position when working under the hood
or inside the vehicle.
LRS0100
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-65