Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)/Traction Control System
(TCS) Indicator/Warning Light
The Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system or
the Traction Control
System (TCS)
indicator/warning light
comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by the
dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the
indicator light goes off.
This light, along with the appropriate Driver Information
Center (DIC) messages, indicates when the ESC
system and the TCS are working or are disabled.If the light comes on and stays on, the TCS and
potentially the ESC system have been disabled. Check
the DIC messaging to determine which system is
turned off, or not working. If the system is not working,
the vehicle needs service. See your dealer/retailer.
When the TCS is disabled, wheel spin is not limited.
When the ESC system is disabled, the system does not
aid in maintaining vehicle directional control.
If the light comes on and flashes, the TCS or the ESC
system is actively working. When the LOW TRACTION
message appears, the system is limiting wheel spin.
When the ESC ACTIVE message appears, the system
is aiding in maintaining vehicle directional control.
SeeElectronic Stability Control (ESC) on page 5-6and
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7for more
information.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-41for
more information on the messages associated with
this light.
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DOOR AJAR
This message displays if one or more of the vehicle’s
doors are not closed properly. Make sure that the
door(s) are closed completely.
ENGINE DISABLED
This message displays if the starting of the engine is
disabled. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer immediately.
ENG (Engine) PWR (Power) REDUCED
This message displays when the vehicle’s engine power
is reduced. Reduced engine power can affect the
vehicle’s ability to accelerate. If this message is on, but
there is no reduction in performance, proceed to
your destination. The performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may be
driven at a reduced speed while this message is on, but
acceleration and speed may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, the vehicle should be taken to
your dealer/retailer for service as soon as possible.
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) ACTIVE
If your vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
this message displays and the ESC/TCS light on
the instrument panel cluster flashes when ESC is
assisting you with directional control of the vehicle. You
may feel or hear the system working and see this
message displayed in the DIC. Slippery road conditionsmay exist when this message is displayed, so adjust
your driving accordingly. This message may stay on for
a few seconds after ESC stops assisting you with
directional control of the vehicle. This is normal when
the system is operating. SeeElectronic Stability Control
(ESC) on page 5-6andElectronic Stability Control
(ESC)/Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/Warning
Light on page 4-29for more information.
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) OFF
If your vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
this message displays and the ESC/TCS light on
the instrument panel cluster comes on solid when ESC
is turned off. Adjust your driving accordingly. See
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on page 5-6and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning Light on page 4-29for
more information.
HOOD AJAR
This message displays if the hood is not fully closed.
Make sure that the hood is closed completely. The
vehicle will not auto stop when the hood is ajar.
ICE POSSIBLE
This message displays when the outside air temperature
is cold enough to create icy road conditions. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
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KEY FOB BATT (Battery) LOW
This message displays if the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter battery is low. Replace the battery in
the transmitter. See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on
page 3-4.
LOW FUEL
This message displays when your vehicle is low on fuel.
Refill the fuel tank as soon as possible. SeeFuel
Gage on page 4-35,Fuel on page 6-6, andFilling the
Tank on page 6-9for more information.
LOW TRACTION
This message displays and the ESC/TCS light on the
instrument panel cluster flashes when the system
is actively limiting wheel spin. Slippery road conditions
may exist if this message is displayed, so adjust
your driving accordingly. This message stays on for a
few seconds after the system stops limiting wheel spin.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning Light on page 4-29for
more information.
LOW WASHER FLUID
This message displays when the vehicle’s windshield
washer fluid is low. Fill the windshield washer fluid
reservoir to the proper level as soon as possible. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 6-30.
POWER STEERING
This message displays if a problem has been detected
with the electric power steering. Have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer/retailer immediately.
PUSH PARK PEDAL
This message displays if the parking brake is left
engaged. SeeParking Brake on page 3-29for more
information.
SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays when there is a problem with the
airbag system. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer immediately.
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SERVICE ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY
CONTROL)
This message displays and a chime sounds if there has
been a problem detected with ESC. The ESC/TCS
light also appears on the instrument panel cluster. This
light stays on solid as long as the detected problem
remains present. When this message displays, the
system is not working. Adjust your driving accordingly.
SeeElectronic Stability Control (ESC) on page 5-6
andElectronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning Light on page 4-29
for more information.
If this message turns on while you are driving, pull off
the road as soon as possible and stop carefully.
Try resetting the system by turning the ignition off and
then back on. If this message still stays on or turns back
on again while you are driving, your vehicle needs
service. Have the ESC inspected by your dealer/retailer
as soon as possible.
SERVICE HYBRID
This message displays if the hybrid components need to
be serviced. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer.
SERVICE TRACTION
This message displays and a chime sounds when the
system is not functioning properly. The ESC/TCS
light also appears on the instrument panel cluster. This
light stays on solid as long as the detected problem
remains present. When this message displays, the
system is not working. Adjust your driving accordingly.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7
andElectronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning Light on page 4-29
for more information. Have the system serviced by your
dealer/retailer as soon as possible.
SRVC (Service) HILL START
This message displays if there is a problem with the hill
start assist function. Have your vehicle serviced by
your dealer/retailer.
SVC (Service) TIRE MONITOR
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays if a part on the TPMS is
not working properly. The tire pressure light also
flashes and then remains on during the same ignition
cycle. SeeTire Pressure Light on page 4-30. Several
conditions may cause this message to appear. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on page 6-52for more
information. If the warning comes on and stays on, there
may be a problem with the TPMS. See your
dealer/retailer.
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TIRE LOW ADD AIR
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays when the pressure in
one or more of the vehicle’s tires is low on air. The low
tire pressure warning light also comes on. SeeTire
Pressure Light on page 4-30. If this message appears
on the DIC, stop as soon as you can. Have the tire
pressures checked and set to those shown on the Tire
Loading Information label. SeeTires on page 6-43,
Loading the Vehicle on page 5-20, andIn ation - Tire
Pressure on page 6-49. The DIC also shows the
tire pressure values. SeeDIC Operation and Displays
on page 4-38.
TRACTION OFF
This message displays and the ESC/TCS light on the
instrument panel cluster comes on solid when the
system is turned off. Adjust your driving accordingly.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7
andElectronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning Light on page 4-29
for more information.
TRUNK AJAR
This message displays when the trunk is not closed
completely. Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. SeeTrunk on page 3-12for more
information.
DIC Vehicle Personalization
Your vehicle has personalization capabilities that allow
you to program certain features to a preferred setting.
All of the features listed may not be available on
your vehicle. Only the features available will be
displayed on the DIC.
The default settings for the features were set when your
vehicle left the factory, but may have been changed
from their default state since that time.
To change feature settings, use the following procedure:
Entering Personalization Menu
1. Turn the ignition on while the vehicle is stopped.
To avoid excessive drain on the battery, it is
recommended that the headlamps are turned off.
2. Press and hold the information and reset buttons at
the same time for one second, then release to enter
the personalization menu.
If the vehicle speed is greater than 2 mph (3 km/h),
only the ECO TELLTALE menu and UNITS
menu will be accessible.
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Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............5-2
Defensive Driving...........................................5-2
Drunk Driving.................................................5-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................5-3
Braking.........................................................5-3
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................5-4
Braking in Emergencies...................................5-5
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)......................5-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................5-7
Steering......................................................5-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................5-11
Passing.......................................................5-12
Loss of Control.............................................5-12
Driving at Night............................................5-13Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................5-14
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................5-15
Highway Hypnosis........................................5-15
Hill and Mountain Roads................................5-16
Winter Driving..............................................5-17
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................5-19
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................5-20
Loading the Vehicle......................................5-20
Towing..........................................................5-25
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................5-25
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................5-25
Towing a Trailer...........................................5-28
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
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Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual
motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with
the use of alcohol, with about 250,000 people injured.
For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking — driver
or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance
of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than
if the person had not been drinking.Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control the vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator.
At times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to
ask more of those control systems than the tires and road
can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of the vehicle.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on page 5-6.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. SeeAccessories and Modi cations
on page 6-3.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 4-27.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a second.
But that is only an average. It might be less with one
driver and as long as two or three seconds or more
with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part.
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Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
The vehicle has an Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system which combines antilock brake, traction and
stability control systems and helps the driver maintain
directional control of the vehicle in most driving
conditions.
When you first start the vehicle and begin to drive away,
the system performs several diagnostic checks to ensure
there are no problems. The system may be heard or felt
while it is working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with the vehicle. The system should
initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h).
If the system fails to turn on or activate, the ESC/TCS
light will be on solid, and the ESC OFF or SERVICE ESC
message will be displayed.
For more information, seeDriver Information Center
(DIC) on page 4-37.
This light will flash on the
instrument panel cluster
when the ESC system
is both on and activated.The system may be heard or felt while it is working; this
is normal.
When the light is on solid and either the SERVICE ESC
or ESC OFF message is displayed, the system will not
assist the driver in maintaining directional control of the
vehicle. Adjust your driving accordingly. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4-41.
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system is
automatically enabled whenever the vehicle is started.
To assist the driver with vehicle directional control,
especially in slippery road conditions, the system should
always be left on. But, ESC can be turned off if needed.
If the vehicle is in cruise control when the system begins
to assist the driver maintain directional control of the
vehicle, the ESC/TCS light will flash and the cruise
control will automatically disengage. The cruise control
system may be re-engaged when road conditions allow.
SeeCruise Control on page 4-7.
The ESC/TCS button is
located on the vertical
surface in front of the
center console armrest.
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