2012 NISSAN MAXIMA seats

The seat belt warning light may also illuminate if
the front passenger’s seat belt is not fastened
when the front passenger’s seat is occupied. For
7 seconds after the ignition switch is placed in
the ON position, the system does not activate the
warning light for the front passenger.
Refer to “Seat belts” in the “Safety—Seats, seat
belts and supplemental restraint system” section
for precautions on seat belt usage.
Supplemental air bag warninglight
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON or
START position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light illuminates for about 7 seconds and then
turns off if the SRS air bag systems are opera-
tional. This means the system is operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the air
bags and/or pretensioner systems need servic-
ing and your vehicle must be taken to a NISSAN
dealer:
● 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. Unless checked and repaired, the supplemental
restraint systems (air bag systems) and/or the
pretensioners may not function properly. For ad-
ditional details see “Supplemental restraint sys-
tem” in the “Safety—Seats, seat belts and
supplemental restraint system” section of this
manual.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning light
is on, it could mean that the front air bag,
side air bag, curtain air bag systems
and/or pretensioner systems will not op-
erate in an accident. To help avoid injury
to yourself or others, have your vehicle
checked by a NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) indicator
light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the light comes on for 2 seconds.
Continuously VariableTransmission (CVT) position
indicator light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the indicator light shows the shift selec-
tor position. See “Driving the vehicle” in the
“Starting and driving” section of this manual.
Cruise main switch indicatorlight
The light comes on when the cruise control main
switch is pushed. The light goes out when the
main switch is pushed again. When the cruise
main switch indicator light comes on, the cruise
control system is operational.
Front passenger air bag statuslight
The front passenger air bag status light will be lit
and the passenger front air bag will be OFF
depending on how the front passenger seat is
being used.
For front passenger air bag status light operation,
see “Front passenger air bag and status light” in
the “Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental
restraint system” section of this manual.
2-14Instruments and controls

To sound the horn, push near the horn icon of the
steering wheel.
WARNING
Do not disassemble the horn. Doing so
could affect proper operation of the
supplemental front air bag system. Tam-
pering with the supplemental front air bag
system may result in serious personal
injury.The front seats are warmed by built-in heaters.
The switch is located on the center console.
1. Start the engine.
2. Push the LO or HI position of the switch, as desired. The indicator light in the switch will
illuminate.
The heater is controlled by a thermostat,
automatically turning the heater on and off.
The indicator light will remain on as long as
the switch is on.
3. When the seat is warmed or before you leave the vehicle, be sure to turn the switch
off.
WARNING
Do not use or allow occupants to use the
seat heater if you or the occupants cannot
monitor elevated seat temperatures or
have an inability to feel pain in body parts
that contact the seat. Use of the seat
heater by such people could result in se-
rious injury.
CAUTION
●Do not use the seat heater for extended
periods or when no one is using the
seat.
● Do not put anything on the seat which
insulates heat, such as a blanket, cush-
ion, seat cover, etc. Otherwise, the seat
may become overheated.
● Do not place anything hard or heavy on
the seat or pierce it with a pin or similar
object. This may result in damage to the
heater.
● Any liquid spilled on the heated seat
should be removed immediately with a
dry cloth.
● When cleaning the seat, never use
gasoline, benzine, thinner, or any simi-
lar materials.
LIC1389LIC1543
HORN HEATED SEATS (if so equipped)
Instruments and controls2-35

●When not in use, be sure to close the
cap. Do not allow water or any other
liquid to contact the outlet.
MAP POCKETS SEATBACK POCKETS
The seatback pockets are located on the back of
the driver’s and passenger’s seats. The pockets
can be used to store maps.
LIC1393LIC0016
STORAGE
Instruments and controls2-39

Mechanical key
The Intelligent Key contains the mechanical key,
which can be used in case of a discharged bat-
tery.
To remove the mechanical key, release the lock
knob on the back of the Intelligent Key.
To install the mechanical key, firmly insert it into
the Intelligent Key until the lock knob returns to
the lock position.
The mechanical key can be used for operation in
the same way as an ordinary key.
CAUTION
Always carry the mechanical key installed
in the Intelligent Key slot.
See “Doors” in this section and “Storage” in the
“Instruments and controls” section of this manual.
Valet hand-off
When you have to leave a key with a valet, give
them the Intelligent Key itself and keep the me-
chanical key with you to protect your belongings.
To prevent the glove box and the trunk from being
opened during valet hand-off, follow the proce-
dures below. 1. Push the trunk cancel switch to the OFF position.
2. Remove the mechanical key from the Intelli- gent Key.
3. Lock the glove box and the trunk pass- through with the mechanical key.
4. Hand the Intelligent Key to the valet and keep the mechanical key with you.
See “Trunk lid” in this section, “Storage” in the
“Instruments and controls” section and “Seats” in
the “Safety — seats, seat belts and supplemental
restraint system” section of this manual.
NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM KEYS
You can only drive your vehicle using the master
keys which are registered to the NISSAN Vehicle
Immobilizer System components in your vehicle.
These keys have a transponder chip in the key
head.
The master key can be used for all the locks.
To protect belongings when you leave a key with
someone, give them the Intelligent Key only, not
the mechanical key.
Never leave these keys in the vehicle.
Additional or replacement keys:
If you still have a key, the key number is not
necessary when you need extra NISSAN Vehicle
Immobilizer System keys. Your dealer can dupli-
cate your existing key. As many as four NISSAN
Vehicle Immobilizer System keys can be used
with one vehicle. You should bring all NISSAN
Vehicle Immobilizer System keys that you have to
your NISSAN dealer for registration. This is be-
cause the registration process will erase the
memory of all key codes previously registered
into the NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System.
After the registration process, these components
will only recognize keys coded into the NISSAN
Vehicle Immobilizer System during registration.
SPA1951
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-3

INTERIOR TRUNK LID RELEASE
WARNING
Closely supervise children when they are
around cars to prevent them from playing
and becoming locked in the trunk where
they could be seriously injured. Keep the
car locked, with the rear seatback and
trunk lid securely latched when not in use,
and prevent children’s access to car keys.
The interior trunk lid release mechanism provides
a means of escape for children and adults in the
event they become locked inside the trunk. To open the trunk from the inside, pull the illumi-
nated release handle until the lock releases and
push up on the trunk lid. The release handle is
made of a material that glows in the dark after a
brief exposure to ambient light.
The handle is located inside the trunk compart-
ment on the interior of the trunk lid.
SECONDARY TRUNK LID RELEASE
(if so equipped)
For models with a rear center console, the trunk
can be accessed through the access panel be-
tween the rear seats, as shown. To open the trunk
lid from the rear seat:
● Fold down the center arm rest.
● Insert the mechanical key into the trunk com-
partment access lid lock. Fold down the
trunk compartment access lid. For more in-
formation on the mechanical key, see
“NISSAN Intelligent Key™” in this section.
● Pull the rear seat trunk release handle
1.
To close, push the trunk lid down securely.
WIC1401LPD0459
3-20Pre-driving checks and adjustments

MEMORY STORAGE FUNCTION
Two positions for the driver’s seat, steering col-
umn, and outside mirrors can be stored in the
automatic drive positioner memory. Follow these
procedures to use the memory system.1. Set the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) shift selector to the P (Park) position.
2. Place the ignition in the ON position.
3. Adjust the driver’s seat, steering column, and outside mirrors to the desired positions
by manually operating each adjusting
switch. For additional information, see
“Seats” in the “Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system” section and
“Outside mirrors” in this section.
During this step, do not place the ignition
switch in any position other than ON.
4. Push the SET switch and, within 5 seconds, push the memory switch (1 or 2) .
The indicator light for the pushed memory
switch will come on and stay on for approxi-
mately 5 seconds after pushing the switch.
After the indicator light goes off, the se-
lected positions are stored in the selected
memory (1 or 2) .
If a new memory is stored in the same memory
switch, the previous memory will be deleted.Linking a keyfob to a stored memory
position
Each keyfob can be linked to a stored memory
position (memory switch 1 or 2) with the follow-
ing procedure. 1. Follow the steps for storing a memory posi- tion.
2. While the indicator light for the memory switch being set is illuminated for 5 sec-
onds, press the
button on the keyfob. The indicator light will blink. After the indica-
tor light goes off, the keyfob is linked to that
memory setting.
With the ignition switch placed in the OFF posi-
tion, press the
button on the keyfob. The
driver’s seat and outside mirrors will move to the
memorized position.
NOTE:
If a new memory position is saved to the
memory switch, the keyfob automatically
re-links.
Confirming memory storage
● Place the ignition switch in the ON position
and push the SET switch. If the main memory
has not been stored, the indicator light will
come on for approximately 0.5 seconds.
When the memory has stored the position,
the indicator light will stay on for approxi-
mately 5 seconds.
● If the battery cable is disconnected, or if the
fuse opens, the memory storage function will
be canceled and must be restarted before a
stored memory position can be set again.
Drive the vehicle over 25 MPH (40 km/h) to
restart the memory storage function. You
can also restart the memory storage function
using the following procedure.
LRS2009
3-30Pre-driving checks and adjustments

avoid driving when tired. Never drive when under
the influence 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 system” section of this
manual, and also instruct your passengers to do
so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in colli-
sions and rollovers.In a rollover crash, an
unbelted or improperly belted person is
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
If the right side or left side wheels unintentionally
leave the road surface, maintain control of the
vehicle by following the procedure below. 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 accel-
erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the ve- hicle to follow the road while vehicle speed
is reduced. Do not attempt to drive the ve-
hicle back onto the road surface 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 ap-
propriate 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 handling
and stability of the vehicle, especially at highway
speeds. Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by maintain-
ing the correct air pressure and visually inspect
the tires for wear and damage. See “Wheels and
tires” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section of this manual. If a tire rapidly loses air
pressure or “blows-out” while driving, maintain
control of the vehicle by following the procedure
below. Please note that this procedure is only a
general guide. The vehicle must be driven as
appropriate based on the conditions of the ve-
hicle, road and traffic.
WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if
there is a sudden loss of tire air pressure.
Losing control of the vehicle may cause a
collision and result in personal injury.
●
The vehicle generally moves or pulls in
the direction of the flat tire.
● Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
● Do not rapidly release the accelerator
pedal.
● Do not rapidly turn the steering wheel.
5-6Starting and driving

●Do not apply wheel cleaners to the
wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as am-
bient temperature.
● Rinse the wheel to completely remove
the cleaner within 15 minutes after the
cleaner is applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
TIRE DRESSINGS
NISSAN does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating to
the tires to help reduce discoloration of the rub-
ber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires, it may
react with the coating and form a compound. This
compound may come off the tire while driving and
stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:
● Use a water-based tire dressing. The coat-
ing on the tire dissolves more easily than
with an oil-based tire dressing. ●
Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help
prevent it from entering the tire
tread/grooves (where it would be difficult to
remove) .
● Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry
towel. Make sure the tire dressing is com-
pletely removed from the tire tread/grooves.
● Allow the tire dressing to dry as recom-
mended by the tire dressing manufacturer. Occasionally remove loose dust from the interior
trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum
cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe the vinyl and
leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth damp-
ened in mild soap solution, then wipe clean with a
dry, soft cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in order to
maintain the appearance of the leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the manu-
facturer’s recommendations. Some fabric pro-
tectors contain chemicals that may stain or
bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water to clean
the meter and gauge lens.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classifica-
tion sensor. This can also affect the opera-
tion of the air bag system and result in
serious personal injury.
CLEANING INTERIOR
7-4Appearance and care