2012 NISSAN XTERRA Owners Manual

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 and roll-
over air bags are located in the side roof rails.
These systems are designed to meet voluntary
guidelines to help reduce the risk of injury to
out-of-position occupants.However, all of the
information, cautions and warnings in this
manual still apply and must be followed.
The side air bags and curtain and rollover 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 side impact. They are designed
to inflate on the side where the vehicle is im-
pacted. They may not inflate in certain side colli-
sions.
Curtain and rollover air bags are also designed to
inflate in certain types of rollover collisions or near
rollovers. As a result, certain vehicle movements
(for example, during severe off roading) may
cause the curtain and rollover air bags to inflate.
Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always an
indication of proper side air bag and curtain and
rollover air bag operation.
When the side air bags and curtain and rollover
supplemental 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 condition 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 and rollover air bags
help to cushion the impact force to the head of
occupants in the front and rear outboard seating
positions. They can help save lives and reduce
serious injuries. However, an inflating side air bag
or curtain and rollover air bag may cause abra-
sions or other injuries. Side air bags and curtain
and rollover 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 and rollover air
bags inflate quickly in order to help protect the
occupants. Because of this, the force of the side
air bag and curtain and rollover air bag 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 and rollover air bags will remain in-
flated for a short time.
The side air bags and curtain and rollover
air bags operate only when the ignition
switch is in the ON or START 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
seconds if the system is operational.
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1-56Safety—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 and rollover 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 and rollover
air bag systems. This is to prevent dam-
age to or accidental inflation of the side
air bag and curtain and rollover 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
curtain and rollover 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 and rollover air bag systems
should be done by a NISSAN dealer.
Installation of electrical equipment
should also be done by a NISSAN
dealer. The SRS wiring harnesses*
should not be modified or discon-
nected. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices should
not be used on the side air bag or cur-
tain and rollover 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 bag and
curtain and rollover air bag systems and guide the
buyer to the appropriate sections in this Owner’s
Manual.
Seat belts with pretensioners (Front
seats)
WARNING
● The pretensioners cannot be reused af-
ter activation. They must be replaced
together with the retractor and buckle
as a unit.
● 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.
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-57

●If you need to dispose of a pretensioner
or scrap the vehicle, contact a NISSAN
dealer. Incorrect disposal procedures
could cause personal injury.
Working with the seat belt retractor, the preten-
sioner helps tighten the seat belt when the ve-
hicle becomes involved in certain types of colli-
sions, helping to restrain front seat occupants.
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. (See SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHT in this section for more de-
tails.) 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 LabelsThe 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.
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1-58Safety—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 or
START position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing 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 and rollover air bag
and pretensioner 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 and rollover 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 and rollover air bag
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.
Repair and replacement procedure
The front air bags, side air bags, curtain and
rollover 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 and
rollover air bags, pretensioners and related parts
should be pointed out to the person performing
the maintenance. The ignition switch should al-
ways be in the LOCK position when working
under the hood or inside the vehicle.
WARNING
● Once a front air bag, side air bag, or
curtain and rollover air bag has inflated,
the air bag module will not function
again and must be replaced. Addition-
ally, the activated pretensioners must
also be replaced. The air bag module
and pretensioner should be replaced by
a NISSAN dealer. The air bag module
and pretensioner cannot be repaired.
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Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-59

●The front air bag, side air bag, curtain
and rollover air bag systems and the
pretensioner system should be in-
spected by a NISSAN dealer if there is
any damage to the front end or side
portion of the vehicle.
● If you need to dispose of a supplemen-
tal air bag or pretensioner or scrap the
vehicle, contact a NISSAN dealer. Incor-
rect disposal procedures could cause
personal injury.
1-60Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

MEMO
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-61

2 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel...................................2-2
Meters and gauges ................................2-3
Speedometer and odometer . . ...................2-4
Tachometer ....................................2-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge ...............2-6
Fuel gauge ....................................2-7
Engine oil pressure gauge .......................2-8
Voltmeter ......................................2-8
Trip computer (if so equipped) ...................2-9
Compass display (if so equipped) ..................2-10
Compass display .............................. 2-10
Warning/indicator lights and audible reminders ......2-13
Checking bulbs ............................... 2-14
Warning lights ................................ 2-14
Indicator lights ................................ 2-19
Audible reminders ............................. 2-22
Security systems ................................. 2-23
Vehicle security system ......................... 2-23
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system .............2-24
Windshield wiper and washer switch ...............2-25
Switch operation .............................. 2-25
Rear window wiper and washer switch ..............2-26Rear window and outside mirror (if so equipped)
defroster switch
.................................. 2-27
Headlight and turn signal switch ....................2-27
Headlight control switch ........................ 2-27
Daytime running light system (Canada only) ......2-28
Instrument brightness control ...................2-29
Turn signal switch ............................. 2-29
Fog light switch (if so equipped) ................2-30
Off road lamps switch (if so equipped) ...........2-30
Hazard warning flasher switch .....................2-31
Horn ............................................ 2-31
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off switch ...........2-32
Hill descent control switch (if so equipped) ..........2-32
Electronic locking rear differential (E-Lock) system
switch (if so equipped) ............................ 2-33
Clutch interlock (clutch start) switch
(if so equipped) .................................. 2-34
P

ower outlet ..................................... 2-35
Storage ......................................... 2-36
Storage trays ................................. 2-36
Console box .................................. 2-37
Glove box .................................... 2-37

Sunglasses holder (if so equipped)..............2-38
Map pockets .................................. 2-38
Seat pockets (if so equipped) . ..................2-39
Cup holders .................................. 2-39
Cargo area storage . . .......................... 2-40
Luggage hooks ................................ 2-40
Cargo nets ................................... 2-42Roof rack
..................................... 2-43
Windows ........................................ 2-46
Power windows ............................... 2-46
Interior lights ..................................... 2-47
Map lights ....................................... 2-48
Cargo light ...................................... 2-49