2013 NISSAN LEAF seats

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 side impact.
They are designed to inflate on the side where the
vehicle is impacted. They may not inflate in cer-
tain side collisions on the side where the vehicle
is impacted.
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 and
pelvic area of the front occupants. Curtain air
bags help to cushion the impact force to the head
of occupants in the front and rear outboard seat-
ing positions. They can help save lives and re-
duce serious injuries. However, side air bags and
curtain air bags may cause abrasions or otherinjuries. 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 bags. 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 in
the outboard seating positions. Because of this,
the force of the side air bags and curtain air bags
inflating can increase the risk of injury if the oc-
cupant is too close to, or is against, these air bag
modules during inflation. The side air bags and
curtain air bags will deflate quickly after the colli-
sion is over.
The side air bags and curtain air bags op-
erate only when the power switch is in the
ON position.
After turning the power switch to 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 systems are operational.
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 compo-
nents 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
side air bag and curtain air bag sys-
tems.
1-46Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

Tampering with the side air bag systemmay result in serious personal injury.
For example, do not change the front
seats by placing material near the
seatbacks 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 certified LEAF
dealer. Installation of electrical equip-
ment should also be done by a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer. The Supplemen-
tal Restraint System (SRS) wiring har-
nesses* should not be modified or dis-
connected. Unauthorized electrical
test equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the side air bag
and curtain supplemental air bag sys-
tems.
*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 side air bag and
curtain 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 after 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 ac-
tivated, be sure to have the preten-
sioner system checked and, if neces-
sary, replaced by a NISSAN certified
LEAF 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 activa-
tion of the pretensioners. Tampering
with the pretensioner system may re-
sult in serious personal injury. Work around and on the pretensioner
system should be done by a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer. Installation of
electrical equipment should also be
done by a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the preten-
sioner system.
If you need to dispose of a preten- sioner or scrap the vehicle, contact a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. Correct
pretensioner disposal procedures are
set forth in the appropriate NISSAN
Service Manual. Incorrect disposal
procedures could cause personal in-
jury.
The pretensioner system may activate with the
supplemental air bag system in certain types of
collisions. Working with the seat belt retractor, it
helps tighten the seat belt when the vehicle be-
comes involved in certain types of collisions,
helping to restrain front seat occupants.
The pretensioner is encased with the seat belt
retractor for both front seating positions. The
driver’s seat belt also has a pretensioner at the
outer floor anchor. These seat belts are used the
same way as conventional seat belts.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-47

When a pretensioner activates, smoke is re-
leased and a loud noise may be heard. The 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 for more details.) If the supplemental air bag
warning light indicates there is a malfunction,
have the system checked by a NISSAN certified
LEAF 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.
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.
1SRS air bag
The warning labels are located on the surface of
the sun visors.
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHT
The supplemental air bag warning light, display-
ing
in the instrument panel, monitors the
circuits of the Air bag Control Unit (ACU) , satel-
lite sensors, crash zone sensor, occupant classi-
fication sensors, the supplemental front-impact
air bag, front seat-mounted side-impact supple-
mental air bag, roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag and seat belt pretensioner
systems. The monitored circuits include air bag
systems, pretensioners and all related wiring.
1-48Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

When the power switch is 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 remainson 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 and pretensioner systems
may not operate properly. They must be checked
and repaired. Take your vehicle to the nearest
NISSAN certified LEAF 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 pre-
tensioner systems will not operate in an
accident. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer as soon as
possible.
REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
PROCEDURE
The front air bags, side air bags, curtain air bags
and pretensioners are designed to activate on a
one-time-only basis. As a reminder, unless it is
damaged, the supplemental air bag warning light
will remain illuminated after inflation has oc-
curred. Repair and replacement of these systems
should be done only by a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer.
When maintenance work is required on the ve-
hicle, the front air bags, side air bags, curtain air
bags and pretensioners and related parts should
be pointed out to the person performing the
maintenance. The power switch should always
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 air bag has inflated, the air bag
module will not function again and
must be replaced. Additionally, the ac-
tivated pretensioners must also be re-
placed. The air bag module and pre-
tensioner should be replaced by a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. The air
bag modules and pretensioner system
cannot be repaired.
The front air bag, side air bag and curtain air bag systems, and preten-
sioner system should be inspected by
a NISSAN certified LEAF 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 certified
LEAF dealer. Correct supplemental air
bag and pretensioner system disposal
procedures are set forth in the appro-
priate NISSAN Service Manual. Incor-
rect disposal procedures could cause
personal injury.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-49

NOTES
1-50Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

If the vehicle is being driven at speedsof less than 16 MPH (25 km/h) , the
TPMS may not operate correctly.
Be sure to install the specified size of tires to the four wheels correctly.
Master warning light
(red/yellow)
There are two types of master warning lights:
yellow and red. These lights illuminate if any
warning lights or indicator lights are illuminated or
if various vehicle information warnings appear in
the dot matrix liquid crystal display.
Yellow master warning light:
The yellow master warning light is located on the
upper display.
This light illuminates when a yellow warning light
on the lower display is illuminated or when a
message is displayed on the dot matrix liquid
crystal display.
Red master warning light:
The red master warning light is located on the
upper display.
This light illuminates when a red warning light on
the lower display is illuminated or when a warning is displayed on the dot matrix liquid crystal dis-
play.
Power steering warning
light
When the power switch is in the ON position, the
electric power steering warning light illuminates
and turn off when the power switch is placed in
the READY to drive position. This indicates the
electric power steering system is operational.
If the electric power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the READY to drive indicator light is
ON, it may indicate the electric power steering
system is not functioning properly and may need
servicing. Have the electric power steering sys-
tem checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
When the electric power steering warning light
illuminates while the READY to drive indicator is
ON, the power assist to the steering will cease
operation but you will still have control of the
vehicle. At this time, greater steering efforts are
required to operate the steering wheel, especially
in sharp turns and at low speeds.
See
Power steering system in theStarting and
driving section.
Seat belt warning
light
The light and chime remind you to fasten seat
belts. The light illuminates whenever the power
switch is placed in the ON position, and will
remain illuminated until the driver’s seat belt is
fastened. At the same time, the chime will sound
for approximately 6 seconds unless the driver’s
seat belt is securely fastened.
The seat belt warning light for the front passenger
will illuminate if the seat belt is not fastened when
the front passenger’s seat is occupied. The front
passenger seat belt warning light does not acti-
vate until 5 seconds after the power switch is in
the ON position.
SeeSeat belts in theSafety — Seats seat belts
and supplemental restraint system section for
precautions on seat belt usage.
Supplemental air bag warning
light
After turning the power switch to the ON posi-
tion, the supplemental air bag warning light will
illuminate. The supplemental air bag warning light
will turn off after about 7 seconds if the supple-
mental front air bag and supplemental side air
2-18Instruments and controls

bag, curtain side-impact air bag systems and/or
pretensioner seat belt are operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the front
air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag and preten-
sioner systems need servicing and your vehicle
must be taken to your nearest NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer.
The supplemental air bag warning light remainson after approximately 7 seconds.
The supplemental air bag warning light flashes intermittently.
The supplemental air bag warning light does not illuminate at all.
Unless checked and repaired, the Supplemental
Restraint Systems and/or the pretensioners may
not function properly.
For additional information, see Supplemental re-
straint system in theSafety — Seats seat belts
and supplemental restraint system section.
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 pre-
tensioner systems will not operate in an
accident. To help avoid injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle checked by a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer as soon as
possible.
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) warning light
The light will blink when the Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) system is operating, thus alerting
the driver that the vehicle is nearing its traction
limits. The road surface may be slippery.
When the VDC warning light illuminates with
VDC system turned on, this light alerts the driver
to the fact that the VDC system’s fail-safe mode
is operating, for example the VDC system may
not be functioning properly. Have the system
checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. If a
malfunction occurs in the system, the VDC sys-
tem function will be canceled but the vehicle is
still driveable. For additional information, see
Ve-
hicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system in the5
Starting and driving of this manual.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
Exterior light
indicator
This indicator illuminates when the headlight
switch is turned to the AUTO (if so equipped) ,
orposition and the front parking
lights, side maker lights, tail and license plate
lights are on. The indicator turns off when these
lights are turned off.
Front fog light indicator light (if
so equipped)
The front fog light indicator light illuminates when
the front fog lights are on. See Fog light switch (if
so equipped).
Front passenger air bag status
light
The front passenger air bag status light (located
on the center of the instrument panel) will be lit
and the passenger front air bag will be turned
OFF depending on how the front passenger seat
is being used.
For front passenger air bag status light operation,
see NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System (front
seats) in theSafety — Seats seat belts and
supplemental restraint system section of this
manual.
Instruments and controls2-19

The front seats and the rear outboard seats can
be warmed by built-in heaters. The switches lo-
cated on the center console and at the side of the
front passenger seatback can be operated inde-
pendently of each other.
1. Place the power switch in the ON position.
2. Push the LO or HI position of the switch, asdesired, depending on the temperature. The
indicator light in the switch will illuminate.
3. To turn off the heater, return the switch to the level position. Make sure the indicator light
goes off.
The heater is controlled by a thermostat, auto-
matically turning the heater on and off. The indi-
cator light will remain on as long as the switch is
on.
When the vehicle’s interior is warmed, or before
you leave the vehicle, be sure to turn the switch
off.
NOTE:
The heated seats consumes less power
than the heater and can be used to either
help extend vehicle range by reducing
heater use or to maximize comfort by
supplementing the heater. The vehicle should be driven with the Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system on for most driv-
ing conditions.
If the vehicle is stuck in mud or snow, the VDC
system reduces the traction motor output to re-
duce wheel spin. The traction motor speed will be
reduced even if the accelerator is depressed to
the floor. If maximum traction motor power is
needed to free a stuck vehicle, turn the VDC
system off.
To turn off the VDC system, push the VDC OFF
switch. The
indicator will illuminate.Push the VDC OFF switch again to turn on the
VDC system, or the VDC is automatically turned
back on when the power switch is placed in the
off position and then placed back in the READY
to drive position. See
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system in the5 Starting and driving
section.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
OFF SWITCH
2-48Instruments and controls