Fuel and Refueling Safety Precautions......................................148
Fuel Quality....................................................149
Refueling .........................................................149
Running Out of Fuel.....................................153
Fuel Consumption.......................................156
Emission Control System...........................157
High Voltage Battery General Information....................................160
Charging the High Voltage Battery.........161
High Voltage Battery Cut-Off
Switch...........................................................164
Transmission Automatic Transmission...........................166
Brakes General Information....................................169
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock
Brakes...........................................................170
Electric Parking Brake.................................170
Hill Start Assist...............................................172
Traction Control Principle of Operation.................................174
Using Traction Control................................174
Stability Control Principle of Operation.................................175
Using Stability Control................................175
Parking Aids Parking Aid......................................................176
Active Park Assist.........................................178
Rear View Camera........................................181
Cruise Control
Principle of Operation.................................185
Using Cruise Control....................................185 Using Adaptive Cruise Control................186
Driving Aids Driver Alert......................................................192
Lane Keeping System.................................193
Blind Spot Monitor.......................................197
Steering ............................................................ 201
Collision Warning System........................202
Load Carrying Load Limit......................................................205
Towing Towing a Trailer..............................................213
Transporting the Vehicle............................213
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels......213
Driving Hints Breaking-In ...................................................... 215
Economical Driving......................................215
Driving Through Water................................215
Floor Mats........................................................216
Customer Assistance Getting the Services You Need................218
In California (U.S. Only).............................219
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto
Line Program (U.S. Only).....................220
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration
Program (Canada Only).......................220
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and
Canada.........................................................221
Ordering Additional Owner's
Literature.....................................................222
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S.
Only).............................................................222
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada
Only).............................................................223
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance..................................224
3Table of Contents
Pregnant women should always wear their
safety belt. The lap belt portion of a
combination lap and shoulder belt should
be positioned low across the hips below
the belly and worn as tight as comfort will
allow. The shoulder belt should be
positioned to cross the middle of the
shoulder and the center of the chest.
Safety Belt Locking Modes WARNINGS
After any vehicle crash, the safety
belt system at all passenger seating
positions must be checked by an
authorized dealer to verify that the
automatic locking retractor feature for
child seats is still functioning properly. In
addition, all safety belts should be checked
for proper function.
Belt and retractor assembly must be
replaced if the safety belt assembly
automatic locking retractor feature
or any other safety belt function is not
operating properly when checked by an
authorized dealer. Failure to replace the
belt and retractor assembly could increase
the risk of injury in crashes.
All safety restraints in the vehicle are
combination lap and shoulder belts. The
driver safety belt has the first type of
locking mode, and the front outboard
passenger and rear seat safety belts have
both types of locking modes described as
follows: Vehicle Sensitive Mode
This is the normal retractor mode, which
allows free shoulder belt length
adjustment to your movements and
locking in response to vehicle movement.
For example, if the driver brakes suddenly
or turns a corner sharply, or the vehicle
receives an impact of approximately 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more, the combination safety
belts will lock to help reduce forward
movement of the driver and passengers.
In addition, the retractor is designed to lock
if the webbing is pulled out too quickly. If
this occurs, let the belt retract slightly and
pull webbing out again in a slow and
controlled manner.
Automatic Locking Mode
In this mode, the shoulder belt is
automatically pre-locked. The belt will still
retract to remove any slack in the shoulder
belt. The automatic locking mode is not
available on the driver safety belt.
When to Use the Automatic Locking
Mode
This mode should be used any time a child
safety seat, except a booster, is installed
in passenger front or rear seating positions.
Children 12 years old and under should be
properly restrained in a rear seating
position whenever possible. See Child
Safety (page 13).
How to Use the Automatic Locking
Mode
Non-inflatable safety belts
27Safety Belts
Right Information Display Efficiency Leaves
Efficiency leaves indicate short term driving
efficiency. The more leaves and vines that
are displayed, the better your fuel
economy. Leaves and vines will
occasionally appear and disappear to
indicate a change in driving efficiency.
Note: The efficiency leaves display can be
impacted by your use of brakes, accelerator
and accessories, as well as environmental
conditions such as hills and weather.
Common Displays Fuel Economy Displays:
Displays your average and instantaneous
fuel economy on most Display Mode
screens.
Note: You can reset your average fuel
economy by pressing and holding the OK
button on the left hand steering wheel
controls.
• Average Fuel Economy - is
continuously averaged since the last
reset. You can reset your average fuel
economy by pressing and holding the
OK button on the left hand steering
wheel controls. For Energi vehicles both
Hybrid and Plug-in Power mode
operation will be included in the
calculation.
• Instantaneous Fuel Economy - If your
instantaneous fuel economy is greater
than the maximum value displayed, a
+ sign will be shown next to the
maximum scale number. When the
vehicle is operating on battery power
only, EV is displayed and the gauge fill
is shown in blue. Battery Gauge:
Note: Battery gauge information can be
individually selected on or off through
Battery Display in the Options sub-menu.
From any main display a right arrow press
on the steering wheel controls will take you
to the Options sub-menu.
Note: For Energi vehicles there are two
versions of the battery gauge. When the
vehicle is in Hybrid Mode the information is
shown with a simple battery graphic. When
in Plug-in Power Mode an enhanced battery
graphic is provided and available electric
range is added to the display.
The high voltage battery gauge appears
on the right side of the information display
screen. This provides Charge Fill (State of
Charge), Charge Assist and Regen Display.
• Charge Fill (Hybrid Mode) - The fill
level, or State of Charge indicates the
amount of energy stored in the high
voltage battery as a percent of total
energy capacity. The level will increase
or decrease as the battery charges and
discharges during normal operation,
but the hybrid system will attempt to
control the level to approximately the
middle of the gauge under most driving
conditions.
• Charge Fill (Energi Plug-in Power
Mode) - The fill level indicates the
amount of energy stored in the high
voltage battery which is available for
Plug-in Power Mode. A full fill
represents the total amount of energy
you can get from an external charge
(plugging your vehicle in). When the fill
reaches empty your vehicle will
automatically enter Hybrid Mode.
Note: The Charge Fill is always shown for
Plug-in Power Mode, even if Charge Fill is
not selected under Battery Display in the
Options sub-menu.
80Instrument Cluster
• You can reset the timer by interacting
with your vehicle (such as pressing the
brake pedal or accelerator pedal).
• You can temporarily switch off the
shutdown feature any time the ignition
is on (for the current ignition cycle
only). Use the information display to
do so. See Information Displays
(page 86).
• During the countdown before
shutdown, you are prompted to press
OK or RESET (depending on your type
of information display) to temporarily
switch the feature off (for the current
ignition cycle only).
Switching Off the Vehicle When It
Is Stationary Vehicles with an Ignition Key
1. Move the transmission selector lever
to position P .
2. Turn the key to position 0 .
3. Apply the parking brake.
Vehicles with Keyless Start
1. Move the transmission selector lever
to position P .
2. Press the button once.
3. Apply the parking brake.
Note: This switches off the ignition, all
electrical circuits, warning lamps and
indicators.
Note: If the engine is idling for 30 minutes,
the ignition and engine automatically shut
down. Switching Off the Vehicle When It
Is Moving WARNING
Switching off the engine when the
vehicle is still moving will result in a
loss of brake and steering assistance.
The steering will not lock, but higher effort
will be required. When the ignition is
switched off, some electrical circuits,
warning lamps and indicators may also be
off.
Vehicles with an Ignition Key
1. Move the transmission selector lever
to position N and use the brakes to
bring your vehicle to a safe stop.
2. When your vehicle has stopped, move
the transmission selector lever to
position P and turn the key to position
0 .
3. Apply the parking brake.
Vehicles with Keyless Start
1. Move the transmission selector lever
to position N and use the brakes to
bring your vehicle to a safe stop.
2. When your vehicle has stopped, move
the transmission selector lever to
position P .
3. Press and hold the button for one
second, or press it three times within
two seconds.
4. Apply the parking brake.
139Starting and Stopping the Engine
Grade assist:
• Provides additional grade braking with
a combination of engine motoring and
high-voltage battery charging to help
maintain vehicle speed when
descending a grade.
• As the vehicle determines the amount
of engine motoring and high-voltage
battery charging, you may notice the
engine speed increasing and
decreasing to help maintain your
vehicle speed when descending a
grade.
• The grade assist lamp in the instrument
cluster is illuminated. E144523
The grade assist lamp will
appear in the instrument cluster
when grade assist is turned on.
Press the transmission control switch
again to return to normal D (Drive).
L (Low)
• Provides maximum engine braking.
• The transmission may be shifted into
L (Low) at any vehicle speed.
Brake-Shift Interlock WARNINGS
Do not drive your vehicle until you
verify that the brake lamps are
working.
When doing this procedure, you will
be taking the vehicle out of park
which means the vehicle can roll
freely. To avoid unwanted vehicle
movement, always fully set the parking
brake prior to doing this procedure. Use
wheel chocks if appropriate.
If the parking brake is fully released,
but the brake warning lamp remains
illuminated, the brakes may not be
working properly. See your authorized
dealer. Note: See your authorized dealer as soon
as possible if this procedure is used.
Note: For some markets this feature will be
disabled.
Use the brake shift interlock lever to move
the gearshift lever from the park position
in the event of an electrical malfunction or
if your vehicle has a dead battery.
Apply the parking brake and turn the
ignition off before performing this
procedure. E155984
1. Remove the side panel on the right side
of the gearshift lever.
E155985
2. Locate the access hole.
167Transmission
GENERAL INFORMATION Note: Occasional brake noise is normal. If
a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding or
continuous squeal sound is present, the
brake linings may be worn-out. Have the
system checked by an authorized dealer. If
the vehicle has continuous vibration or
shudder in the steering wheel while braking,
have it checked by an authorized dealer.
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the
wheels, even under normal driving
conditions. Some dust is inevitable as the
brakes wear and does not contribute to
brake noise. See Cleaning the Alloy
Wheels (page 264).E144522
See Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 81).
Wet brakes result in reduced braking
efficiency. Gently press the brake pedal a
few times when driving from a car wash or
standing water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator In the event the accelerator pedal
becomes stuck or entrapped, apply steady
and firm pressure to the brake pedal to
slow the vehicle and reduce engine power.
If you experience this condition, apply the
brakes and bring your vehicle to a safe
stop. Move the transmission selector lever
to position P, switch the engine off and
apply the parking brake. Inspect the
accelerator pedal for any interference. If
none are found and the condition persists,
have your vehicle towed to the nearest
authorized dealer. Brake Assist Brake assist detects when you brake
heavily by measuring the rate at which you
press the brake pedal. It provides
maximum braking efficiency as long as you
press the pedal. Brake assist can reduce
stopping distances in critical situations.
Anti-lock Brake System This system helps you maintain steering
control during emergency stops by keeping
the brakes from locking.
This lamp momentarily
illuminates when you turn the
ignition on. If the light does not
illuminate during start up, remains on or
flashes, the anti-lock braking system may
be disabled. Have the system checked by
an authorized dealer. E144522
If the system is disabled, normal
braking is still effective. If the
brake warning lamp illuminates
when you release the parking brake, have
your system checked by an authorized
dealer.
Regenerative Braking System This feature is used to simulate the engine
braking of an internal combustion engine
and assist the standard brake system while
recovering some of the energy of motion
and storing it in the battery to improve fuel
economy. The standard brake system is
designed to fully stop the car if
regenerative braking is not available.
During regenerative braking, the motor is
spun as a generator to create electrical
current. This recharges the battery and
slows the vehicle. In effect, once the
accelerator pedal is released, the motor
changes from an energy user to an energy
producer.
169Brakes
When you release the accelerator pedal or
press the brake pedal, the brake controller
automatically detects the amount of
deceleration requested and optimizes how
much of the deceleration will be produced
by regenerative braking. The remaining
portion is generated by standard friction
braking. When the battery is almost fully
charged, the amount of regenerative
braking is limited to avoid overcharging,
and the requested deceleration is
produced by standard friction braking
alone.
Regenerative braking does not take the
place of the standard friction brakes; it only
assists them. Regenerative braking has
also been designed to interact with the
anti-lock brake system. Regenerative
braking is disabled when the anti-lock
brake system is activated or the battery is
fully charged.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES Note: When the system is operating, the
brake pedal will pulse and may travel
further. Maintain pressure on the brake
pedal. You may also hear a noise from the
system. This is normal.
The anti-lock braking system will not
eliminate the risks when:
• you drive too closely to the vehicle in
front of you
• your vehicle is hydroplaning
• you take corners too fast
• the road surface is poor.
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE The electric parking brake replaces the
conventional handbrake. The operating
switch is located in the center console. WARNING
Always set the parking brake and
leave your vehicle with the
transmission selector lever in
position P.
Note: When you apply the electric parking
brake in certain conditions, for example, on
a steep hill, the electric parking brake may
reapply the brakes within three to ten
minutes.
Note: You may notice various noises when
you apply and release the electric parking
brake. This is normal and no cause for
concern.
Applying the electric parking brake WARNING
If the brake system warning lamp
does not illuminate or flashes, there
could be a problem with your electric
parking brake. Have the system checked
by an authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
Note: The brake system warning lamp will
illuminate for ten seconds, if the ignition is
turned off after the electric parking brake
has been applied, or the electric parking
brake has been applied after the ignition has
been turned off.
Note: The electric parking brake will not
automatically apply. You must apply the
electric parking brake using the electric
parking brake switch.
170Brakes
E147230
Pull the switch up to apply the electric
parking brake.
The brake system warning lamp will
illuminate to confirm that the electric
parking brake has been applied. See
Information Displays (page 86).
Applying the electric parking brake
when the vehicle is moving WARNINGS
Applying the electric parking brake
while moving will result in use of the
anti-lock braking system. Do not use
the electric parking brake system when the
vehicle is moving unless the normal brake
system is unable to stop the vehicle.
With the exception of emergency
conditions (for example, the brake
pedal does not work or is blocked),
do not apply the electric parking brake
while the vehicle is moving. On bends, or
poor road surfaces or weather conditions,
emergency braking can cause the vehicle
to skid out of control or off the road.
If you apply the electric parking brake when
your vehicle is moving, the brake system
warning lamp will illuminate and a warning
chime will sound. See Information
Displays (page 86). If your vehicle speed is above 4 mph (6
km/h), the braking force is applied ias long
as the switch is applied. Releasing or
pressing the switch or pressing the
accelerator pedal will stop the braking
force.
Releasing the electric parking
brake E147231
You can release the electric parking brake
either manually by pressing the switch or
automatically.
Manual release
WARNING
If the brake system warning light
remains illuminated or flashes after
you have released the parking brake,
there could be a problem with you braking
system. Have the system checked by an
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
You can manually release the electric
parking brake by turning the ignition on,
pressing the brake pedal and then pressing
the electric parking brake switch.
When the electric parking brake is released,
the brake system warning lamp will turn
off.
171Brakes