2014 NISSAN LEAF Owners Manual

PREGNANT WOMEN
NISSAN recommends that pregnant women use
seat belts. The seat belt should be worn snug,
and always position the lap belt as low as pos-
sible around the hips, not the waist. Place the
shoulder belt over your shoulder and across your
chest. Never put the lap/shoulder belt over your
abdominal area. Contact your doctor for specific
recommendations.
INJURED PERSONS
NISSAN recommends that injured persons use
seat belts, depending on the injury. Check with
your doctor for specific recommendations.
THREE-POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
WITH RETRACTOR
WARNING
• Every person who drives or rides in this
vehicle should use a seat belt at all
times.• Do not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will not
be against your body. In an accident,
you could be thrown into it and receive
neck or other serious injuries. You
could also slide under the lap belt and
receive serious internal injuries.
• For the most effective protection when
the vehicle is in motion, the seat
should be upright. Always sit well back
in the seat with both feet on the floor
and adjust the seat belt properly.
• Do not allow children to play with the
seat belts. Most seating positions are
equipped with Automatic Locking Re-
tractor (ALR) mode seat belts. If the
seat belt becomes wrapped around a
child’s neck with the ALR mode acti-
vated, the child can be seriously in-
jured or killed if the seat belt retracts
and becomes tight. This can occur
even if the vehicle is parked. Unbuckle
the seat belt to release the child. If the
seat belt can not be unbuckled or is
already unbuckled, release the child by
cutting the seat belt with a suitable
tool (such as a knife or scissors) to
release the seat belt.
Fastening the seat belts
1. Adjust the seat. See “Seats”.
2. Slowly pull the seat belt out of the retractor
and insert the tongue into the buckle until you
hear and feel the latch engage.
•The retractor is designed to lock during
a sudden stop or on impact. A slow
pulling motion permits the belt to move
and allows you some freedom of move-
ment in the seat.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-11

•If the seat belt cannot be pulled from its
fully retracted position, firmly pull the
belt and release it. Then smoothly pull
the belt out of the retractor.
3. Position the lap belt portionlow and snug
on the hipsas shown.
4. Pull the shoulder belt portion toward the re-
tractor to take up extra slack. Be sure the
shoulder belt is routed over your shoulder and
across your chest.The front passenger seat and the rear seating
positions three-point seat belts have two modes
of operation:
• Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
• Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
The Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) mode
allows the seat belt to extend and retract to allow
the driver and passengers some freedom of
movement in the seat. The ELR locks the seat belt
when the vehicle slows down rapidly or during
certain impacts.
The Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode
(child restraint mode) locks the seat belt for child
restraint installation.
When ALR mode is activated the seat belt cannot
be extended again until the seat belt tongue is
detached from the buckle and fully retracted. The
seat belt returns to the ELR mode after the seat
belt fully retracts. For additional information, see
“Child restraints”.
The ALR mode should be used only for
child restraint installation. During normal
seat belt use by an occupant, the ALR mode
should not be activated. If it is activated, it
may cause uncomfortable seat belt
tension.
WARNING
When fastening the seat belts, be certain
that seatbacks are completely secured in
the latched position. If they are not com-
pletely secured, passengers may be in-
jured in an accident or sudden stop.
1-12Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

Unfastening the seat belts
To unfasten the seat belt, push the button on the
buckle. The seat belt automatically retracts.
Checking seat belt operation
Seat belt retractors are designed to lock seat belt
movement by two separate methods:
• When the belt is pulled quickly from the retrac-
tor.
• When the vehicle slows down rapidly.
To increase your confidence in the seat belts,
check the operation as follows:
• Grasp the shoulder belt and pull forward
quickly. The retractor should lock and restrict
further belt movement.
If the retractor does not lock during this check or
if you have any questions about seat belt opera-
tion, see a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
Shoulder belt height adjustment (for
front seats)
The shoulder belt anchor height should be ad-
justed to the position that is best for you. See
“Precautions on seat belt usage”.
To adjust, pull the adjustment button
1, and then
move the shoulder belt anchor to the preferred
position
2so that the belt passes over the
center of the shoulder. The belt should be away
from your face and neck, but not falling off of your
shoulder. Release the adjustment button to lock
the shoulder belt anchor into position.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-13

WARNING
• After adjustment, release the adjust-
ment button and then try to move the
shoulder belt anchor up and down to
make sure that it is securely fixed in
position.
• The shoulder belt anchor height
should be adjusted to the position that
is best for you. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the entire
restraint system and increase the
chance or severity of injury in an acci-
dent.
Seat belt hooks
When the rear seat belts are not in use and when
folding down the rear seats, hook the rear outer
seat belts on the seat belt hooks.
Center of rear seat
Selecting correct set of seat belts:
The center seat belt buckle is identified by the
CENTER mark
A. The center seat belt tongue
can be fastenedonlyinto the center seat belt
buckle.
1-14Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

SEAT BELT EXTENDERS
If, because of body size or driving position, it is
not possible to properly fit the lap-shoulder belt
and fasten it, an extender that is compatible with
the installed seat belts is available that can be
purchased. The extender adds approximately 8 in
(200 mm) of length and may be used for either
the driver or front passenger seating position.
See a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for assis-
tance with purchasing an extender if an extender
is required.
WARNING
• Only NISSAN seat belt extenders,
made by the same company which
made the original equipment seat
belts, should be used with NISSAN
seat belts.
• Adults and children who can use the
standard seat belt should not use an
extender. Such unnecessary use could
result in serious personal injury in the
event of an accident.
• Never use seat belt extenders to install
child restraints. If the child restraint is
not secured properly, the child could
be seriously injured in a collision or a
sudden stop.
SEAT BELT MAINTENANCE
•To clean the seat belt webbing,apply a mild
soap solution or any solution recommended for
cleaning upholstery or carpets. Then wipe with
a cloth and allow the seat belts to dry in the
shade. Do not allow the seat belts to retract until
they are completely dry.
•If dirt builds up in the shoulder belt guide
of the seat belt anchors, the seat belts may
retract slowly. Wipe the shoulder belt guide with
a clean, dry cloth.
•Periodically check to see that the seat belt
and the metal components, such as buckles,
tongues, retractors, flexible wires and anchors,
work properly. If loose parts, deterioration, cuts
or other damage on the webbing is found, the
entire seat belt assembly should be replaced.WARNING
Do not allow children to play with the
seat belts. Most seating positions are
equipped with Automatic Locking Retrac-
tor (ALR) mode seat belts. If the seat belt
becomes wrapped around a child’s neck
with the ALR mode activated, the child
can be seriously injured or killed if the
seat belt retracts and becomes tight. This
can occur even if the vehicle is parked.
Unbuckle the seat belt to release the
child. If the seat belt can not be unbuck-
led or is already unbuckled, release the
child by cutting the seat belt with a suit-
able tool (such as a knife or scissors) to
release the seat belt.
Children need adults to help protect them.
They need to be properly restrained.
In addition to the general information in this
manual, child safety information is available from
many other sources, including doctors, teachers,
government traffic safety offices, and community
organizations. Every child is different, so be sure
to learn the best way to transport your child.
CHILD SAFETY
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-15

There are three basic types of child restraint
systems:
• Rear-facing child restraint
• Forward-facing child restraint
• Booster seat
The proper restraint depends on the child’s size.
Generally, infants up to about 1 year and less
than 20 lb (9 kg) should be placed in rear-facing
child restraints. Forward-facing child restraints
are available for children who outgrow rear-
facing child restraints and are at least 1 year old.
Booster seats are used to help position a vehicle
lap/shoulder belt on a child who can no longer
use a forward-facing child restraint.
WARNING
Infants and children need special protec-
tion. The vehicle’s seat belts may not fit
them properly. The shoulder belt may
come too close to the face or neck. The
lap belt may not fit over their small hip
bones. In an accident, an improperly fit-
ting seat belt could cause serious or fatal
injury. Always use appropriate child re-
straints.All U.S. states and Canadian provinces or territo-
ries require the use of approved child restraints
for infants and small children. See “Child re-
straints”.
A child restraint may be secured in the vehicle by
using either the LATCH (Lower Anchor and Teth-
ers for Children) system or with the vehicle seat
belt. For more information, see “Child restraints”.
NISSAN recommends that all pre-teens
and children be restrained in the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seat than in the front seat.
This is especially important because your
vehicle has a supplemental restraint sys-
tem (air bag system) for the front passen-
ger. See “Supplemental restraint system”.
INFANTS
Infants up to at least 1 year old should be placed
in a rear-facing child restraint. NISSAN recom-
mends that infants be placed in child restraints
that comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. You should choose a child restraint
that fits your vehicle and always follow the manu-
facturer’s instructions for installation and use.
SMALL CHILDREN
Children that are over 1 year old and weigh at
least 20 lbs (9 kg) should remain in a rear-facing
child restraint as long as possible up to the height
or weight limit of the child restraint. Children who
outgrow the height or weight limit of the rear-
facing child restraint and are at least 1 year old
should be secured in a forward-facing child re-
straint with a harness. Refer to the manufactur-
er’s instructions for minimum and maximum
weight and height recommendations. NISSAN
recommends that small children be placed in
child restraints that comply with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint that fits your vehicle and always
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for instal-
lation and use.
LARGER CHILDREN
Children should remain in a forward-facing child
restraint with a harness until they reach the maxi-
mum height or weight limit allowed by the child
restraint manufacturer.
Once a child outgrows the height or weight limit
of the harness-equipped forward-facing child re-
straint, NISSAN recommends that the child be
1-16Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

placed in a commercially available booster seat to
obtain proper seat belt fit. For a seat belt to fit
properly, the booster seat should raise the child
so that the shoulder belt is properly positioned
across the chest and the top, middle portion of
the shoulder. The shoulder belt should not cross
the neck or face and should not fall off the shoul-
der. The lap belt should lie snugly across the
lower hips or upper thighs, not the abdomen. A
booster seat can only be used in seating posi-
tions that have a three-point type seat belt. The
booster seat should fit the vehicle seat and have
a label certifying that it complies with Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standards. Once the child has
grown so the shoulder belt is no longer on or near
the face and neck and the lap belt can be posi-
tioned properly across the lower hips or upper
thighs use the seat belt without the booster seat.
WARNING
Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat and do not allow a child in the cargo
areas. The child could be seriously in-
jured or killed in an accident or sudden
stop.
PRECAUTIONS ON CHILD
RESTRAINTS
WARNING
•
Failure to follow the warnings and in-
structions for proper use and installa-
tion of child restraints could result in
serious injury or death of a child or
other passengers in a sudden stop or
collision:–
The child restraint must be used and
installed properly. Always follow all
of the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions for installation and use.
–
Infants and children should never be
held on anyone’s lap. Even the
strongest adult cannot resist the
forces of a collision.
–
Do not put a seat belt around both a
child and another passenger.
CHILD RESTRAINTS
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-17

–
NISSAN recommends that all child
restraints be installed in the rear
seat. Studies show that children are
safer when properly restrained in
the rear seat than in the front seat. If
you must install a forward-facing
child restraint in the front seat, see
later in this section.
–
Even with the NISSAN Advanced Air
Bag System, never install a rear-
facing child restraint in the front
seat. An inflating air bag could seri-
ously injure or kill a child. A rear-
facing child restraint must only be
used in the rear seat.
–
Be sure to purchase a child restraint
that will fit the child and vehicle.
Some child restraints may not fit
properly in your vehicle.
–
Child restraint anchor points are de-
signed to withstand loads from child
restraints that are properly fitted.
–
Never use the anchor points for
adult seat belts or harnesses.
–
A child restraint with a top tether
strap should not be used in the front
passenger seat.–
Keep seatbacks as upright as pos-
sible after fitting the child restraint.
–
Infants and children should always
be placed in an appropriate child
restraint while in the vehicle.
•
When the child restraint is not in use,
keep it secured with the LATCH system
or a seat belt. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose objects can injure oc-
cupants or damage the vehicle.
CAUTION
A child restraint in a closed vehicle can
become very hot. Check the seating sur-
face and buckles before placing a child in
the child restraint.
This vehicle is equipped with a universal child
restraint anchor system, referred to as the LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) sys-
tem. Some child restraints include rigid or
webbing-mounted attachments that can be con-
nected to these anchors.For details, see “Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren System (LATCH)”.
If you do not have a LATCH compatible child
restraint, the vehicle seat belts can be used.
Several manufacturers offer child restraints for
infants and small children of various sizes. When
selecting any child restraint, keep the following
points in mind:
• Choose only a restraint with a label certifying
that it complies with Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213 or Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standard 213.
• Check the child restraint in your vehicle to be
sure it is compatible with the vehicle’s seat and
seat belt system.
• If the child restraint is compatible with your
vehicle, place your child in the child restraint
and check the various adjustments to be sure
the child restraint is compatible with your child.
Choose a child restraint that is designed for
your child’s height and weight. Always follow all
recommended procedures.
1-18Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system