2014 NISSAN LEAF light

WARNING
•
The front air bags ordinarily will not in-
flate in the event of a side impact, rear
impact, rollover or lower severity frontal
collision. Always wear your seat belts to
help reduce the risk or severity of injury
in various kinds of accidents.
• The front passenger air bag will not
inflate if the passenger air bag status
light is lit or if the front passenger seat
is unoccupied. See “Front passenger
air bag and status light”.
• The seat belts and the front air bags
are most effective when you are sitting
well back and upright in the seat with
both feet on the floor. The front air
bags inflate with great force. Even with
the NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System,
if you are unrestrained, leaning for-
ward, sitting sideways or out of posi-
tion in any way, you are at greater risk
of injury or death in a crash. You may
also receive serious or fatal injuries
from the front air bag if you are up
against it when it inflates. Always sit
back against the seatback and as far
away as practical from the steering
wheel or instrument panel. Always use
the seat belts.
1-36Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

• The driver and front passenger seat
belt buckles are equipped with sen-
sors that detect if the seat belts are
fastened. The Advanced Air Bag Sys-
tem monitors the severity of a collision
and seat belt usage then inflates the
air bags as needed. Failure to properly
wear seat belts can increase the risk or
severity of injury in an accident.
• The front passenger seat is equipped
with occupant classification sensors
(weight sensors) that turn the front
passenger air bag OFF under some
conditions. This sensor is only used in
this seat. Failure to be properly seated
and wearing the seat belt can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an acci-
dent. See “Front passenger air bag
and status light”.
• Keep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could increase
the risk that they are injured if the front
air bag inflates.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-37

NISSAN ADVANCED AIR BAG
SYSTEM (FRONT SEATS)
WARNING
To ensure proper operation of the pas-
senger’s advanced air bag system, please
observe the following items.
• Do not allow a passenger in the rear
seat to push or pull on the seatback
pocket.
• Do not place heavy loads heavier than
9lb (4 kg) on the seatback, head
restraint/headrest or in the seatback
pocket.
• Do not store luggage behind the seat
that can press into the seatback.
• Confirm the operating condition with
the front passenger air bag status
light.
• If you notice that the front passenger
air bag status light is not operating as
described later in this section, please
take your vehicle to your NISSAN cer-
tified LEAF dealer to check the occu-
pant classification system.• Until you have confirmed with your
dealer that your passenger seat occu-
pant classification system is working
properly, position the occupants in the
rear seating positions.
This vehicle is equipped with the NISSAN Ad-
vanced Air Bag System for the driver and front
passenger seats. This system is designed to
meet certification requirements under U.S. regu-
lations. It is also permitted in Canada.All of the
information, cautions and warnings in this
manual apply and must be followed.
The driver supplemental front-impact air bag is
located in the center of the steering wheel. The
passenger supplemental front-impact air bag is
mounted in the instrument panel above the glove
box. The front air bags are designed to inflate in
higher severity frontal collisions, although they
may inflate if the forces in another type of collision
are similar to those of a higher severity frontal
impact. They may not inflate in certain frontal
collisions. Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not
always an indication of proper front air bag op-
eration.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System has dual
stage air bag inflators. The system monitors infor-
mation from the Air bag Control Unit (ACU) , seatbelt buckle sensors and the occupant classifica-
tion sensors (weight sensors) . Inflator operation
is based on the severity of a collision and seat
belt usage for the driver. For the front passenger,
the occupant classification sensors are also
monitored. Based on information from the sen-
sors, only one front air bag may inflate in a crash,
depending on the crash severity and whether the
front occupants are belted or unbelted. Addition-
ally, the front passenger air bag may be automati-
cally turned OFF under some conditions, de-
pending on the information provided by the
occupant classification sensors. If the front pas-
senger air bag is OFF, the passenger air bag
status light will be illuminated (if the seat is unoc-
cupied, the light will not be illuminated, but the air
bag will be off) . See “Front passenger air bag and
status light” for further details. One front air bag
inflating does not indicate improper performance
of the system.
If you have any questions about your air bag
system, contact NISSAN or a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer. If you are considering modification
of your vehicle due to a disability, you may also
contact NISSAN. Contact information is con-
tained in the front of this Owner’s Manual.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-41

When a front air bag inflates, 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.
Front air bags, along with the use of seat belts,
help to cushion the impact force on the head and
chest of the front occupants. They can help save
lives and reduce serious injuries. However, an
inflating front air bag may cause facial abrasions
or other injuries. Front air bags do not provide
restraint to the lower body.
Even with NISSAN Advanced Air Bags, seat
belts should be correctly worn and the driver and
passenger seated upright as far as practical
away from the steering wheel or instrument
panel. The front air bags inflate quickly in order to
help protect the front occupants. Because of this,
the force of the front air bag inflating can increase
the risk of injury if the occupant is too close to, or
is against, the air bag module during inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a collision.
The front air bags operate only when the
power switch is in the ON position.After the power switch is placed 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.
Front passenger air bag and status
light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag is designed
to automatically turn OFF under some
conditions. Read this section carefully to
learn how it operates. Proper use of the
seat, seat belt and child restraints is nec-
essary for most effective protection. Fail-
ure to follow all instructions in this
manual concerning the use of seats, seat
belts and child restraints can increase the
risk or severity of injury in an accident.Status light:
The front passenger air bag status light
is
located on the instrument panel. After the power
switch is pushed to the ON position, the front
passenger air bag status light on the instrument
panel illuminates for about 7 seconds and then
turns off or illuminates depending on the front
passenger seat status. The light operates as fol-
lows:
• Unoccupied passenger seat: The
light is
OFF and the front passenger air bag is OFF and
will not inflate in a crash.
Front passenger air bag status light
1-42Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

• Passenger’s seat occupied by a small adult,
child or child restraint as outlined in this section:
The
light illuminates to indicate that the
front passenger air bag is OFF and will not
inflate in a crash.
• Occupied passenger seat and the passenger
meets the conditions outlined in this section:
The
light is OFF to indicate that the front
passenger air bag is operational.
Front passenger air bag:
The front passenger air bag is designed to auto-
matically turn OFF when the vehicle is operated
under some conditions as described below as
permitted by U.S. regulations. If the front passen-
ger air bag is OFF, it will not inflate in a crash. The
driver air bag and other air bags in your vehicle
are not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help reduce
the risk of injury or death from an inflating air bag
to certain front passenger seat occupants, such
as children, by requiring the air bag to be auto-
matically turned OFF.
One sensor used is the occupant classification
sensor (weight sensor) . Its is designed to detect
an occupant and objects on the seat by weight.
For example, if a child is in the front passengerseat, the Advanced Air Bag System is designed
to turn the passenger air bag OFF in accordance
with the regulations. Also, if a child restraint of the
type specified in the regulations is on the seat, its
weight and the child’s weight can be detected
and cause the air bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who are
properly seated and using the seat belt as out-
lined in this manual should not cause the passen-
ger air bag to be automatically turned OFF. For
small adults it may be turned OFF, however, if the
occupant does not sit in the seat properly (for
example, by not sitting upright, by sitting on an
edge of the seat, or by otherwise being out of
position) , this could cause the sensors to turn the
air bag OFF. Always be sure to be seated and
wearing the seat belt properly for the most effec-
tive protection by the seat belt and supplemental
air bag.
NISSAN recommends that pre-teens and chil-
dren be properly restrained in a rear seat.
NISSAN also recommends that appropriate child
restraints and booster seats be properly installed
in a rear seat. If this is not possible, the occupant
classification sensors are designed to operate as
described above to turn the front passenger air
bag OFF for specified child restraints. Failing toproperly secure child restraints and to use the
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode (child
restraint mode) may allow the restraint to tip or
move in an accident or sudden stop. This can
also result in the passenger air bag inflating in a
crash instead of being OFF. See “Child re-
straints” for proper use and installation.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the
passenger air bag is designed not to inflate in a
crash. However, heavy objects placed on the
seat could result in air bag inflation, because of
the object being detected by the occupant clas-
sification sensors. Other conditions could also
result in air bag inflation, such as if a child is
standing on the seat, or if two children are on the
seat, contrary to the instructions in this manual.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle occupants
are seated and restrained properly.
Using the passenger air bag status light, you can
monitor when the front passenger air bag is au-
tomatically turned OFF with the seat occupied.
The light will not illuminate when the front pas-
senger seat is unoccupied.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the passen-
ger air bag status light is illuminated (indicating
that the air bag is OFF) , it could be that the
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-43

person is a small adult, or is not sitting on the seat
properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front seat,
the passenger air bag status light may or may not
be illuminated, depending on the size of the child
and the type of child restraint being used. If the air
bag status light is not illuminated (indicating that
the air bag might inflate in a crash) , it could be
that the child restraint or seat belt is not being
used properly. Make sure that the child restraint is
installed properly, the seat belt is used properly
and the occupant is positioned properly. If the air
bag status light is not illuminated, reposition the
occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.
If the passenger air bag status light will not illu-
minate even though you believe that the child
restraint, the seat belts and the occupant are
properly positioned, the system may be sensing
an unoccupied seat (in which case the air bag is
OFF) . Your NISSAN certified LEAF dealer can
check that the system is OFF by using a special
tool. However, until you have confirmed with your
dealer that your air bag is working properly, repo-
sition the occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.The air bag system and passenger air bag status
light will take a few seconds to register a change
in the passenger seat status. However, if the seat
becomes unoccupied, the air bag status light will
remain off.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger air
bag system, the supplemental air bag warning
light
, located in the meter and gauges area,
will blink. Have the system checked by a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer.
Other supplemental front-impact air
bag precautions
WARNING
• Do not place any objects on the steer-
ing wheel pad or on the instrument
panel. Also, do not place any objects
between any occupant and the steer-
ing wheel or instrument panel. Such
objects may become dangerous pro-
jectiles and cause injury if the front air
bags inflate.• Do not place objects with sharp edges
on the seat. Also, do not place heavy
objects on the seat that will leave per-
manent impressions in the seat. Such
objects can damage the seat or occu-
pant classification sensors (weight
sensors) . This can affect the operation
of the air bag system and result in
serious personal injury.
• Do not use water or acidic cleaners
(hot steam cleaners) on the seat. This
can damage the seat or occupant clas-
sification sensors. This can also affect
the operation of the air bag system
and result in serious personal injury.
• Immediately after inflation, several
front 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 supplemental air bag system. This
is to prevent accidental inflation of the
supplemental air bag or damage to the
supplemental air bag system.
• Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle’s electrical system, sus-
pension system or front end structure.
This could affect proper operation of
the front air bag system.
1-44Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

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 certain 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 other
injuries. 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 aspractical 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

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