Page 249 of 688
WARNING!
There may be situations where the Hill Start Assist
(HSA) will not activate and slight rolling may occur,
such as on minor hills or with a loaded vehicle, or
while pulling a trailer. HSA is not a substitute for
active driving involvement. It is always the driver ’s
responsibility to be attentive to distance to other
vehicles, people, and objects, and most importantly
brake operation to ensure safe operation of the ve-
hicle under all road conditions. Your complete atten-
tion is always required while driving to maintain
safe control of your vehicle. Failure to follow these
warnings can result in a collision or serious personal
injury.
Hill Descent Control (HDC) — If Equipped
HDC is intended for low speed off road driving while in
4WD Low Range. HDC maintains vehicle speed while
descending hills during various driving situations. HDC
controls vehicle speed by actively controlling the brakes.
Hill Descent Control (Trailhawk)
6
SAFETY 247
Page 250 of 688

HDC has three states:
1. Off (feature is not enabled and will not activate).
2. Enabled (feature is enabled and ready but activation
conditions are not met, or driver is actively overriding
with brake or throttle application).
3. Active (feature is enabled and actively controlling
vehicle speed).
Enabling HDC
HDC is enabled by pushing the HDC switch, but the
following conditions must also be met to enable HDC:
•Driveline is in 4WD Low Range.
•Vehicle speed is below 7.5 mph (12 km/h).
•Electric Park Brake (EPB) is released.
•Driver door is closed.Activating HDC
Once HDC is enabled, it will activate automatically if
driven down a grade of sufficient magnitude (greater
than approximately 8%). The set speed for HDC is
selectable by the driver and can be adjusted using brake
and throttle input.
Driver Override:
The driver may override HDC activation with throttle or
brake application at anytime.
Deactivating HDC
HDC will be deactivated but remain available if any of
the following conditions occur:
•Driver overrides HDC set speed with throttle or brake
application.
•Vehicle speed exceeds 7.5 mph (12 km/h) but remains
below 25 mph (40 km/h).
248 SAFETY
Page 251 of 688

•Vehicle is on a downhill grade of insufficient magni-
tude (less than approximately 8%), is on level ground,
or is on an uphill grade.
•Vehicle is shifted to PARK.
Disabling HDC
HDC will be deactivated and disabled if any of the
following conditions occur:
•The driver pushes the HDC switch.
•The driveline is shifted out of 4WD Low Range.
•Driver door opens.
•The vehicle is driven greater than 25 mph (40 km/h)
(HDC exits immediately.)Feedback To The Driver:
The instrument cluster has an HDC icon and the HDC
switch has an LED which offer feedback to the driver
about the state HDC is in.
•The cluster icon and switch lamp will illuminate and
remain solid when HDC is enabled or activated. This is
the normal operating condition for HDC.
•The switch lamp will flash for several seconds then
extinguish when the driver pushes the HDC switch
when enable conditions have not been met.
The Hill Descent Switch is located within the Selec-
Terrain knob in the upper right position.
WARNING!
HDC is only intended to assist the driver in control-
ling vehicle speed when descending hills. The driver
must remain attentive to the driving conditions and
is responsible for maintaining a safe vehicle speed.
6
SAFETY 249
Page 252 of 688

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC cor-
rects for oversteering or understeering of the vehicle by
applying the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in
counteracting the oversteer or understeer condition. En-
gine power may also be reduced to help the vehicle
maintain the desired path.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the vehicle
path intended by the driver and compares it to the actual
path of the vehicle. When the actual path does not match
the intended path, ESC applies the brake of the appro-
priate wheel to assist in counteracting the oversteer or
understeer condition.
•Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.
•Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than
appropriate for the steering wheel position.The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” lo-
cated in the instrument cluster will start to flash as soon
as the tires lose traction and the ESC system becomes
active. The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” also flashes when the TCS is active. If the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” begins to flash
during acceleration, ease up on the accelerator and apply
as little throttle as possible. Be sure to adapt your speed
and driving to the prevailing road conditions.
WARNING!
•The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions. ESC cannot prevent all
accidents, including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
(Continued)
250 SAFETY
Page 253 of 688

WARNING!(Continued)
hydroplaning. ESC also cannot prevent collisions
resulting from loss of vehicle control due to inap-
propriate driver input for the conditions. Only a
safe, attentive, and skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ESC equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user ’s safety or
the safety of others.
•Vehicle modifications, or failure to properly main-
tain your vehicle, may change the handling charac-
teristics of your vehicle, and may negatively affect
the performance of the ESC system. Changes to the
steering system, suspension, braking system, tire
type and size or wheel size may adversely affect
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
ESC performance. Improperly inflated and un-
evenly worn tires may also degrade ESC perfor-
mance. Any vehicle modification or poor vehicle
maintenance that reduces the effectiveness of the
ESC system can increase the risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
ESC Operation Modes
To disable ESC and other safety systems, follow the
instruction below.
There are three modes of active safety systems present on
the vehicle:
•ESC On
•Partial Off
•Full Off
6
SAFETY 251
Page 254 of 688

ESC On – Two Wheel Drive Vehicles And Four Wheel
Drive Vehicles In 2WD And 4WD High Range
This is the normal operating mode for ESC when oper-
ating a two-wheel drive vehicle. It is also the normal
mode for operating a four-wheel drive vehicle in 2WD or
4WD HIGH range. The ESC system will be in “ESC On”
mode whenever the vehicle is started or the power
transfer unit (if equipped) is shifted out of 4WD LOW
range. This mode should be used for most driving
situations. ESC should only be turned to “Partial Off” or
“Full Off” for specific reasons as noted. Refer to “Partial
Off” and to “Full Off” for additional information.
NOTE:It is recommended to select the modePartial Off
orFull Offonly for specific reasons.Partial Off – Two Wheel Drive Vehicles And Four
Wheel Drive Vehicles In 2WD And 4WD High Range
The “Partial Off” mode is intended for driving in deep
snow, sand, or gravel. This mode raises the threshold for
TCS and ESC activation, which allows for more wheel
spin than what ESC normally allows.
ESC OFF Button
252 SAFETY
Page 255 of 688

To enter the “Partial Off” mode, momentarily push the
“ESC Off” button and the ESC Off indicator light will
illuminate. To turn the ESC on again, momentarily push
the ESC OFF button and the ESC Off indicator light will
turn off. This will restore the normal “ESC On” mode of
operation.
NOTE:To improve the vehicle’s traction when driving
with snow chains, or when starting off in deep snow,
sand, or gravel, it may be desirable to switch to the
“Partial Off” mode by momentarily pushing the “ESC
Off” button. Once the situation requiring “Partial Off”
mode is overcome, turn ESC back on by momentarily
pushing the “ESC Off” button. This may be done while
the vehicle is in motion.WARNING!
•When in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS functionality
of ESC, (except for the limited slip feature de-
scribed in the TCS section), has been disabled and
the “ESC Off Indicator Light” will be illuminated.
When in “Partial Off” mode, the engine power
reduction feature of TCS is disabled, and the
enhanced vehicle stability offered by the ESC sys-
tem is reduced.
•Trailer Sway control (TSC) is disabled when the
ESC system is in the “Partial Off” mode.
6
SAFETY 253
Page 256 of 688

Full Off – Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles In 4WD High
And 4WD Low Range
The “Full Off” mode is intended for off-highway and
off-road use when ESC stability features could inhibit
vehicle maneuverability due to trail conditions. The “ESC
Off” button is located in the lower switch bank above the
climate control panel. To enter “Full Off” mode, push and
hold the “ESC Off” button for five seconds while the
vehicle is stopped with the engine running. After five
seconds, the ESC Off indicator light will illuminate and
an “ESC Off” message will appear in the odometer.
In this mode, ESC and TCS are turned off (except for the
“limited slip” feature described in the TCS section) until
the vehicle reaches a speed of 40 mph (64 km/h). At
speeds over 40 mph (64 km/h), the system automatically
switches to “Partial Off” mode, described above. When
the vehicle speed returns to less than 35 mph (56 km/h),
the ESC system will return to “Full Off” mode. The ESCOFF indicator light is always illuminated when ESC is
off. To turn ESC on again, momentarily push the “ESC
Off” button. This will restore the normal “ESC On” mode
of operation.
NOTE:With the ESC switched off, the enhanced vehicle
stability offered by ESC is unavailable. In an emergency
evasive maneuver, the ESC system will not engage to
assist in maintaining stability. “Full Off” mode is only
intended for off-highway or off-road use.
NOTE:
•“Full Off” is the only operating mode for ESC in 4WD
LOW range. The ESC system will be in this mode
whenever the vehicle is started in 4WD LOW range or
the power transfer unit is shifted into 4WD LOW
range.
254 SAFETY