2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER Owners Manual

WARNING
Front seat-mounted side-impact supple-
mental air bags and roof-mounted curtain
side-impact and rollover supplemental air
bags:
●The side air bags and curtain air bags
ordinarily will not inflate in the event of
a frontal impact, rear impact, or lower
severity side collision. Always wear
your seat belts to help reduce the risk or
severity of injury in various kinds of
accidents.
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1-54Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
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WARNING
●The seat belts, the side air bags and
curtain air bags are most effective when
you are sitting well back and upright in
the seat with both feet on the floor. The
side air bag and curtain air bag inflate
with great force. Do not allow anyone to
place their hand, leg or face near the
side air bag on the side of the seatback
of the front seat or near the side roof
rails. Do not allow anyone sitting in the
front seats or rear outboard seats to
extend their hand out of the window or
lean against the door. Some examples
of dangerous riding positions are
shown in the previous illustrations.
WARNING
●When sitting in the 2nd row rear seat, do
not hold onto the seatback of the front
seat. If the side air bag inflates, you may
be seriously injured. Be especially care-
ful with children, who should always be
properly restrained. Some examples of
dangerous riding positions are shown
in the illustrations
● Do not use seat covers on the front
seatbacks. They may interfere with side
air bag inflation.
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Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-55
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NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System
(front seats)
1. Supplemental front-impact air bag modules
2. Air bag Control Unit (ACU)
3. Occupant classification sensor (weight sen-sor)
4. Front seat-mounted side-impact supple- mental air bag modules
5. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and roll- over supplemental air bags
6. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and roll- over supplemental air bag inflators
7. Satellite sensors
8. Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (front seats)
9. Pressure sensors in door (driver’s side shown; front passenger side similar)
10. Crash zone sensor
WARNING
To ensure proper operation of the passen-
ger’s NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System,
please observe the following items.
● Do not allow a passenger in the 2nd row
to push or pull on the seatback pocket.
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1-56Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
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●Do not place heavy loads heavier than
2.2 lb (1 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.
● Do not position the front passenger
seat so it contacts the 2nd row. If the
front seat does contact the 2nd row, the
air bag system may determine a sensor
malfunction has occurred and the front
passenger air bag status light may illu-
minate and the supplemental air bag
warning light may flash.
● If a forward-facing child restraint is in-
stalled in the front passenger seat, do
not position the front passenger seat so
the child restraint contacts the instru-
ment panel. If the child restraint does
contact the instrument panel, the sys-
tem may determine the seat is occupied
and the passenger air bag may deploy
in a collision. Also the front passenger
air bag status light may not illuminate.
For additional information about in-
stalling and using child restraints, refer
to “Child restraints” in this section. ●
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 de-
scribed in this section. It is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN dealer to
check the occupant classification
system.
● Until you have confirmed with a dealer
that your passenger seat occupant clas-
sification system is working properly,
position the occupants in the rear seat-
ing 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 must be followed.
The driver supplemental front-impact air bag is
located in the center of the steering wheel. The
front passenger supplemental front-impact air
bag is mounted in the dashboard 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 sys-
tem operation.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System monitors
information from the crash zone sensor and the
Air bag Control Unit (ACU) . Inflator operation is
based on the severity of a collision and seat belt
usage for the driver. For the front passenger, the
occupant classification sensor is also monitored.
Based on information from the sensor, only one
front air bag may inflate in a crash, depending on
the crash severity. Additionally, the front passen-
ger air bag may be automatically turned off under
some conditions, depending on the weight de-
tected on the passenger seat and how the seat
belt is used. If the front passenger air bag is OFF,
the passenger air bag status light will be illumi-
nated (if the seat is unoccupied, the light will not
be illuminated, but the air bag will be off) . For
additional information, refer to “Front passenger
air bag and status light” in this section. One front
air bag inflating does not indicate improper per-
formance of the system.
If you have any questions about your air bag
system, it is recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer to obtain information about the system.. If
you are considering modification of your vehicle
due to a disability, you may also contact NISSAN.
Contact information is contained in the front of
this Owner’s Manual.
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-57
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When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise
may be heard, followed by the release of smoke.
This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate a
fire. Care should be taken to not 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 face 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 front air bag module during infla-
tion.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a collision.The front air bags operate only when the
ignition switch is placed in the ON position.
After placing the ignition switch in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7 sec-
onds 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 condi-
tions. Read this section carefully to learn
how it operates. Proper use of the seat,
seat belt and child restraints is necessary
for most effective protection. Failure to
follow all instructions in this manual con-
cerning the use of seats, seat belts and
child restraints can increase the risk or
severity of injury in an accident.
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1-58Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
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Status light
The front passenger seat is equipped with an
occupant classification sensor (weight sensor)
that turns the front passenger air bag on or off
depending on the weight applied to the front
passenger seat. The status of the front passen-
ger air bag (ON or OFF) is indicated by the front
passenger air bag status light
which is
located on the instrument panel.
After the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the front passenger air bag status light
on the instrument panel illuminates for about
7 seconds and then turns off or remains illumi-
nated depending on the front passenger seat
occupied status. The light operates as follows:
● Unoccupied front passenger’s seat:
The
light is OFF and the front passen-
ger air bag is OFF and will not inflate in a
crash.
● Front passenger 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 front passenger seat and the pas-
senger meets the conditions as outlined in
this section: The
light is OFF to indi-
cate that the front passenger air bag is op-
erational. In addition to the above, certain objects placed
on the front passenger seat may also cause the
light to operate as described above depending
on their weight.
For additional information related to the normal
operation and troubleshooting of this occupant
classification sensor system, please refer to
“Normal operation” and “Troubleshooting” in this
section.
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 in
accordance with U.S. regulations. If the front
passenger 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. Certain sensors are used to
meet the requirements.
The occupant classification sensor in this vehicle
is a weight sensor. It is designed to detect an
occupant and objects on the seat by weight. For
example, if a child is in the front passenger seat,
the NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System is de- signed to turn the front 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 front
passenger air bag to be automatically turned
OFF. For small adults it may be turned OFF,
however if the occupant takes his/her weight off
the seat cushion (for example, by not sitting up-
right, by sitting on an edge of the seat, or by
otherwise being out of position) , this could cause
the sensor to turn the air bag OFF. Always be
sure to be seated and wearing the seat belt
properly for the most effective 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 sensor is designed to operate as
described above to turn the front passenger air
bag OFF for specified child restraints as required
by the regulations. Failing to properly secure
child restraints and to use the ALR mode may
allow the restraint to tip or move in a collision or
sudden stop. This can also result in the passen-
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-59
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ger air bag inflating in a crash instead of being
OFF. For additional information about proper use
and installation, refer to “Child restraints” in this
section.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the
front 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’s weight detected by the occupant
classification sensor. 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 front passenger air bag status light, you
can monitor when the front passenger air bag is
automatically 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 front
passenger air bag status light is illuminated (indi-
cating that the air bag is OFF) , it could be that the
person is a small adult, or is not sitting on the seat
properly or not using the seat belt properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front seat,
the front passenger air bag status light may or
may not be illuminated, depending on the size of
the child and the type of child restraint beingused. 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 posi-
tioned properly. If the air bag status light is still not
illuminated, reposition the occupant or child re-
straint in a rear seat.
If the front passenger air bag status light will not
illuminate 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) . A NISSAN dealer can check that the sys-
tem is OFF by using a special tool. However, until
you have confirmed with a dealer that your air bag
is working properly, reposition the occupant or
child restraint in a rear seat.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System and front
passenger air bag status light will take a few
seconds to register a change in the front passen-
ger seat status. For example, if a large adult who
is sitting in the front passenger seat exits the
vehicle, the front passenger air bag status light
will go from OFF to ON for a few seconds and
then to OFF. This is normal system operation and
does not indicate a malfunction.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger air
bag system, the supplemental air bag warning
light
, located in the meter and gauges area
of the instrument panel, will blink. Have the sys-
tem checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation
In order for the occupant classification sensor
system to classify the front passenger based on
weight, please follow the precautions and steps
outlined below:
Precautions
● Make sure that there are no objects weigh-
ing over 2.2 lbs (1 kg) hanging on the seat or
placed in the seatback pocket.
● Make sure that a child restraint or other
object is not pressing against the rear of the
seatback.
● Make sure that a rear passenger is not push-
ing or pulling on the back of the front pas-
senger seat.
● Make sure that the front passenger seat or
seatback is not forced back against an ob-
ject on the seat or floor behind it.
● Make sure that there is no object placed
under the front passenger seat.
1-60Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
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Steps1. Adjust the seat as outlined in the “Seats” section of this manual. Sit upright, leaning
against the seatback, and centered on the
seat cushion with your feet comfortably ex-
tended to the floor.
2. Make sure there are no objects on your lap.
3. Fasten the seat belt as outlined in the “Seat belts” section of this manual.
4. Remain in this position for 30 seconds al- lowing the system to classify the front pas-
senger before the vehicle is put into motion.
5. Ensure proper classification by checking the front passenger air bag status light.
NOTE:
This vehicle’s occupant classification sen-
sor system locks the classification during
driving so it is important that you confirm
that the front passenger is properly classi-
fied prior to driving. Also, the occupant
classification sensor system may recalcu-
late the weight of the occupant when the
vehicle comes to a stop (i.e. stop light, stop
sign, etc.) , so front passenger seat occu-
pants should continue to remain seated as
outlined above. Troubleshooting
If you think the front passenger air bag status light
is incorrect:
1. If the light is ON with no front passenger and no objects on the front passenger seat:
This may be due to the following conditions that
may be interfering with the weight sensors: ● An object weighing over 2.2 lbs (1 kg) hang-
ing on the seat or placed in the seatback
pocket.
● A child restraint or other object pressing
against the rear of the seatback.
● A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the
back of the front passenger seat.
● Forcing the front seat or seatback against an
object on the seat or floor behind it.
● An object placed under the front passenger
seat.
● An object placed between the seat cushion
and center console or between the seat
cushion and the door.
If the vehicle is moving, please come to a stop
when it is safe to do so. Check and correct any of
the above conditions. Restart the vehicle and
wait 1 minute. NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the front passenger air bag status
light will remain lit for about 7 seconds
initially.
If the light is still ON after this, the vehicle should
be checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
2. If the light is ON with an adult occupying the front passenger seat:
● Occupant is a small adult — the air bag light
is functioning as intended. The front passen-
ger air bag is suppressed.
However, if the occupant is not a small adult, then
this may be due to the following conditions that
may be interfering with the weight sensors: ● Occupant is not sitting upright, leaning
against the seatback, and centered on the
seat cushion with his/her feet comfortably
extended to the floor.
● A child restraint or other object pressing
against the rear of the seatback.
● A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the
back of the front passenger seat.
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-61
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