
WARNING!(Continued)
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 ve-
hicles, people, and objects, and most importantly brake
operation to ensure safe operation of the vehicle under
all road conditions. Your complete attention 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.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) — If Equipped
TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize an excessively
swaying trailer and will take the appropriate actions to
attempt to stop the sway. The system may reduce engine
power and apply the brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to
counteract the sway of the trailer. TSC will become active
automatically once an excessively swaying trailer is recog-
nized. NOTE:
TSC cannot stop all trailers from swaying. Always
use caution when towing a trailer and follow the trailer
tongue weight recommendations. Refer to “Trailer Tow-
ing” in “Starting And Operating” for further information.
When TSC is functioning, the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” will flash, the engine power
may be reduced and you may feel the brakes being applied
to individual wheels to attempt to stop the trailer from
swaying. TSC is disabled when the ESC system is in the
“Partial Off” mode.
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the vehicle down,
stop at the nearest safe location, and adjust the trailer
load to eliminate trailer sway.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
This system enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC corrects
for oversteering or understeering of the vehicle by apply-
ing the brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to assist in
counteracting the oversteer or understeer condition. En-
gine power may also be reduced to help the vehicle
maintain the desired path.
5
SAFETY 171

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 appropriate
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” located
in the instrument cluster will start to flash as soon as 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!
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot prevent the
natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle,
nor can it increase the traction afforded by prevailing
road conditions. ESC cannot prevent accidents, in-
cluding those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or hydro-
planing. ESC also cannot prevent accidents resulting
from loss of vehicle control due to inappropriate
driver input for the conditions. Only a safe, attentive,
and skillful driver can prevent accidents. The capa-
bilities 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 ESC
performance. Improperly inflated and unevenly
worn tires may also degrade ESC performance. Any
(Continued)
172 SAFETY

WARNING!(Continued)
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 instruc-
tion below.
There are three modes of active safety systems present on
the vehicle:
•ESC On
• Partial Off
• Full Off 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 operating
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 mode Partial Off
or Full Off only for specific reasons.5
SAFETY 173

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.
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 pushthe 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 described
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 system is reduced.
• Trailer Sway control (TSC) is disabled when the ESC
system is in the “Partial Off” mode.
ESC OFF Button
174 SAFETY

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 ESC OFF
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.
• The “ESC OFF” message will display and a chime will
sound when the gear selector is moved from any posi-
tion to the PARK position and then moved out of the
PARK position. This will occur even if the message was
cleared previously.
Selec-Terrain — If Equipped
On models equipped with Selec-Terrain, the activation of
some driving modes provide partial off or full off of some
active safety systems in order to optimize performance in
specific modes.
Partial or full off of the active safety systems will be
indicated by a light in the instrument cluster.
5
SAFETY 175

Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM)
This system anticipates the potential for wheel lift by
monitoring the driver ’s steering wheel input and the speed
of the vehicle. When ERM determines that the rate of
change of the steering wheel angle and vehicle’s speed are
sufficient to potentially cause wheel lift, it then applies the
appropriate brake and may also reduce engine power to
lessen the chance that wheel lift will occur. ERM will only
intervene during very severe or evasive driving maneu-
vers. ERM can only reduce the chance of wheel lift occur-
ring during severe or evasive driving maneuvers. It cannot
prevent wheel lift due to other factors, such as road
conditions, leaving the roadway, or striking objects or other
vehicles.
NOTE:ERM is disabled anytime the ESC is in “Full Off”
mode. Refer to Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in this
section for a complete explanation of the available ESC
modes.
WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road conditions,
and driving conditions, influence the chance that
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
wheel lift or rollover may occur. Electronic Roll Miti-
gation (ERM) cannot prevent all wheel lift or rollovers,
especially those that involve leaving the roadway or
striking objects or other vehicles. The capabilities of an
ERM-equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a
reckless or dangerous manner, which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
Traction Control System (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of wheel spin of each of
the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected, brake pressure
is applied to the slipping wheel(s) and engine power is
reduced to provide enhanced acceleration and stability. A
feature of the TCS system, Brake Limited Differential
(BLD), functions similar to a limited slip differential and
controls the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one wheel
on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other, the
system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This
will allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel
that is not spinning. This feature remains active even if TCS
and ESC are in the “Partial Off” mode or the “Full Off”
mode. Refer to “Electronic Stability Control (ESC)” in this
section for further information.
5
SAFETY 177

Dynamic Steering Torque (DST)
The DST function uses the integration of the ESC system
with the electric power steering to increase the safety level
of the whole car. In critical situations (understeering,
oversteering, braking with different grip conditions),
through the DST function the ESC system controls the
steering to implement an additional torque contribution on
the steering wheel, to suggest the most correct maneuver to
the driver. The coordinated action of brakes and steering
increases the safety and car control feeling.
NOTE:The DST is a driving aid system and does not
replace the driver ’s actions while driving the car.
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.
HDC has three states:
1. Off (feature is not enabled and will not activate).
Hill Descent Control (Trailhawk)
178 SAFETY

CAUTION!
•The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system op-
eration or sensor damage may result when using
replacement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. The TPM sensor is not designed
for use on aftermarket wheels, and may contribute to
a poor overall system performance. Customers are
encouraged to use OEM wheels to assure TPMS
feature operation.
• Using aftermarket tire sealants may cause the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor to be-
come inoperable. After using an aftermarket tire
sealant it is recommended that you take your vehicle
to an authorized dealer to have your sensor function
checked.
• After inspecting or adjusting the tire pressure always
reinstall the valve stem cap. This will prevent mois-
ture and dirt from entering the valve stem, which
could damage the TPMS sensor. NOTE:
•
The TPMS is not intended to replace normal tire care and
maintenance, or to provide warning of a tire failure or
condition.
• The TPMS should not be used as a tire pressure gauge
while adjusting your tire pressure.
• Driving on a significantly underinflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Underinfla-
tion also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
• The TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver ’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure using an accurate tire pressure
gauge, even if underinflation has not reached the level to
trigger illumination of the “Tire Pressure Monitoring
Telltale Light”.
• Seasonal temperature changes will affect TPMS informa-
tion on your instrument cluster.
5
SAFETY 197