2017 NISSAN LEAF Owners Manual

The VDC system uses various sensors to monitor
driver inputs and vehicle motion. Under certain
driving conditions, the VDC system helps to per-
form the following functions.
• Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel slip onone slipping drive wheel so power is transferred
to a drive wheel on the same axle that is not
slipping.
• Controls brake pressure and traction motor out- put to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function) .
• Controls brake pressure at individual wheels and traction motor output to help the driver
maintain control of the vehicle in the following
conditions. – understeer (vehicle tends to not follow the steered path despite increased steering in-
put) .
– oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to cer- tain road or driving conditions) .
The VDC system can help the driver maintain
control of the vehicle, but it cannot prevent loss of
vehicle control in all driving situations.
When the VDC system operates, the
warning in the instrument panel flashes. When
the warning flashes, note the following items. • The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help keep
the vehicle on the steered path.
• You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or vibration from under the hood.
This is normal and indicates that the VDC sys-
tem is working properly.
• Adjust your speed and driving according to the road conditions.
For additional information, refer to “Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) warning light” and “Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF indicator light” in
the “Instruments and controls” section of this
manual.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
warning illuminates in the lower display. The VDC
system automatically turns off when this warning
light is lit.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC OFF indicator
illuminates
to indicate that the VDC system is off. When the
VDC switch is used to turn off the system, the
VDC system still operates to prevent one drive
wheel from slipping by transferring power to a
non slipping wheel. The
flashes if this
occurs. All other VDC functions are off and the
warning will not flash. The VDC System is automatically reset to ON when the power switch
is placed in the OFF position then back to the ON
position.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the EV
and move the vehicle forward or in reverse at a
slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an indica-
tion of a malfunction.
WARNING
• The VDC system is designed to help the driver maintain stability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or
by careless or dangerous driving tech-
niques. Reduce vehicle speed and be
especially careful when driving and
cornering on slippery surfaces and al-
ways drive carefully.
• Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen- sion. If suspension parts such as shock
absorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer
bars, bushings and wheels are not
NISSAN recommended for your ve-
hicle or are extremely deteriorated the
VDC system may not operate properly.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
5-24Starting and driving

This could adversely affect vehicle
handling performance, and the
warning may flash ormay
illuminate.
• If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and
may
illuminate.
• If traction motor control related parts
are not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the
may
illuminate.
• When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
warning may illu-
minate. Do not drive on these types of
roads.
• When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
warning may illuminate.
This is not a malfunction. Restart the
EV system after driving onto a stable
surface. • If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are used,
the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly and the
warning may illumi-
nate.
• The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
WARNING
• Never rely solely on the hill start assist system to prevent the vehicle from
moving backward on a hill. Always
drive carefully and attentively. Depress
the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Be especially
careful when stopped on a hill on fro-
zen or muddy roads. Failure to prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards
may result in a loss of control of the
vehicle and possible serious injury or
death.
• The hill start assist system is not de- signed to hold the vehicle at a stand-
still on a hill. Depress the brake pedal
when the vehicle is stopped on a steep
hill. Failure to do so may cause the
vehicle to roll backwards and may re-
sult in a collision or serious personal
injury.
• The hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards on a
hill under all load or road conditions.
Always be prepared to depress the
brake pedal to prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards. Failure to do
so may result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-25

The hill start assist system automatically keeps
the brakes applied to help prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards in the time it takes the
driver to release the brake pedal and apply the
accelerator when the vehicle is stopped on a hill.
Hill start assist will operate automatically under
the following conditions:
• The shift lever is shifted into D (Drive) , B, or R(Reverse) position.
• The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds. After
2 seconds the vehicle will begin to roll back and
hill start assist will stop operating completely.
Hill start assist will not operate when the shift
lever is shifted into N (Neutral) or P (Park) posi-
tion or on a flat and level road.CAUTION
To prevent damage to the Li-ion battery:
Do not store the vehicle in temperatures
below -13°F (-25°C) for over seven days. If
the outside temperature is -13°F (-25°C)
or less, the Li-ion battery may freeze and
it cannot be charged or provide power to
run the vehicle. Move the vehicle to a
warm location.
NOTE:
• Connect the charger to the vehicle and
place the power switch in the OFF posi-
tion when parking the vehicle if tempera-
tures may go below -4°F (-20°C) . This pro-
vides external power to the Li-ion battery
warmer (if so equipped) when it operates
and does not discharge the Li-ion battery.
Vehicle driving range is reduced if the
Li-ion battery warmer (if so equipped) op-
erates (Li-ion battery temperature ap-
proximately -4°F (-20°C) or colder) while
driving the vehicle. You may need to
charge the Li-ion battery sooner than in
warmer temperatures. •
The Li-ion battery requires more time to
charge when the Li-ion battery warmer (if
so equipped) operates.
• The predicted charging time displayed on
the meter and navigation system in-
creases when the Li-ion battery warmer (if
so equipped) operates.
• Vehicle range may be substantially re-
duced in extremely cold conditions (for
example under -4°F (-20°C)) .
• Using the climate control system to heat
the cabin when outside temperature is
below 32°F (0°C) uses more electricity and
affects vehicle range more than when us-
ing the heater when the temperature is
above 32°F (0°C) .
• Climate control performance is reduced
when using the Climate Ctrl. Timer or Re-
mote Climate Control while the Li-ion bat-
tery warmer (if so equipped) operates. Set
only the charging timer [End Time] when
charging in cold weather. The vehicle au-
tomatically determines when to start
charging to fully charge the Li-ion battery,
even if the Li-ion battery warmer operates.
Charging ends before the set end time if
the Li-ion battery is fully charged.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-26Starting and driving

FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply deicer
through the key hole. If the lock becomes frozen,
heat the key before inserting it into the key hole or
use the remote keyless entry key fob.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is possible that the outside
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C) , check
the antifreeze to ensure proper winter protection.
For additional information, refer to “Cooling sys-
tem” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion of this manual.
12-VOLT BATTERY
If the 12-volt battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the 12-volt
battery fluid may freeze and damage the 12-volt
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the 12-
volt battery should be checked regularly. For ad-
ditional information, refer to “12-volt battery” in
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of
this manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-
freeze, drain the cooling system. Refill before
operating the vehicle. For additional information,
refer to “Cooling system” in the “Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be sub-
stantially reduced in snowy and icy conditions. If
you operate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD & SNOW
or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for the tire type, size, speed rating
and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires
may be used. However, some U.S. states and
Canadian provinces prohibit their use. Check
local, state and provincial laws before installing
studded tires.Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
Tire chains may be used. For additional informa-
tion, refer to “Tire chains” in the “Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
• A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove ice
and snow from the windows and wiper blades.
• A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-drifts.
• Extra windshield-washer fluid to refill the reser- voir tank.
Starting and driving5-27

DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
• Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain) , very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.
• Whatever the conditions, drive with caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating too fast, the
drive wheels will lose even more trac-
tion.
• Allow more stopping distance under these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
• Allow greater following distances on slippery roads.
• Watch for slippery spots (glare ice) . These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch of
ice is seen ahead, brake before reach-
ing it. Try not to brake while on the ice,
and avoid any sudden steering maneu-
vers.
• Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.
FREEING A FROZEN CHARGE
PORT LID
When the charge port is frozen, melt the ice using
a hair dryer.
5-28Starting and driving

6 In case of emergency
Hazard warning flasher switch...............6-2
Roadside assistance program ................6-2
Emergency EV (Electric Vehicle) shut off .........6-3
Flat tire ............................ .6-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) .......6-3
Repairing flat tire .................... .6-4
Jump starting ........................ .6-10If the Li-ion battery becomes completely discharged. .6-12
Push starting
........................ .6-13
Towing your vehicle .................... .6-13
Towing recommended by NISSAN ..........6-14
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) ......6-14

Push the switch on to warn other drivers when
you must stop or park under emergency condi-
tions. All turn signal lights will flash.
WARNING
• If stopping for an emergency, be sure to move the vehicle well off the road.
• Do not use the hazard warning flash- ers while moving on the highway un-
less unusual circumstances force you
to drive so slowly that your vehicle
might become a hazard to other traffic.
• Turn signals do not work when the hazard warning flasher lights are on. The flasher can be actuated with the power
switch in any position.
Some jurisdictions may prohibit the use of
the hazard warning flasher switch while
driving.
In the event of a roadside emergency, Roadside
Assistance Service is available to you. For addi-
tional information, please refer to your Warranty
Information Booklet (U.S.) or Warranty & Road-
side Assistance Information Booklet (Canada) for
details.
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
SWITCH
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
6-2In case of emergency

To shut off the EV system in an emergency situ-
ation while driving, perform the following proce-
dure.
• Rapidly push the power switch three consecu-tive times in less than 1.5 seconds, or
• Push and hold the power switch for more than 2 seconds.TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with TPMS. It monitors
tire pressure of all tires. When the low tire pres-
sure warning light is lit, and the CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE warning appears on the vehicle in-
formation display, one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. If the vehicle is being
driven with low tire pressure, the TPMS will acti-
vate and warn you of it by the low tire pressure
warning light. This system will activate only when
the vehicle is driven at speeds above 16 mph
(25 km/h) . For additional information, refer to
“Warning lights, indicator lights and audible re-
minders” in the “Instruments and controls” sec-
tion and “Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)” in the “Starting and driving” section of
this manual.
WARNING
• Radio waves could adversely affect electric medical equipment. Those
who use a pacemaker should contact
the electric medical equipment manu-
facturer for the possible influences be-
fore use. • If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates while driving, avoid sud-
den steering maneuvers or abrupt
braking, reduce vehicle speed, pull off
the road to a safe location and stop the
vehicle as soon as possible. Driving
with underinflated tires may perma-
nently damage the tires and increase
the likelihood of tire failure. Serious
vehicle damage could occur and may
lead to an accident and could result in
serious personal injury. Check the tire
pressure for all four tires. Adjust the
tire pressure to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light
OFF. If the light still illuminates while
driving after adjusting the tire pres-
sure, a tire may be flat. If you have a
flat tire, repair it as soon as possible.
• When replacing a wheel without the TPMS such as the spare tire, TPMS will
not function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash for approxi-
mately 1 minute. The light will remain
on after 1 minute. Have your tires re-
placed and/or TPMS system reset as
soon as possible. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer for these services.
EMERGENCY EV (ELECTRIC
VEHICLE) SHUT OFF FLAT TIRE
In case of emergency6-3