2018 NISSAN LEAF automatic transmission

Lockout protection
When the power door lock switch (driver’s
or front passenger’s side) is moved to the
lock position with the Intelligent Key in the
vehicle while any door is open, a warning
chime will sound and all doors unlock au-
tomatically.
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS
∙ All doors lock automatically when thevehicle speed reaches 15 mph
(24 km/h).
∙ All doors unlock automatically when the transmission is placed in the P (Park)
position or when the ignition switch is
placed in the OFF position.
NOTE:
The automatic door unlock function can
be changed using “Vehicle Settings” of
the vehicle information display. For ad-
ditional information, refer to “Vehicle in-
formation display ” in the “Instruments
and controls” section of this manual.
CHILD SAFETY REAR DOOR LOCK
Child safety locks help prevent the rear
doors from being opened accidentally, es-
pecially when small children are in the ve-
hicle.
The child safety lock levers are located on
the edge of the rear doors.
When the lever is in the unlock position
2,
the door can be opened from the outside
or the inside.
When the lever is in the LOCK position
1,
the door can be opened only from the
outside.
WARNING
∙ Radio waves could adversely affect electric medical equipment. Those
who use a pacemaker should contact
the electric medical equipment
manufacturer for the possible influ-
ences before use.
∙ The Intelligent Key transmits radio waves when the buttons are pressed.
The FAA advises the radio waves may
affect aircraf t navigation and com-
munication systems. Do not operate
the Intelligent Key while on an air-
plane. Make sure the buttons are not
operated unintentionally when the
unit is stored for a flight.
∙ Never leave the Intelligent Key in the vehicle when you leave the vehicle.
The Intelligent Key system can operate all
the door and lif tgate locks using the re-
mote control function or pushing the re-
quest switch (if so equipped) on the vehicle
without taking the key out from a pocket or
purse. The operating environment and/or
conditions may affect the Intelligent Key
system operation.
Be sure to read the following before using
the Intelligent Key system.
SPA2037
NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY®
3-6Pre-driving checks and adjustments

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving..........5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..............5-2
Three-way catalyst ...........................5-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)........................................5-3
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions ..................................5-7
Avoiding collision and rollover ................5-7
Off-roadrecovery ............................5-7
Rapid air pressure loss .......................5-8
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-9
Push-button ignition switch .....................5-9
Operating range ............................. 5-10
Push-button ignition switch positions .......5-10
Emergency engine shut off ...................5-11
NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery
discharge ................................... 5-12
NISSAN Anti-Thef t System (NATS)
(if so equipped) .............................. 5-12
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
(if so equipped) .............................. 5-13
Before starting the engine ......................5-13
Starting the engine ............................. 5-14
Remote Engine Start (if so equipped) ........5-15 Driving the vehicle
.............................. 5-15
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) ........................................ 5-15
Parking brake .................................. 5-21
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) (if so equipped) .......5-22
BSW system operation ......................5-23
How to enable/disable the BSW system .....5-24
BSW system limitations ......................5-25
BSW driving situations .......................5-26
System temporarily unavailable .............5-29
System maintenance ........................ 5-30
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) (if so equipped) . . 5-31 RCTA system operation ......................5-32
How to enable/disable the RCTA
system ...................................... 5-34
RCTA system limitations .....................5-35
System temporarily unavailable .............5-37
System maintenance ........................ 5-38
Cruise control .................................. 5-39
Precautions on cruise control ................5-39
Cruise

control operations .................... 5-40
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
(if so equipped) ................................. 5-41
AEB system operation .......................5-43

REMOTE ENGINE START (if so
equipped)
Vehicles started with the Remote Engine
Start require the ignition switch to be
placed in the ON position before the shif t
lever can be moved from the P (Park) posi-
tion. To place the ignition switch in the ON
position, follow these steps:1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is on you.
2. Apply the brake.
3. Push the ignition switch once to the ON position.
For additional information, refer to “NISSAN
Intelligent Key®” in the “Pre-driving checks
and adjustments” section of this manual.
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT)
WARNING
∙ Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or L (Low).
Always depress the brake pedal until
shif ting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
∙ Cold engine idle speed is high, so use caution when shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
∙ Do not downshif t abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
∙ Never shif t to either the P (Park) or R (Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is re-
versing. This could cause an accident
or damage the transmission.
CAUTION
∙ Except in an emergency, do not shif tto the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission in
the N (Neutral) position may cause se-
rious damage to the transmission.
∙ To avoid possible damage to your ve- hicle, when stopping the vehicle on an
uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this
purpose.
The CVT in your vehicle is electronically
controlled to produce maximum power
and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures
for this transmission are shown on the fol-
lowing pages. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driv-
ing enjoyment.
NOTE:
Engine power may be automatically re-
duced to protect the CVT if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving on
slippery roads or while being tested on
some dynamometers.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-15

If the shif t lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park), have the transmission checked as
soon as possible. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
CAUTION
Make sure to take extra care during the
removal of the shif t lock cap as this part
is easily damaged.
WARNING
If the shif t lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is de-
pressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and
others.
Sport mode switch (if so
equipped)
To select the sport mode, push the sport
mode switch with the shif t lever in the D
(Drive) position.
The sport mode indicator in the vehicle in-
formation display illuminates next to the
Transmission Shif t Position indicator. To
turn off the sport mode, push the sport
mode switch again. The sport mode indi-
cator will turn off. When the shif t lever is
shif ted to any position other than D (Drive),
the sport mode will be automatically
turned off.OFF position:
For normal driving and fuel economy, use
the OFF position.
ON position:
For driving up or down long slopes where
engine braking is necessary, or for powerful
acceleration, use the ON position. The
transmission will automatically select a dif-
ferent gear ratio, allowing the engine to
provide high output.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the sport
mode in the ON position. This reduces fuel
economy.
LSD2647
Starting and driving5-19

Overdrive (O/D) OFF mode switch
(if so equipped)
To select the overdrive OFF mode, push the
O/D OFF switch with the shif t lever in the D
(Drive) position.
The overdrive OFF indicator light in the me-
ter panel illuminates. To turn off the over-
drive OFF mode, push the O/D OFF switch
again. The overdrive OFF indicator light will
turn off. When the shif t lever is shif ted to
any position other than D (Drive), the over-
drive OFF mode will be automatically
turned off.OFF position:
For normal driving and fuel economy, use
the OFF position.
ON position:
For driving up or down long slopes where
engine braking is necessary, or for powerful
acceleration, use the ON position. The
transmission will automatically select a dif-
ferent gear ratio, allowing the engine to
provide high output.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the over-
drive OFF mode in the ON position. This
reduces fuel economy.
Accelerator downshif t
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shif ts
the transmission down into a lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid tem-
perature becomes too high (for example,
when climbing steep grades in high tem-peratures with heavy loads, such as when
towing a trailer), engine power and, under
some conditions, vehicle speed will be de-
creased automatically to reduce the
chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelera-
tor pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed
may be limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel
spinning and subsequent hard braking,
the fail-safe system may be activated.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may come on to indicate the fail-safe
mode is activated. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL)” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section of this manual. This will oc-
cur even if all electrical circuits are func-
tioning properly. In this case, place the
ignition switch in the OFF position and
wait for 10 seconds. Then push the
switch back to the ON position. The ve-
hicle should return to its normal operat-
ing condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have the
transmission checked and repaired, if
necessary. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
LSD2647
5-20Starting and driving

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.
The hill start assist system will operate au-
tomatically under the following conditions:∙ The transmission is shif ted to a forward or reverse gear.
∙ The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds.
Af ter 2 seconds the vehicle will begin to roll
back and the hill start assist system will
stop operating completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate
when the transmission is shif ted to the N
(Neutral) or P (Park) position or on a flat and
level road.
When the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
indicator light illuminates in the meter, the
hill start assist system will not operate. For
additional information, refer to “Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) indicator light” in the
“Instruments and controls” section of this
manual.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before in-
serting it into the key hole or use the re-
mote keyless entry function on the Intelli-
gent Key.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper win-
ter protection. For additional information,
refer to “Engine cooling system” in the “Do-
it-yourself ” section of this manual.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the
battery fluid may freeze and damage the
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency,
the battery should be checked regularly.
For additional information, refer to “Battery”
in the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this
manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be lef t outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system, in-
cluding the engine block. Refill before oper-
ating the vehicle. For additional informa-
tion, refer to “Changing engine coolant” in
the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance
of these tires will be substantially re-
duced 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 dealer for the tire
type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires may be used. However,
some states, provinces and territories
prohibit their use. Check local laws be-
fore installing studded tires.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-61

CAUTION
∙ NISSAN recommends using GenuineNISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 (or equivalent)
ONLY in NISSAN CVTs. Do not mix with
other fluids.
∙ Do not use Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) or manual transmission
fluid in a NISSAN CVT, as it may dam-
age the CVT. Damage caused by the
use of fluids other than as recom-
mended is not covered under
NISSAN’s New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
∙ Using fluids that are not equivalent to Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 may
also damage the CVT. Damage caused
by the use of fluids other than as rec-
ommended is not covered under
NISSAN’s New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
When checking or replacement of CVT fluid
is required, it is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service. For additional information on brake fluid
specification, refer to “Recommended
fluids/lubricants and capacities” in the
“Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
WARNING
∙ Use only new fluid from a sealed con-
tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the brake system.
The use of improper fluids can dam-
age the brake system and affect the
vehicle’s stopping ability.
∙ Clean the filler cap before removing. ∙ Brake fluid is poisonous and should
be stored carefully in marked contain-
ers out of reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid
is spilled, immediately wash the surface
with water.
Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the
brake fluid is below the MIN line
B, the
brake warning light will illuminate. Add
brake fluid up to the MAX line
A. For addi-
tional information on recommended type
of brake fluid, refer to “Recommended
fluids/lubricants and capacities" in the “
Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
If the brake fluid must be added frequently,
the brake system should be thoroughly
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.LDI2790
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT) FLUID BRAKE FLUID
Do-it-yourself8-9

Cargocover...................2-53
Cargo (See vehicle loading
information)..................10-13
Car phone or CB radio............4-68
Check tire pressure ..............2-31
Childrestraints........1-18, 1-19, 1-21, 1-23 LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers
forCHildren)System ...........1-23
Precautions on child
restraints.........1-21, 1-28, 1-34, 1-39
Top tether strap anchor point
locations.................. .1-25
Child restraint with top tether strap . . . .1-25
Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Chimes, audible reminders .........2-20
Cleaningexteriorandinterior......7-2,7-4
Clockset.....................4-6
Coldweatherdriving.............5-61
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) .......................5-15
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ...................8-9
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) ............5-15
Transmission shif t selector
lockrelease.................5-18
Control panel buttons .............4-3
Brightness/contrast button .......4-8
Controls Audio controls (steering wheel) .....4-63
Heater and air conditioner controls
(automatic).................4-39
Heater and air conditioner controls
(manual) ...................4-31 Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2
Changing engine coolant .........8-5
Checking engine coolant level ......8-5
Corrosionprotection..............7-7
Cruisecontrol .................5-39
Cupholders...................2-51
Curtain side-impact and rollover
airbag..................... .1-59
D
Daytime Running Light System .......2-43
Defroster switch Rear window and outside mirror
defrosterswitch...........2-40,4-41
Rear window defroster switch . .2-40, 4-33
Dimensions and weights ...........10-9
Dimmer switch for instrument panel . . .2-44
Display......................2-21
Display controls (see
control panel buttons) .............4-3
Door locks ..................3-4,3-5
Door open warning light ...........2-13
Drivebelt.....................8-13
Driving Cold weather driving ...........5-61
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) ............5-15
Precautions when starting
anddriving..................5-2
Drivingthevehicle...............5-15 E
Economy - fuel .................5-51
Emergency engine shutoff ..........5-11
Emission control information label . . . .10-11
Emission control system warranty . . . .10-18
Engine Before starting the engine ........5-13
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2
Changing engine coolant .........8-5
Changing engine oil ............8-6
Changing engine oil filter .........8-8
Checking engine coolant level ......8-5
Checking engine oil level .........8-5
Engine compartment check
locations...................8-3
Engine cooling system ..........8-4
Engine oil ...................8-5
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation .............10-6
Engine oil pressure warning light ....2-13
Engine oil viscosity .............10-6
Engine serial number ...........10-11
Engine specifications ...........10-8
Starting the engine ............5-14
EventDatarecorders............10-20
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .......
5-2
Explanation of maintenance items .....9-2
Explanation of scheduled maintenance
items .......................9-5
Extended storage switch ..........2-48
11-2