2020 INFINITI QX50 four wheel drive

∙ Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. Ifsuspension parts such as shock absorb-
ers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bush-
ings and wheels are not INFINITI recom-
mended for your vehicle or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling performance, and
the
indicator light may flash or
both the
andindicator lights
may illuminate.
∙ If brake related parts such as brake pads, rotors and calipers are not INFINITI rec-
ommended or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate
properly and both the
and
the
indicator lights may illuminate.
∙ If engine control related parts are not INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, both the
andindicator lights may illuminate. ∙ When driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners, the
VDC system may not operate properly
and the
indicator light may flash or
both the
andindicator lights
may illuminate. Do not drive on these
types of roads.
∙ When driving on an unstable surface such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or ramp,
the
indicator light may flash or
both the
andindicator lights
may illuminate. This is not a malfunction.
Restart the engine after driving onto a
stable surface.
∙ If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI recommended ones are used, the VDC
system may not operate properly and
the
indicator light may flash or
both the
andindicator lights
may illuminate.
∙ The VDC system is not a substitute for winter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns,
the system optimizes the distribution of force
to each of the four wheels depending on the
radius of the turn.
WARNING
∙ The VDC system is designed to help thedriver maintain controllability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or by
careless or dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle speed and be especially
careful when driving and cornering on
slippery surfaces and always drive
carefully.
∙ Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If suspension parts such as shock absorb-
ers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bush-
ings and wheels are not INFINITI recom-
mended for your vehicle or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling performance, and
the
indicator light may flash or
both the
andindicator lights
may illuminate.
Starting and driving5-183

ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL
This system senses upper body motion
(based on wheel speed information) and con-
trols engine torque and four wheel brake
pressure. This will enhance ride comfort in an
effort to restrain uncomfortable upper body
movement when passing over undulated
road surfaces. This system comes into effect
above 25 mph (40 km/h).
When the lower display is used to turn off the
VDC system, the Active Ride Control is also
turned off.
If the Integrated Dynamics-control Module
warning message appears in the vehicle in-
formation display, it may indicate that the
Active Ride Control is not functioning prop-
erly. Have the system checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
When the Active Ride Control is operating,
you may hear noise and sense slight decel-
eration. This is normal and indicates that the
Active Ride Control is operating properly.
WARNING
∙ Never rely solely on the hill start assistsystem to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing backward on a hill. Always drive care-
fully and attentively. Depress the brake
pedal when the vehicle is stopped on a
steep hill. Be especially careful when
stopped on a hill on frozen 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 standstill
on a hill. Depress the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped on a steep hill. Fail-
ure to do so may cause the vehicle to roll
backwards and may result in a collision or
serious personal injury.
∙ The hill start assist system may not pre- vent 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. When the vehicle is stopped on a hill, the hill
start assist system automatically keeps the
brakes applied to help prevent the vehicle
from rolling backward in the time it takes the
driver to release the brake pedal and apply
the accelerator.
The hill start assist system will operate auto-
matically under the following conditions:
∙ The transmission is shifted 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. After 2 sec-
onds the vehicle will begin to roll back and
the hill start assist system will stop oper-
ating completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate
when the shift lever is placed in the N (Neu-
tral), the Park button is pressed to place the
vehicle in the P (Park) position or on a flat and
level road.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
5-186Starting and driving

DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For additional information, refer to
“Changing engine coolant” in the “Do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed toprovide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced
in snowy and icy conditions. If you oper-
ate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
INFINITI recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all
four wheels. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for the tire type,
size, speed rating and availability infor-
mation.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires may be used. However,
some U.S. states and Canadian prov-
inces prohibit their use. Check local,
state and provincial laws before install-
ing 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.
3. Tire chains may be used. For additional information, refer to “Tire chains” in the
“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 re- move ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.
∙ A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack to give it firm support.
∙ A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow- drifts.
∙ Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield-washer fluid reservoir.
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 condition, drive with cau- tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even more
traction.
∙ 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 reaching it. Try
not to brake while on the ice, and avoid
any sudden steering maneuvers.
∙ Do not use the cruise control on slippery roads.
5-192Starting and driving

∙ If the low tire pressure warning light illu-minates while driving, avoid sudden
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 under-
inflated tires may permanently 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 recom-
mended 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 pressure,
a tire may be flat or the TPMS may be
malfunctioning. If you have a flat tire, re-
place it with a replacement tire as soon as
possible. If no tires are flat and all tires
are properly inflated, have the vehicle
checked. It is recommended that you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service. ∙ When replacing a wheel without TPMS
such as the spare tire, the TPMS will not
function and the low tire pressure warn-
ing light will flash for approximately
1 minute. The light will remain on after
1 minute. Have your tires replaced
and/or TPMS system reset as soon as
possible. It is recommended that you visit
an INFINITI retailer for these services.
∙ Replacing tires with those not originally specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
∙ Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol tire sealant into the tires, as this may cause a
malfunction of the tire pressure sensors.
RUN-FLAT TIRES
This vehicle is equipped with run-flat tires.
Run-flat tires can be used temporarily if they
are punctured. When the “Flat Tire — Visit
Dealer” warning appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display, one or more of your tires is
punctured. For additional information, refer
to “Run-flat tires” in the “Do-it-yourself” sec-
tion of this manual.
For additional information, refer to the tire
safety information in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
WARNING
∙ Although you can continue driving with apunctured run-flat tire, remember that
vehicle handling stability is reduced,
which could lead to an accident and per-
sonal injury. Also, driving a long distance
at high speeds may damage the tires.
∙ Do not drive at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not drive more than
approximately 93 miles (150 km) with a
punctured run-flat tire. The actual dis-
tance the vehicle can be driven on a flat
tire depends on outside temperature, ve-
hicle load, road conditions and other
factors.
∙ Drive safely at reduced speeds. Avoid hard cornering or braking, which may
cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
∙ If you detect any unusual sounds or vi- brations while driving with a punctured
run-flat tire, pull off the road to a safe
location and stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. The tire may be seriously dam-
aged and need to be replaced.
6-4In case of emergency

Two-Wheel Drive models with
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT)
INFINITI recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (front) wheels off the
ground or place the vehicle on a flatbed truck
as illustrated.NOTE:
If the electronic parking brake is released,
the rear wheels can be grounded while tow-
ing. If the electronic parking brake is not re-
leased, towing dollies should be used. For
additional information, refer to “Electronic
parking brake” in the “Starting and driving”
section of this manual.
CAUTION
∙ Never tow Continuously Variable Trans-
mission (CVT) models with the front
wheels on the ground or four wheels on
the ground (forward or backward), as
this may cause serious and expensive
damage to the transmission. If it is neces-
sary to tow the vehicle with the rear
wheels raised always use towing dollies
under the front wheels.
∙ When towing Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) models with the rear
wheels on the ground or on towing
dollies:
– Place the ignition switch in the OFF position, and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
secure the steering wheel by placing
the ignition switch in the LOCK posi-
tion. This may damage the steering
lock mechanism (for models with a
steering lock mechanism).
LCE2371
6-10In case of emergency

7The word “radial”
The word “radial” is shown if the tire
has radial structure.
8Manufacturer or brand name
Manufacturer or brand name is
shown.
Other Tire-related Terminology
In addition to the many terms that are
defined throughout this section, In-
tended Outboard Sidewall is (1) the
sidewall that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering or bears manu-
facturer, brand, and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than
the same molding on the other side-
wall of the tire, or (2) the outward
facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire
that has a particular side that must
always face outward when mounted
on a vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
∙When changing or replacing tires, be sure
all four tires are of the same type (i.e.,
Summer, All Season or Snow) and con-
struction. An INFINITI retailer may be able
to help you with information about tire
type, size, speed rating and availability.
∙ Replacement tires may have a lower speed rating than the factory equipped
tires, and may not match the potential
maximum vehicle speed. Never exceed
the maximum speed rating of the tire.
∙ Replacing tires with those not originally specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the low tire pressure
warning system.
∙
Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction and tread pattern on
all four wheels. Failure to do so may result
in a circumference difference between
tires on the front and rear axles which can
cause the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system to malfunction resulting in per-
sonal injury or death, excessive tire wear
and may damage the transmission, trans-
fer case and differential gears.
∙ For additional information regarding tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models
CAUTION
∙ ONLY use spare tires specified for the AWD model.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with
tires of the same size, brand, construction
and tread pattern. The tire pressure and
wheel alignment should also be checked and
corrected as necessary. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
All season tires
INFINITI specifies All Season tires on some
models to provide good performance all year,
including snowy and icy road conditions. All
Season tires are identified by ALL SEASON
and/or M&S on the tire sidewall. Snow tires
have better snow traction than All Season
tires and may be more appropriate in some
areas.
Do-it-yourself8-31

Summer tires
INFINITI specifies summer tires on some
models to provide superior performance on
dry roads. Summer tire performance is sub-
stantially reduced in snow and ice. Summer
tires do not have the tire traction rating
“M&S” on the tire sidewall.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in snowy or
icy conditions, INFINITI recommends the use
of SNOW tires or ALL SEASON tires on all
four wheels.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating
to the original equipment tires. If you do not,
it can adversely affect the safety and han-
dling of your vehicle.
Generally, snow tires have lower speed rat-
ings than factory equipped tires and may not
match the potential maximum vehicle speed.
Never exceed the maximum speed rating of
the tire.
If you install snow tires, they must be the
same size, brand, construction and tread pat-
tern on all four wheels.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S. statesand Canadian provinces prohibit their use.
Check local, state and provincial laws before
installing studded tires. Skid and traction ca-
pabilities of studded snow tires on wet or dry
surfaces may be poorer than that of non-
studded snow tires.
Run–flat tires
Your vehicle is equipped with run-flat tires
and is not equipped with a spare tire, or a jack
and tool kit. The jack and tool kit may be
purchased at the dealer. Please consult an
INFINITI retailer for additional information.
You can continue driving to a safe location
even if the run-flat tires are punctured. Al-
ways use run-flat tires of the specified size on
all four wheels. Mixing tire sizes or construc-
tion may reduce vehicle handling stability. If
necessary, it is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Frequently check the tire pressure and adjust
pressure of each tire properly. The tire pres-
sure can be also checked in the vehicle infor-
mation display.
It can be difficult to tell if a run-flat tire is
under-inflated or flat. Check the tire pres-
sures as described in this section. If the tire
becomes under-inflated while driving, the
low tire pressure warning light will illuminate
and the “Tire Pressure Low – Add Air” warn-
ing appears in the vehicle information display.
If the tire becomes flat while driving, the low
tire pressure warning light and the “Flat Tire –
Visit dealer" warning will appear.
Low tire pressure:
If the vehicle is being driven with low tire
pressure, the low tire pressure warning light
will illuminate and the “Tire Pressure Low –
Add Air” warning appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display.
Flat tire:
If the vehicle is being driven with one or more
flat tires, the low tire pressure warning light
will illuminate continuously and a chime will
sound for 10 seconds. A “Flat-Tire – Visit
dealer" warning also appears in the vehicle
information display.
The chime will only sound at the first indica-
tion of a flat tire and the warning light will
illuminate continuously. When the flat tire
warning is activated, have the system reset
and the tire checked and replaced if neces-
sary. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service. Even if the
tire is inflated to the specified COLD tire
pressure, the warning light will continue to
illuminate until the system is reset. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
8-32Do-it-yourself

If the low tire pressure warning light illumi-
nates continuously and the “Flat Tire – Visit
dealer" warning appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display:∙ Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
∙ Increase your following distance to allow for increased stopping distances.
∙ Avoid sudden maneuvers, hard cornering and hard braking.
WARNING
∙ Although you can continue driving with apunctured run-flat tire, remember that
vehicle handling stability is reduced,
which could lead to an accident and per-
sonal injury. Also, driving a long distance
at high speeds may damage the tire.
∙ Do not drive at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h) and do not drive more than
approximately 93 miles (150 km) with a
punctured run-flat tire. The actual dis-
tance the vehicle can be driven on a flat
tire depends on outside temperature, ve-
hicle load, read conditions and other
factors.
∙ Drive safely at reduced speeds. Avoid hard cornering or braking, which may
cause you to lose control of the vehicle. ∙ If you detect any unusual sounds or vi-
brations while driving with a punctured
run-flat tire, pull off the road to a safe
location and stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. The tire may be seriously dam-
aged and need to be replaced.
CAUTION
∙ Never install tire chains on a puncturedrun-flat tire, as this could damage your
vehicle.
∙ Avoid driving over any projection or pot- hole, as the clearance between the ve-
hicle and the ground is smaller than
normal.
∙ Do not enter an automated car wash with a punctured run-flat tire.
∙ Have the punctured tire inspected by an INFINITI retailer or other authorized re-
pair shop. Replace the tire as soon as pos-
sible if the tire is seriously damaged. ∙ Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and may dam-
age the transmission, transfer case and
differential gears (AWD models).
∙ ONLY use spare tires specified for the AWD model.
∙ If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom- mended that all four tires be replaced
with tires of the same size, brand, con-
struction and tread pattern. The tire
pressure and wheel alignment should also
be checked and corrected as necessary. It
is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Do-it-yourself8-33