2021 INFINITI QX50 transmission

Lockout protection
When any door is open and the power door
lock switch is moved to the lock position, all
doors will lock. If the Intelligent Key is left in
the vehicle after the door is closed, all doors
will unlock automatically and a chime will
sound.
These functions help to prevent the Intelli-
gent Key from being accidentally locked in-
side the vehicle.
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS
• All doors lock automatically when the ve-hicle speed reaches 15 mph (24 km/h).
• All doors unlock automatically when the transmission is placed in the P (Park) posi-
tion or when the ignition switch is placed in
the OFF position depending on the option
selected in the “Comfort & Convenience”
options of the “Settings” menu.
NOTE:The Auto unlock features can be changed
using “Comfort & Convenience” options in
the “Settings” menu of the lower touch-
screen display. For additional information,
refer to the separate INFINITI InTouch™
Owner’s Manual.
CHILD SAFETY REAR DOOR
LOCK
Child safety locks help prevent the rear doors
from being opened accidentally, especially
when small children are in the vehicle.
The child safety lock levers are located on the
edge of the rear doors.
When the lever is in the LOCK position, the
door can be opened only from the outside.
WARNING
• Radio waves could adversely affect elec-
tric medical equipment. Those who use a
pacemaker should contact the electric
medical equipment manufacturer for the
possible influences before use.
• The Intelligent Key transmits radio
waves when the buttons are pressed.
The FAA advises the radio waves may
affect aircraft navigation and communi-
cation systems. Do not operate the Intel-
ligent Key while on an airplane. Make
sure the buttons are not operated unin-
tentionally when the unit is stored for a
flight.
• Before leaving the vehicle, engage the P
(Park) position and check that the elec-
tronic parking brake warning light is illu-
minated to confirm that the electronic
parking brake is applied. The electronic
parking brake warning light will remain
on for a period of time after the driver’s
door is locked.
LPD2753
INFINITI INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM
3-6Pre-driving checks and adjustments

LOG-IN FUNCTION
After setting up the user information, the
system will automatically recognize the user
upon turning on the vehicle.
There will be a personalized welcome greet-
ing and screen prompt to log in.
This feature allows four drivers to use their
own registration, drive mode, driving posi-
tion, air conditioner, and auto settings and
memorizes these custom settings.
The log-in user can be changed on the wel-
come greeting screen or the User List screen.
For additional information, refer to the sepa-
rate INFINITI InTouch™ Owner’s Manual.
The log-in function is linked to the following
features:
• Meter
• Audio
• Navigation system display
• Navigation settings
• Air conditioner
• Memory seat (if so equipped)
• Engine/transmission
• Steering
• Suspension (if so equipped)
• Active trace control system• Driver assistance except for the Forward
Emergency Braking (FEB) with Pedestrian
Detection system (if so equipped)
• Body Control Module (BCM)
The
button will be on the INFINITI
Intelligent Key if the vehicle has Remote En-
gine Start. This feature allows the engine to
start from outside the vehicle.
Vehicles with an automatic climate control
system will default to either a heating or
cooling mode depending on outside and
cabin temperatures. For additional informa-
tion, see. “Remote Engine Start with Intelli-
gent Climate Control” (P. 4-35).
Laws in some local communities may restrict
the use of remote starters. For example,
some laws require a person using Remote
Engine Start to have the vehicle in view.
Check local regulations for any requirements.
LPD2995
REMOTE ENGINE START (if so
equipped)
3-18Pre-driving checks and adjustments

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving............5-4
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ................5-4
Three-way catalyst ...........................5-4
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ......5-5
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions ...................................5-8
Avoiding collision and rollover .................5-8
Off-road recovery ............................5-9
Rapid air pressure loss ........................5-9
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-10
Driving safety precautions ...................5-10
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) driving
safety precautions (if so equipped) ............5-12
Push-button ignition switch ....................5-13
Operating range ............................ 5-14
Push-button ignition switch positions ........5-14
Emergency engine shut off ...................5-15
INFINITI Intelligent Key battery
discharge .................................... 5-15
INFINITI Vehicle Immobilizer System .........5-16
Before starting the engine ......................5-16
Starting the engine ............................. 5-16
Remote Engine Start (if so equipped) .........5-17
Driving the vehicle ............................. 5-18
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) ....................................... 5-18Electronic parking brake
........................ 5-23
Automatic operation ........................ 5-23
Manual operation ........................... 5-24
When towing a trailer ....................... 5-25
Automatic brake hold .......................... 5-25
How to activate/deactivate the
automatic brake hold function ...............5-26
How to use the automatic brake hold
function .................................... 5-27
INFINITI Drive Mode Selector ..................5-28
Standard mode ............................. 5-29
Sport mode ................................. 5-29
Personal mode .............................. 5-29
ECO mode ................................. 5-30
Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) (if so equipped) . . 5-32 System operation ........................... 5-33
Turning the Traffic Sign Recognition
(TSR) system on and off .....................5-34
System temporarily unavailable ..............5-34
System
malfunction ......................... 5-34
System maintenance ........................ 5-34
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) ................5-35
LDW system operation ......................5-36
How to enable/disable the LDW system .....5-37
LDW system limitations .....................5-37
System temporarily unavailable ..............5-38

•Stay alert when driving to the top of a
hill. At the top there could be a drop-off
or other hazard that could cause an
accident.
• If your engine stalls or you cannot make
it to the top of a steep hill, never attempt
to turn around. Your vehicle could tip or
roll over. Always back straight down in R
(Reverse) gear and apply brakes to con-
trol your speed.
• Heavy braking going down a hill could
cause your brakes to overheat and fade,
resulting in loss of control and an acci-
dent. Apply brakes lightly and use a low
gear to control your speed.
• Unsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Prop-
erly secure all cargo so it will not be
thrown forward and cause injury to you
or your passengers.
• Secure heavy loads in the cargo area as
far forward and as low as possible. Do
not equip the vehicle with tires larger
than specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to roll over. •
Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel when driving off-road.
The steering wheel could move suddenly
and injure your hands. Instead drive with
your fingers and thumbs on the outside
of the rim.
• Before operating the vehicle, ensure that
the driver and all passengers have their
seat belts fastened.
• Always drive with the floor mats in place
as the floor may become hot.
• Lower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher center
of gravity, your INFINITI is more af-
fected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
• Do not drive beyond the performance ca-
pability of the tires, even with AWD
engaged.
• For AWD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt to raise two wheels off the ground
and shift the transmission to any drive or
reverse position with the engine running.
Doing so may result in drivetrain damage
or unexpected vehicle movement which
could result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury. •
Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamometers
used by some states for emissions test-
ing) or similar equipment even if the
other two wheels are raised off the
ground. Make sure you inform test facil-
ity personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with AWD before it is placed
on a dynamometer. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drivetrain dam-
age or unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle dam-
age or personal injury.
• When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
• Accelerating quickly, sharp steering ma-
neuvers or sudden braking may cause
loss of control.
• If at all possible, avoid sharp turning ma-
neuvers, particularly at high speeds.
Your INFINITI vehicle has a higher center
of gravity than a passenger car. The ve-
hicle is not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as passenger cars. Failure
to operate this vehicle correctly could re-
sult in loss of control and/or a rollover
accident.
Starting and driving5-11

•Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted, or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Install tire chains on the front
wheels when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully.
• Be sure to check the brakes immediately
after driving in mud or water. For addi-
tional information, see “Brake precau-
tions” (P. 5-152).
• Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills.
If you get out of the vehicle and it rolls
forward, backward or sideways, you
could be injured.
• Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the wheel
hub, more frequent maintenance may be
required. For additional information, see
“Additional maintenance items for se-
vere operating conditions” (P. 9-7).INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL
DRIVE (AWD) DRIVING SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS (if so equipped)
WARNING
• Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
• Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Install tire chains on the front
wheels when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully.
• This vehicle is not designed for off-road
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy
or muddy roads that tires may get stuck
in.
• For AWD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt to raise two wheels off the ground
and shift the transmission to any D
(Drive) or R (Reverse) position with the
engine running. Doing so may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury. •
Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamometers
used by some states for emissions test-
ing) or similar equipment even if the
other two wheels are raised off the
ground. Make sure you inform test facil-
ity personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with AWD before it is placed
on a dynamometer. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drivetrain dam-
age or unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle dam-
age or personal injury.
• When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
5-12Starting and driving

CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT)
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), or M
(Manual shift mode). Always depress the
brake pedal until shifting is completed.
Failure to do so could cause you to lose
control and have an accident.
• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use cau-
tion when shifting into a forward or re-
verse gear before the engine has warmed
up.
• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
• Never shift 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 reversing.
This could cause an accident or damage
the transmission.
• Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
CAUTION
• 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.
• Do not hang items on the shift lever. This
may cause an accident due to a sudden
start.
The CVT in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for
this transmission are shown on the following
pages. Follow these procedures for maxi-
mum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment.
Engine power may be automatically reduced
to protect the CVT if the engine speed in-
creases quickly when driving on slippery
roads or while being tested on some
dynamometers.Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the shift
lever out of the P (Park) position.
This Continuously Variable Transmission
is designed so that the foot brake pedal
must be depressed before shifting from P
(Park) to any driving position while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other positions if the ignition switch is
placed in the OFF position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift lever to a driving position.
3. Release the parking brake and foot brake pedal and then gradually start the vehicle
in motion.
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), or M
(Manual shift mode). Always depress the
brake pedal until shifting is completed.
Failure to do so could cause you to lose
control and have an accident.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-18Starting and driving

•Cold engine idle speed is high, so use cau-
tion when shifting into a forward or re-
verse gear before the engine has warmed
up.
• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
• Never shift 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 reversing.
This could cause an accident or damage
the transmission.
CAUTION
• 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.
• Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
• Do not hang items on the shift lever. This
may cause an accident due to a sudden
start.
Shifting
Press the shift lever button to shift
Shift without pressing the shift lever
button
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal, press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever from the P (Park) position
to any of the desired shift positions. Confirm
that the vehicle is in the desired shift position by checking the shift indicator located near
the shift lever or the vehicle information
display.
WARNING
Apply the electronic parking brake if the
shift lever is in any position while the en-
gine is not running. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly or
roll away and result in serious personal in-
jury or property damage.
CAUTION
• Use the P (Park), R (Reverse) or D (Drive)
position only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
• After switching to the desired shift posi-
tion, release your hand from the shift le-
ver to let it return to the idle position.
Holding the shift lever in a mid-way po-
sition may also damage the shift control
system.
• Do not operate the shift lever while the
accelerator pedal is depressed. This may
cause a sudden start which could result in
an accident.LSD3872
Starting and driving5-19

•The following operations are not allowed
because excessive force would be ap-
plied to the transmission and this may
result in damage to the vehicle:
– Moving the shift lever to the R (Re-
verse) position when driving forward.
– Moving the shift lever to the D (Drive)
position when reversing.
If these operations are attempted, a chime
sounds and the vehicle shifts to the N (Neu-
tral) position.
P (Park)
CAUTION
• To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
• Do not slide the shift lever while pressing
the Park button. This may damage the
shift control system.
Use this position when the vehicle is parked
or starting the engine. Always make sure that
the vehicle is completely stopped before
pressing the Park button
O1to engage the P
(Park) position. For maximum safety, the
brake pedal must be depressed before en-
gaging the P (Park) position. Use this position
together with the parking brake. When park- ing on a hill, first depress the brake pedal,
apply the parking brake and then engage the
P (Park) position. The parking lock should not
be used as a brake when parking. In order to
secure the vehicle, always apply the elec-
tronic parking brake in addition to the parking
lock.
In the event of a malfunction of the vehicle’s
electronics, the transmission may lock in the
P (Park) position. Have the vehicle’s electron-
ics checked immediately. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
The P (Park) position is automatically en-
gaged if:
• You switch off the ignition switch.
• You unfasten the driver’s seat belt and
open the driver’s door when the vehicle is
stationary or driving at a very low speed
and the transmission is in the D (Drive) po-
sition or R (Reverse) position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the R
(Reverse) position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped. Use the R (Reverse) position to back up. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position.
The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pressed to move the shift lever from
the idle position to R (Reverse).
If the vehicle is placed in the R (Reverse)
position while forwarding, the chime will
sound and the vehicle will switch into the N
(Neutral) position.
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled
engine while the vehicle is moving. You can
select this position by holding the shift lever
at this position for 0.5 seconds.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward driv-
ing. The CVT changes gears automatically. All
forward gears are available. If the vehicle is
placed in the D (Drive) position while revers-
ing, the chime will sound and the vehicle will
switch into the N (Neutral) position.
5-20Starting and driving