2021 INFINITI QX50 Shift

• Remember not to drive at high speeds forextended periods of time in lower than 8th
gear. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up
Use the + (up) side paddle shifter
OB. (Shifts to
higher range.)
When shifting down
Use the − (down) side paddle shifter
OA.
(Shifts to lower range.)
• The transmission will automatically down- shift the gears. (For example, if you select
the 3rd range, the transmission will shift
down between the 3rd and 1st gears.)
• Moving the shift lever rapidly to the same side twice will shift the ranges in
succession.
When canceling the manual shift mode
Move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position
to return the transmission to the normal driv-
ing mode.
• In the manual shift mode, the transmission
may not shift to the selected gear. This
helps maintain driving performance and
reduces the chance of vehicle damage or
loss of control. •
When this situation occurs, the Continu-
ously Variable Transmission (CVT) posi-
tion indicator will blink and the chime will
sound.
• In the manual shift mode, the transmission
may shift up automatically to a higher
range than selected if the engine speed is
too high. When the vehicle speed de-
creases, the transmission automatically
shifts down and shifts to 1st gear before
the vehicle comes to a stop.
• CVT operation is limited to automatic drive mode when CVT fluid temperature is ex-
tremely low even if manual shift mode is
selected. This is not a malfunction. When
CVT fluid warms up, manual mode can be
selected.
• When the CVT fluid temperature is high, the shift range may upshift in lower rpm
than usual. This is not a malfunction.
Accelerator downshift
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the ac-
celerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into a lower gear, de-
pending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tempera-
ture protection mode. If the fluid temperature
becomes too high (for example, when climb-
ing steep grades in high temperatures with
heavy loads, such as when towing a trailer),
engine power and, under some conditions,
vehicle speed will be decreased automatically
to reduce the chance of transmission dam-
age. Vehicle speed can be controlled with the
accelerator pedal, but the engine and vehicle
speed may be limited.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, the
Continuously Variable Transmission will not
be shifted into the selected driving position.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme condi-
tions, such as excessive wheel spinning and
subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe sys-
tem may be activated. The Malfunction Indi-
cator Light (MIL) may come on to indicate
the fail-safe mode is activated. For addi-
tional information, see “Malfunction Indica-
tor Light (MIL)” (P. 2-15). This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, place the ignition
switch in the OFF position and wait for 10
5-22Starting and driving

seconds. Then place the ignition switch back
in the ON position. The vehicle should return
to its normal operating 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
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs, ve-
hicle speed may be gradually reduced. The
reduced speed may be lower than other
traffic, which could increase the chance of
a collision. Be especially careful when driv-
ing. If necessary, pull to the side of the road
at a safe place and allow the transmission
to return to normal operation, or have it
repaired if necessary.
WARNING
• Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
• Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
• Do not use the shift lever in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure the
parking brake is fully engaged. •
To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the ve-
hicle and/or its systems, do not leave
children, people who require the assis-
tance of others or pets unattended in
your vehicle. Additionally, the tempera-
ture inside a closed vehicle on a warm day
can quickly become high enough to cause
a significant risk of injury or death to
people and pets.
The electronic parking brake can be applied
or released automatically or by operating the
parking brake switch.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION
The electronic parking brake will apply auto-
matically if the ignition switch is placed in the
OFF position when the brake force is main-
tained by the automatic brake hold function.
The electronic parking brake is automatically
released as soon as the vehicle starts and the
accelerator pedal is depressed.
The driver’s seat belt needs to be fastened.
LSD2915
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving5-23

WARNING
• The electronic parking brake will not be
automatically applied when the engine is
stopped without using the ignition
switch (for example, by engine stalling).
Without the vehicle stationary, the elec-
tronic parking brake will not be auto-
matically applied even if the engine is
turned off with the ignition switch.
• Before leaving the vehicle, press the Park
button to place the vehicle in the P (Park)
position and check that the electronic
parking brake indicator light is illumi-
nated to confirm that the electronic
parking brake is applied. The electronic
parking brake indicator light will remain
on for a period of time after the driver’s
door is locked.
CAUTION
When parking in an area where the outside
temperature is below 32°F (0°C), the park-
ing brake, if applied, may freeze in place
and may be difficult to release.
For safe parking, it is recommended that
you place the shift lever in the P (Park)
position and securely block the wheels.
NOTE:
• If a malfunction occurs in the electronic parking brake system (for example, due to
battery discharge), it is recommended that
you visit an INFINITI retailer.
• If the shift lever is moved to the P (Park) position when the brake force is main-
tained by the automatic brake hold func-
tion, the electronic parking brake will ap-
ply automatically.
• If the driver’s seat belt is unfastened when the brake force is maintained by the auto-
matic brake hold function, the electronic
parking brake will apply automatically.
• If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF position when the brake force is main-
tained by the automatic brake hold func-
tion, the electronic parking brake will ap-
ply automatically.
• Under the following conditions, the elec- tronic parking brake will automatically be
applied and the brake force of the auto-
matic brake hold will be released:
– The braking force is applied by the auto- matic brake hold function for 3 minutes
or longer.
– The vehicle is placed in the “P” (Park) position.
– The driver’s seat belt is unfastened. – The ignition switch is placed in the
“OFF” position.
– The electronic parking brake is applied.
– If a malfunction occurs in the automatic brake hold function.
MANUAL OPERATION
The electronic parking brake will not be auto-
matically applied if the engine is stopped
without using the ignition switch (for ex-
ample, by engine stalling). In such a case, you
have to apply the parking brake manually.
To apply: Pull the switch up
O1. The indicator
light
OAwill illuminate.
To release: With the ignition switch in the ON
position, depress the brake pedal and push
the switch down
O2. The indicator lightOAwill turn off.
Before driving, check that the electronic
parking brake indicator light (red) (if so
equipped)
orgoes out. For addi-
tional information, see “Warning lights, indi-
cator lights and audible reminders” (P. 2-9).
NOTE:
• A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven without releasing the parking brake. For
additional information, see “Warning
lights, indicator lights and audible remind-
ers” (P. 2-9).
5-24Starting and driving

•When the automatic brake hold function
is activated but fails to maintain the ve-
hicle at a standstill, depress the brake
pedal to stop the vehicle. If the vehicle
unexpectedly moves due to outside con-
ditions, the chime may sound and auto-
matic brake hold warning may illuminate
in the vehicle information display.
• Be sure to deactivate the automatic
brake hold function when using a car
wash or towing your vehicle.
• Make sure to place the shift lever in the P
(Park) position and apply the parking
brake when parking your vehicle, riding
on or off the vehicle, or loading luggage.
Failure to do so could cause the vehicle to
move or roll away unexpectedly and re-
sult in serious personal injury or property
damage.WARNING
• If any of the following conditions occur,
the automatic brake hold function may
not function. Have the system checked
promptly. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Failure to operate the vehicle in accor-
dance with these conditions could cause
the vehicle to move or roll away unex-
pectedly and result in serious personal
injury or property damage.
– A warning message appears in the ve-
hicle information display.
– The indicator light on the automatic
brake hold switch does not illuminate
when the switch is pushed.
• The automatic brake hold function will
not be activated if the Slip indicator
light, electronic parking brake warning
light or master warning light illuminate
and the chassis control system fault
message appears in the vehicle informa-
tion display.
• To maintain the braking force to keep
the vehicle to a standstill, a noise may be
heard. This is not a malfunction.
HOW TO ACTIVATE/
DEACTIVATE THE AUTOMATIC
BRAKE HOLD FUNCTION
For additional information on activating and
deactivating the automatic brake hold func-
tion, refer to the instructions outlined in this
section.
How to activate the automatic
brake hold function
1. With the ignition switch in the ON posi- tion, push the automatic brake hold switch
O1. The indicator light on the automatic
brake hold switch
O2illuminates.
LSD2916
5-26Starting and driving

2. When the automatic brake hold functiongoes into standby, the automatic brake
hold indicator light (white) illuminates.
To use the automatic brake hold function, the
following conditions need to be met:
• The driver’s seat belt is fastened.
• The electronic parking brake is released.
• The shift lever is not in the P (Park) position.
• The vehicle is not parked on a steep hill
NOTE:
The automatic brake hold function resets to
OFF every time the ignition switch is
switched from the ON position to the OFF
position.
How to deactivate the automatic
brake hold function
While the automatic brake hold function is
activated, push the automatic brake hold
switch to turn off the automatic brake hold
indicator light and deactivate the automatic
brake hold function. To deactivate the auto-
matic brake hold function while the brake
force has been maintained by the automatic
brake hold function, depress the brake pedal
and push the automatic brake hold switch.
WARNING
Make sure to firmly depress and hold the
brake pedal when turning off the auto-
matic brake hold function while the brake
force is applied. When the automatic brake
hold function is deactivated, the brake
force will be released. This could cause the
vehicle to move or roll away unexpectedly.
Failure to prevent the vehicle from rolling
may result in serious personal injury or
property damage.
HOW TO USE THE AUTOMATIC
BRAKE HOLD FUNCTION
For additional information on using the auto-
matic brake hold function, refer to the in-
structions outlined in this section.
To maintain braking force
automatically
With the automatic brake hold function acti-
vated and the automatic brake hold indicator
light (white) illuminated on the meter, depress
the braking pedal to stop the vehicle. The
automatic brake hold indicator illuminates
green on the meter, the brake force is auto-
matically applied without your foot de-
pressed on the brake pedal. While the brake hold is maintained, the automatic brake hold
indicator light (green) illuminates on the
meter.
To start the vehicle from a standstill
With the shift lever not in the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position, depress the accelerator
pedal while the brake force is maintained. The
brake force will automatically be released to
restart the vehicle.
The automatic brake hold indicator light
(white) on the meter illuminates and the au-
tomatic brake hold returns to standby.
Parking
When the shift lever is in the P (Park) position
with the brake force maintained by the auto-
matic brake hold function, the parking brake
will automatically be applied and the brake
force of the automatic brake hold will be
released. The automatic brake hold indicator
light turns off. When the parking brake is
applied with the brake force maintained by
the automatic brake hold function, the brake
force of the automatic brake hold will be
released. The automatic brake hold indicator
light turns off.
Starting and driving5-27

Active Engine Brake:
“Active Engine Brake” can be set to ON (en-
abled) or OFF (disabled). For additional infor-
mation, see “Active Engine Brake” (P. 5-157 ).
Reset Drive Mode Settings to Default:
Select “Reset Drive Mode Settings to De-
fault” and select “OK” to restore all the PER-
SONAL mode settings to default.
ECO MODE
The ECO mode adjusts the engine and trans-
mission to enhance fuel economy.
NOTE:
Selecting this drive mode will not necessarily
improve fuel economy as many driving fac-
tors influence its effectiveness.
Operation
Push the Drive Mode Selector switch to the
ECO position. “ECO” appears in the vehicle
information display and the ECO drive indi-
cator light illuminates on the instrument
panel. ECO mode will also be displayed in the
upper display.When the accelerator pedal is depressed
within the range of economy drive, the ECO
drive indicator light illuminates in green.
When the accelerator pedal is depressed
above the range of economy drive, the ECO
drive indicator light turns off. For ECO pedal
system equipped models, see “ECO pedal
system” (P. 5-30).
The ECO drive indicator light will not illumi-
nate in the following cases:
• When the shift lever is in the R (Reverse)
position.
• When the vehicle speed is below 3 mph (4.8 km/h) or over 90 mph (144 km/h).
• When the Intelligent Cruise Control system (if so equipped) is operated.
ECO pedal system (if so equipped)
The ECO pedal system helps assist the driver
to improve fuel economy by increasing the
reaction force of the accelerator pedal. When
the ECO drive indicator light is blinking or
turns off, the ECO pedal system increases
the reaction force of the accelerator pedal.
ECO drive indicator
light Illuminates or
blinks
Illuminates(green) When the pedal is
depressed within
range of economy drive
Blinks (green) When the pedal is
depressed almostover the range of economy drive
Not illumi- nated When the pedal is
depressed over the range of
economy drive
When the ECO drive indicator light illumi-
nates in green, the accelerator reaction force
is normal. When the ECO drive indicator light
is blinking or turns off, the ECO pedal system
increases the reaction force of the accelera-
tor pedal.
The ECO pedal system may not vary accel-
erator reaction force under the following
conditions:
• When the shift lever is in the N (Neutral) or R (Reverse) position.
• When Intelligent Cruise Control (if so equipped) is being operated.
5-30Starting and driving

•Do not use the LDW system under the
following conditions as it may not func-
tion properly:
– During bad weather (rain, fog, snow,
etc.).
– When driving on slippery roads, such
as on ice or snow.
– When driving on winding or uneven
roads.
– When there is a lane closure due to
road repairs.
– When driving in a makeshift or tem-
porary lane.
– When driving on roads where the lane
width is too narrow.
– When driving without normal tire
conditions (for example, tire wear,
low tire pressure, installation of
spare tire, tire chains, nonstandard
wheels).
– When the vehicle is equipped with
non-original brake parts or suspen-
sion parts.
– When you are towing a trailer or
other vehicle. The system may not function properly under
the following conditions:
• On roads where there are multiple parallel
lane markers; lane markers that are faded
or not painted clearly; yellow painted lane
markers; non-standard lane markers; or
lane markers covered with water, dirt,
snow, etc.
• On roads where the discontinued lane markers are still detectable.
• On roads where there are sharp curves.
• On roads where there are sharply contrast- ing objects, such as shadows, snow, water,
wheel ruts, seams or lines remaining after
road repairs. (The LDW system could de-
tect these items as lane markers.)
• On roads where the traveling lane merges or separates.
• When the vehicle’s traveling direction does not align with the lane marker.
• When traveling close to the vehicle in front of you, which obstructs the lane camera
unit detection range.
• When rain, snow, dirt or an object adheres to the windshield in front of the lane cam-
era unit.
• When the headlights are not bright due to dirt on the lens or if the aiming is not ad-
justed properly. • When strong light enters the lane camera
unit. (For example, the light directly shines
on the front of the vehicle at sunrise or
sunset.)
• When a sudden change in brightness oc- curs. (For example, when the vehicle enters
or exits a tunnel or under a bridge.)
SYSTEM TEMPORARILY
UNAVAILABLE
If the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight under
high temperature conditions (over approxi-
mately 104°F [40°C]) and then started, the
LDW system may be deactivated automati-
cally and the following message will appear in
the vehicle information display: “Not avail-
able: High Camera Temp.”
When the interior temperature is reduced, the
LDW system will resume operating
automatically.
The LDW system is not designed to warn
under the following conditions:
• When you operate the lane change signaland change traveling lanes in the direction
of the signal. (The LDW system will become
operable again approximately 2 seconds
after the lane change signal is turned off.)
• When the vehicle speed lowers to less than approximately 37 mph (60 km/h).
5-38Starting and driving

After the above conditions have finished and
the necessary operating conditions are satis-
fied, the LDW functions will resume.
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
If the LDW system malfunctions, it will cancel
automatically and “Malfunction” will appear
in the vehicle information display. If “Mal-
function” appears in vehicle information dis-
play, pull off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle. Place the shift lever in the P
(Park) position and ignition switch in the OFF
position and restart the engine. If “Malfunc-
tion” continues to appear in vehicle informa-
tion display, have the system checked. It is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service.
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The lane camera unitO1for the LDW system
is located above the inside mirror. To keep the
proper operation of the LDW system and
prevent a system malfunction, be sure to ob-
serve the following:
• Always keep the windshield clean.
• Do not attach a sticker (including transpar- ent material) or install an accessory near
the camera unit. • Do not place reflective materials, such as
white paper or a mirror, on the instrument
panel. The reflection of sunlight may ad-
versely affect the camera unit’s capability
of detecting the lane markers.
• Do not strike or damage the areas around the camera unit. Do not touch the camera
lens or remove the screw located on the
camera unit. If the camera unit is damaged
due to an accident, it is recommended that
you visit an INFINITI retailer.
LSD3075
Starting and driving5-39