2021 INFINITI QX50 manual transmission

Stop vehicle and Apply
parking brake
This message may appear when the battery
charge is low.
Please park vehicle as soon as possible. It is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI
retailer.
Transmission Shift Position
indicator
This indicator shows the transmission shift
position.
Tire Pressure Low - Add Air
This warning appears when the low tire pres-
sure warning light in the meter illuminates
and low tire pressure is detected. The warn-
ing appears each time the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position as long as the low
tire pressure warning light remains illumi-
nated. If this warning appears, stop the ve-
hicle and adjust the tire pressures of all four
tires to the recommended COLD tire pres-
sure shown on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label. For additional information, see
“Low tire pressure warning light” (P. 2-13)
and “Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)” (P. 5-5).
When parked apply parking
brake
This message appears when a malfunction
occurs in the electric shift control system be-
low 6 mph (10 km/h).
Have the system checked. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
AWD Error: See Owner’s
Manual
This warning appears when the all-wheel
drive system is not functioning properly while
the engine is running.
AWD High Temp. Stop vehicle
This warning may appear while trying to free
a stuck vehicle due to increased oil tempera-
ture. The driving mode may change to
2-Wheel Drive (2WD). If this warning is dis-
played, stop the vehicle with the engine idling,
as soon as it is safe to do so. Then if the
warning turns off, you can continue driving.
AWD Tire Size Incorrect: See
Owner’s Manual
This warning may appear if there is a large
difference between the diameters of the
front and rear wheels. Pull off the road in a
safe area, with the engine idling. Check that
all the tire sizes are the same, that the tire
pressure is correct and that the tires are not
excessively worn.
CVT (AT) Malfunction Service now
This warning appears when there is a prob-
lem with the CVT system. If this warning
comes on, have the system checked. It is rec-
ommended that you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.
CVT (AT) hot Power reduced
This transmission has a high fluid tempera-
ture protection mode. If the fluid temperature
becomes too high (for example, climbing
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 re-
duce the chance of transmission damage.
Vehicle speed can be controlled with the ac-
celerator pedal, but the engine and vehicle
speed may be reduced.
2-24Instruments and controls

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

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

Manual shift mode
The transmission enters the manual shift
mode by moving the shift lever again to the D
(Drive) position when the vehicle is in the D
range.
You can select the manual shift range by
pulling the left side or right side paddle shifter
OAandOB. To cancel the manual shift mode,
move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position
again. The transmission returns to the auto-
matic drive mode.
When the shift lever is shifted from D (Drive)
to the manual shift mode with the vehicle stopped or while driving, the transmission
enters the manual shift mode. Shift ranges
can be selected manually. Shift ranges can
also be selected using the paddle shifters on
the steering wheel. When you pull the paddle
shifter while in the D (Drive) position, the
transmission will shift to the upper or lower
range temporarily. If the paddle shifters are
not used for about 5–10 seconds, the trans-
mission will automatically return to the D
(Drive) position. If you want to return to the D
(Drive) position manually, pull and hold either
paddle shifter for about 1.5 seconds.In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the me-
ter. When moving the shift lever to the
manual shift mode, the position indicator dis-
plays 1 (1st) up to 8 (8th) depending on ve-
hicle speed.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
1⇔
2⇔ 3⇔ 4⇔ 5⇔ 6⇔ 7⇔ 8
8 (8th)
Use this position for all normal forward driv-
ing at highway speeds.
7 (7th), 6 (6th) and 5 (5th)
Use this position when driving up long slopes,
or for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.
4 (4th), 3 (3rd) and 2 (2nd)
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
1 (1st)
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or when driving slowly, or for maxi-
mum engine braking on steep downhill
grades.
LSD2822
Manual shift gate
LSD2914
Paddle shifters
Starting and driving5-21

• 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