2021 NISSAN LEAF Owner´s Manual

WARNING
To ensure proper operation of the front
passenger’s NISSAN Advanced Air Bag
System, please observe the following
items.
• Do not allow a passenger in the rear
seat to push or pull on the seatback
pocket (if so equipped).
• Do not place heavy loads heavier
than 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) on the seatback,
head restraint/headrest or in the
seatback pocket (if so equipped).
• Make sure that there is nothing
pressing against the rear of the seat-
back, such as a child restraint in-
stalled in the rear seat or an object
stored on the floor.
• Make sure that there is no object
placed under the front passenger
seat.
• Make sure that there is no object
placed between the seat cushion and
center console or between the seat
cushion and the door. •
If a forward-facing child restraint is
installed in the front passenger seat,
do not position the front passenger
seat so the child restraint contacts
the instrument panel. If the child re-
straint does contact the instrument
panel, the system may determine the
seat is occupied and the passenger
air bag and front passenger supple-
mental knee air bag may deploy in a
collision. Also, the front passenger air
bag status light may not illuminate.
For additional information, see “Child
restraints” (P. 1-22).
• Confirm the operating condition with
the front passenger air bag status
light.
• If you notice that the front passenger
air bag status light is not operating
as described in this section, get the
occupant classification system
checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer
for this service.
• Until you have confirmed with a
dealer that your passenger seat oc-
cupant classification system is work-
ing properly, position the occupants
in the rear seating positions. •
Do not position the front passenger
seat so it contacts the rear seat. If the
front seat does contact the rear seat,
the air bag system may determine a
sensor malfunction has occurred
and the front passenger air bag sta-
tus light may illuminate and the
supplemental air bag warning light
may flash.
This vehicle is equipped with the NISSAN
Advanced Air Bag System for the driver and
front passenger seats. This system is de-
signed to meet certification requirements
under U.S. regulations. It is also permitted in
Canada. All of the information, cautions
and warnings in this manual apply and
must be followed.
The driver supplemental front-impact air
bag is located in the center of the steering
wheel. The front passenger supplemental
front-impact air bag is mounted in the in-
strument panel above the glove box. The
front air bags are designed to inflate in
higher severity frontal collisions, although
they may inflate if the forces in another
type of collision are similar to those of a
higher severity frontal impact. They may
not inflate in certain frontal collisions. Ve-
hicle damage (or lack of it) is not always an
indication of proper front air bag operation.
1-54Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System
monitors information from the crash zone
sensor and the Air bag Control Unit (ACU).
Inflator operation is based on the severity
of a collision and seat belt usage for the
driver. For the front passenger, the occu-
pant classification sensor is also moni-
tored. Based on information from the sen-
sor, only one front air bag may inflate in a
crash, depending on the crash severity. Ad-
ditionally, the front passenger air bag and
front passenger supplemental knee air
bag may be automatically turned OFF un-
der some conditions, depending on the
weight detected on the passenger seat
and how the seat belt is used. If the front
passenger air bag and front passenger
supplemental knee air bag are OFF, the
passenger air bag status light will be illumi-
nated. For additional information, see
“Front passenger air bag and status light”
(P. 1-56). One front air bag inflating does not
indicate improper performance of the
system.
If you have any questions about your air
bag system, it is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer to ob-
tain information about the system. If you
are considering modification of your ve-
hicle due to a disability, you may also con-tact NISSAN. Contact information is con-
tained in the front of this Owner’s Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud
noise may be heard, followed by release of
smoke. This smoke is not harmful and
does not indicate a fire. Care should be
taken not to inhale it, as it may cause irrita-
tion and choking. Those with a history of a
breathing condition should get fresh air
promptly.
Front air bags, along with the use of seat
belts, help to cushion the impact force on
the head and chest of the front occupants.
They can help save lives and reduce seri-
ous injuries. However, an inflating front air
bag may cause facial abrasions or other
injuries. Front air bags, other than the driv-
er’s knee air bag, do not provide restraint to
the lower body.
Even with NISSAN Advanced Air Bags, seat
belts should be correctly worn and the
driver and front passenger seated upright
as far as practical away from the steering
wheel or instrument panel. The front air
bags inflate quickly in order to help protect
the front occupants. Because of this, the
force of the front air bag inflating can in-
crease the risk of injury if the occupant is
too close to, or is against, the air bag mod-
ule during inflation.The front air bags deflate quickly af ter a
collision.
The front air bags operate only when the
power switch is in the ON position.
Af ter the power switch is placed in the
ON position, the supplemental air bag
warning light illuminates. The supple-
mental air bag warning light will turn off
af ter about 7 seconds if the system is
operational.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-55

Front passenger air bag and status
light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag and front
passenger supplemental knee air bag
are designed to automatically turn OFF
under some conditions. Read this sec-
tion carefully to learn how it operates.
Proper use of the seat, seat belt and
child restraints is necessary for most
effective protection. Failure to follow all
instructions in this manual concerning
the use of seats, seat belts and child
restraints can increase the risk or se-
verity of injury in an accident. Status light
The front passenger seat is equipped with
an occupant classification sensor (weight
sensor) that turns the front passenger air
bag and front passenger supplemental
knee air bag on or off depending on the
weight applied to the front passenger seat.
The status of the front passenger air bag
and front passenger supplemental knee
air bag (ON or OFF) is indicated by the front
passenger air bag status light
which
is located on the instrument panel.
Af ter the power switch is placed in the “ON”
position, the front passenger air bag status
light on the instrument panel illuminates
for about 7 seconds and then turns off or
remains illuminated depending on the
front passenger seat occupied status. The
light operates as follows:
CONDITION DESCRIPTIONPASSENGER AIR BAG STATUS LIGHT
() RESULT FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND FRONT PASSENGER
SUPPLEMENTAL KNEE AIR BAG STATUS
Empty Empty front passenger seat ON (illuminated) INHIBITED
Nobody/Somebody Bag or Child or Child Restraint or
Small Adult in front passenger seat ON (illuminated)
INHIBITED
Adult Adult in the front passenger seat OFF (dark) ACTIVATED
In addition to the above, certain objects
placed on the front passenger seat may
also cause the light to operate as de-
scribed above depending on their weight.For additional information, see “Normal op-
eration” (P. 1-58) and “Troubleshooting”
(P. 1-59).
LRS2980
1-56Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

Front passenger air bag
The front passenger air bag and front pas-
senger supplemental knee air bag are de-
signed to automatically turn OFF when the
vehicle is operated under some conditions
as described below in accordance with U.S.
regulations. If the front passenger air bag
and front passenger supplemental knee
air bag are OFF, it will not inflate in a crash.
The driver air bag and other air bags in your
vehicle are not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help
reduce the risk of injury or death from an
inflating air bag to certain front passenger
seat occupants, such as children, by requir-
ing the front passenger air bag and front
passenger supplemental knee air bag to
be automatically turned OFF. Certain sen-
sors are used to meet the requirements.
The occupant classification sensor in this
vehicle is a weight sensor. It is designed to
detect an occupant and objects on the
seat by weight. For example, if a child is in
the front passenger seat, the NISSAN Ad-
vanced Air Bag System is designed to turn
the front passenger air bag and front pas-
senger supplemental knee air bag OFF in
accordance with the regulations. Also, if a
child restraint of the type specified in the
regulations is on the seat, its weight andthe child’s weight can be detected and
cause the front passenger air bag and
front passenger supplemental knee air
bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who
are properly seated and using the seat belt
as outlined in this manual should not
cause the front passenger air bag and
front passenger supplemental knee air
bag to be automatically turned OFF. For
small adults it may be turned OFF, however
if the occupant takes his/her weight off the
seat cushion (for example, by not sitting
upright, by sitting on an edge of the seat, or
by otherwise being out of position), this
could cause the sensors to turn the front
passenger air bag and front passenger
supplemental knee air bag OFF. Always be
sure to be seated and wearing the seat belt
properly for the most effective protection
by the seat belt and supplemental air bag.
NISSAN recommends that pre-teens and
children be properly restrained in a rear
seat. NISSAN also recommends that ap-
propriate child restraints and booster
seats be properly installed in a rear seat. If
this is not possible, the occupant classifica-
tion sensor is designed to operate as de-
scribed above to turn the front passenger
air bag and front passenger supplemental
knee air bag OFF for specified child re-
straints as required by regulations. Failing
to properly secure child restraints and to
use the ALR mode may allow the restraint
to tip or move in a collision or sudden stop.
This can also result in the front passenger
air bag and front passenger supplemental
knee air bag inflating in a crash instead of
being OFF. For additional information, see
“Child restraints” (P. 1-22).
If the front passenger seat is not occupied,
the front passenger air bag and front pas-
senger supplemental knee air bag are de-
signed not to inflate in a crash. However,
heavy objects placed on the seat could re-
sult in air bag inflation, because of the ob-
ject’s weight being detected by the occu-
pant classification sensor. Other
conditions could also result in air bag infla-
tion, such as if a child is standing on the
seat, or if two children are on the seat, con-
trary to the instructions in this manual. Al-
ways be sure that you and all vehicle occu-
pants are seated and restrained properly.
Using the front passenger air bag status
light, you can monitor when the front pas-
senger air bag and front passenger
supplemental knee air bag are automati-
cally turned OFF.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-57

If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
front passenger air bag status light is illu-
minated (indicating that the front passen-
ger air bag and front passenger supple-
mental knee air bag are OFF), it could be
that the person is a small adult, or is not
sitting on the seat properly or not using the
seat belt properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front
seat, the front passenger air bag status
light may or may not be illuminated, de-
pending on the size of the child and the
type of child restraint being used. If the
front passenger air bag status light is not
illuminated (indicating that the front pas-
senger air bag and front passenger
supplemental knee air bag might inflate in
a crash), it could be that the child restraint
or seat belt is not being used properly.
Make sure that the child restraint is in-
stalled properly, the seat belt is used prop-
erly and the occupant is positioned prop-
erly. If the front passenger air bag status
light is still not illuminated, reposition the
occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.If the front passenger air bag status light
will not illuminate even though you believe
that the child restraint, the seat belts and
the occupant are properly positioned, it is
recommended that you take your vehicle
to a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. A NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer can check system
status by using a special tool. However, un-
til you have confirmed with a dealer that
your air bag is working properly, reposition
the occupant or child restraint in a rear
seat.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System and
front passenger air bag status light will
take a few seconds to register a change in
the front passenger seat status. This is nor-
mal system operation and does not indi-
cate a malfunction.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passen-
ger air bag system, the supplemental air
bag warning light
, located in the me-
ter and gauges area of the instrument
panel, will be illuminated (blinking or
steadily lit). Have the system checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN cer-
tified LEAF dealer for this service. Normal operation
In order for the occupant classification
sensor system to classif y the front passen-
ger based on weight, please follow the pre-
cautions and steps outlined below:
Precautions
• Make sure that there are no objects
weighing over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) hanging on
the seat or placed in the seatback pocket.
• Make sure that a child restraint or other object is not pressing against the rear of
the seatback.
• Make sure that the rear passenger is not pushing or pulling on the back of the front
passenger seat.
• Make sure that the front passenger seat or seatback is not forced back against an
object on the seat or floor behind it.
• Make sure that there is no object placed under the front passenger seat.
Steps
1. Adjust the seat as outlined in the “Seats” section of this manual. Sit upright, lean-
ing against the seatback, and centered
on the seat cushion with your feet com-
fortably extended to the floor.
2. Make sure there are no objects on your lap.
1-58Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

3. Fasten the seat belt as outlined in the“Seat belts” section of this manual. Front
passenger seat belt buckle status is
monitored by the occupant classifica-
tion system and is used as an input to
determine occupancy status. So, it is
highly recommended that the front pas-
senger fasten their seat belt.
4. Remain in this position for 30 seconds allowing the system to classif y the front
passenger before the vehicle is put into
motion.
5. Ensure proper classification by checking the front passenger air bag status light.
NOTE:
This vehicle’s occupant classification
sensor system generally keeps the clas-
sification locked during driving, so it is
important that you confirm that the
front passenger is properly classified
prior to driving. However, the occupant
classification sensor may recalculate the
weight of the occupant under some con-
ditions (both while driving and when
stopped), so front passenger seat occu-
pants should continue to remain seated
as outlined above. Troubleshooting
If you think the front passenger air bag
status light is incorrect:
1. If the light is ON with an adult occupying
the front passenger seat:
• Occupant is a small adult — the air bag light is functioning as intended. The
front passenger air bag and front pas-
senger supplemental knee air bag are
suppressed.
However, if the occupant is not a small
adult, then this may be due to the following
conditions that may be interfering with the
weight sensors: • Occupant is not sitting upright, lean-ing against the seatback, and cen-
tered on the seat cushion with his/her
feet comfortably extended to the floor.
• A child restraint or other object press- ing against the rear of the seatback.
• A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger seat.
• Forcing the front seat or seatback against an object on the seat or floor
behind it.
• An object placed under the front pas- senger seat. • An object placed between the seat
cushion and center console or be-
tween the seat cushion and the door.
If the vehicle is moving, please come to a
stop when it is safe to do so. Check and
correct any of the above conditions. Re-
start the vehicle and wait 1 minute.
NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the front passenger air bag status
light will remain lit for about 7 seconds
initially.
If the light is still ON af ter this, the person
should be advised not to ride in the front
passenger seat and the vehicle should be
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.
2. If the light is OFF with a small adult, child or child restraint occupying the front
passenger seat.
This may be due to the following condi-
tions that may be interfering with the
weight sensors:
• Small adult or child is not sitting up- right, leaning against the seatback,
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-59

and centered on the seat cushion with
his/her feet comfortably extended to
the floor.
• The child restraint is not properly in- stalled, as outlined in the “Child re-
straints” section of this manual.
• An object weighting over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) hanging on the seat or placed in the
seatback pocket (if so equipped).
• A child restraint or other object press- ing against the rear or the seatback.
• A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger seat.
pushing or pulling on the seatback of
the front passenger seat.
• Forcing the front seat or seatback against an object on the seat or floor
behind it.
• An object placed under the front pas- senger seat.
• An object placed between the seat cushion and center console.
If the vehicle is moving, please come to a
stop when it is safe to do so. Check and
correct any of the above conditions. Re-
start the vehicle and wait 1 minute.NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the front passenger air bag status
light will remain lit for about 7 seconds
initially.
If the light is still OFF af ter this, the small
adult, child or child restraint should be re-
positioned in the rear seat and the vehicle
should be checked as soon as possible. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN cer-
tified LEAF dealer for this service.
3. If the light is OFF with no front passenger and no objects on the front passenger
seat the vehicle should be checked as
soon as possible. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer for this service.
Other supplemental front-impact air
bag precautions
WARNING
• Do not place any objects on the
steering wheel pad or on the instru-
ment panel. Also, do not place any
objects between any occupant and
the steering wheel or instrument
panel. Such objects may become
dangerous projectiles and cause in-
jury if the front air bags inflate.
• Do not place objects with sharp
edges on the seat. Also, do not place
heavy objects on the seat that will
leave permanent impressions in the
seat. Such objects can damage the
seat or occupant classification sen-
sor (weight sensor). This can affect
the operation of the air bag system
and result in serious personal injury.
• Do not use water or acidic cleaners
(hot steam cleaners) on the seat. This
can damage the seat or occupant
classification sensor. This can also
affect the operation of the air bag
system and result in serious personal
injury.
1-60Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

•Immediately af ter inflation, several
front air bag system components will
be hot. Do not touch them; you may
severely burn yourself.
• No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring
of the supplemental air bag system.
This is to prevent accidental inflation
of the supplemental air bag or dam-
age to the supplemental air bag
system.
• Do not make unauthorized changes
to your vehicle’s electrical system,
suspension system or front end
structure. This could affect proper
operation of the front air bag system.
• Tampering with the front air bag sys-
tem may result in serious personal
injury. Tampering includes changes
to the steering wheel and the instru-
ment panel assembly by placing ma-
terial over the steering wheel pad
and above the instrument panel or
by installing additional trim material
around the air bag system.
• Removing or modif ying the front
passenger seat may affect the func-
tion of the air bag system and result
in serious personal injury. •
Modif ying or tampering with the
front passenger seat may result in
serious personal injury. For example,
do not change the front seats by
placing material on the seat cushion
or by installing additional trim mate-
rial, such as seat covers, on the seat
that is not specifically designed to
assure proper air bag operation. Ad-
ditionally, do not stow any objects
under the front passenger seat or the
seat cushion and seatback. Such ob-
jects may interfere with the proper
operation of the occupant classifica-
tion sensor (weight sensor).
• No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring
of the seat belt system. This may af-
fect the front air bag system. Tam-
pering with the seat belt system may
result in serious personal injury. •
It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for work
on and around the front air bag sys-
tem. It is also recommended that you
visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer
for installation of electrical equip-
ment. The Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) wiring harnesses*
should not be modified or discon-
nected. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the air bag
system.
• A cracked windshield should be re-
placed immediately by a qualified re-
pair facility. A cracked windshield
could affect the function of the
supplemental air bag system.
*The SRS wiring harness connectors are
yellow and orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the front air
bag system and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this Owner’s Manual.
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-61