STARTING AND OPERATING83
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
NOTE:
When towing your vehicle, always follow appli -
cable state and provincial laws. Contact state
and provincial Highway Safety offices for addi -
tional details.
Recreational Towing — Automatic
Transmission
Recreational towing is allowed ONLY if the front
wheels are OFF the ground. This may be
accomplished using a tow dolly or vehicle
trailer. If using a tow dolly, follow this procedure:
1. Properly secure the dolly to the tow vehicle,
following the dolly manufacturer's
instructions.
2. Drive the front wheels onto the tow dolly.
3. Firmly apply the parking brake. Place the transmission in PARK.
4. Properly secure the front wheels to the dolly, following the dolly manufacturer's
instructions.
5. Release the parking brake.
Towing Condition Wheels OFF The Ground Automatic Transmission
Flat Tow NONENOT ALLOWED
Dolly Tow Front
OK
Rear NOT ALLOWED
On Trailer ALLOK
CAUTION!
DO NOT flat tow this vehicle. Damage to the
drivetrain will result. If this vehicle requires
towing, make sure the drive wheels are OFF
the ground.
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above
requirements can cause severe transmis-
sion damage. Damage from improper
towing is not covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
4
21_VM_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 83
STARTING AND OPERATING85
(Continued)
Shallow Standing Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving
through shallow standing water, consider the
following Cautions and Warnings before doing
so.
WARNING!
Driving through standing water limits your
vehicle’s traction capabilities. Do not
exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving
through standing water.
Driving through standing water limits your
vehicle’s braking capabilities, which
increases stopping distances. Therefore,
after driving through standing water, drive
slowly and lightly press on the brake pedal
several times to dry the brakes.
Failure to follow these warnings may result
in injuries that are serious or fatal to you,
your passengers, and others around you.
CAUTION!
Always check the depth of the standing
water before driving through it. Never drive
through standing water that is deeper than
the bottom of the tire rims mounted on the
vehicle.
Determine the condition of the road or the
path that is under water and if there are any
obstacles in the way before driving through
the standing water.
Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when
driving through standing water. This will
minimize wave effects.
Driving through standing water may cause
damage to your vehicle’s drivetrain compo -
nents. Always inspect your vehicle’s fluids
(i.e., engine oil, transmission, axle, etc.) for
signs of contamination (i.e., fluid that is
milky or foamy in appearance) after driving
through standing water. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle if any fluid appears
contaminated, as this may result in further
damage. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine
can cause it to lock up and stall out, and
cause serious internal damage to the
engine. Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
CAUTION! (Continued)
4
21_VM_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 85
MULTIMEDIA99
Safety And General Information
Safety Guidelines
Please read the manual carefully before using
the system. It contains instructions on how to
use the system in a safe and effective manner.
Please read and follow these safety
precautions. Failure to do so may result in injury
or property damage.
Glance at the screen only when it is safe to do
so. If prolonged viewing of the screen is
required, park in a safe location and set the
parking brake.
Stop use immediately if a problem occurs.
Failure to do so may cause injury or damage
to the product. Return it to an authorized
dealer to repair.
Ensure the volume level of the system is set
to a level that still allows you to hear outside
traffic and emergency vehicles.
Safe Usage Of The Uconnect System
Your system is a sophisticated electronic
device. Do not let young children use your
system.
Permanent hearing loss may occur if you play
your music or sound system at loud volumes.
Exercise caution when setting the volume on
your system.
Keep drinks, rain and other sources of mois -
ture away from your system. Besides damage
to your system, moisture can cause electric
shocks as with any electronic device. NOTE:
Many features of this system are speed depen
-
dent. For your own safety, it is not possible to
use some of the touchscreen features while the
vehicle is in motion.
Care And Maintenance
Touchscreen
Do not press the touchscreen with any hard
or sharp objects (pen, USB stick, jewelry, etc.)
which could scratch the touchscreen surface!
Do not spray any liquid or caustic chemicals
directly on the screen! Use a clean and dry
microfiber lens cleaning cloth in order to
clean the touchscreen.
If necessary, use a lint-free cloth dampened
with a cleaning solution, such as isopropyl
alcohol or an isopropyl alcohol and water
solution ratio of 50:50. Be sure to follow the
solvent manufacturer's precautions and
directions Ú page 265.
WARNING!
ALWAYS drive safely with your hands on the
steering wheel. You have full responsibility
and assume all risks related to the use of the
Uconnect features and applications in this
vehicle. Only use Uconnect when it is safe to
do so. Failure to do so may result in an
accident involving serious injury or death.
CAUTION!
Do NOT attach any object to the touchscreen,
doing so can result in breaking the
touchscreen.
5
21_VM_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 99
145
(Continued)
SAFETY
SAFETY FEATURES
Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS is designed to aid the driver in maintaining
vehicle control under adverse braking
conditions. The system operates with a
separate computer to modulate hydraulic
pressure, to prevent wheel lock-up and to help
avoid skidding on slippery surfaces.
The system's pump motor runs during an ABS
stop to provide regulated hydraulic pressure.
The pump motor makes a low humming noise
during operation, which is normal.
The ABS includes an amber ABS Warning Light.
When the light is illuminated, the ABS is not
functioning. The system reverts to standard
non-anti-lock brakes. Turning the ignition OFF
and ON again may reset the ABS if the fault
detected was only momentary.When you are in a severe braking condition
involving the use of the ABS, you will experience
some pedal drop as the vehicle comes to a stop.
This is the result of the system reverting to the
base brake system.
Engagement of the ABS may be accompanied
by a pulsing sensation. You may also hear a
clicking noise. These occurrences are normal
and indicate that the system is functioning
properly.
WARNING!
The ABS contains sophisticated electronic
equipment that may be susceptible to inter
-
ference caused by improperly installed or
high output radio transmitting equipment.
This interference can cause possible loss of
anti-lock braking capability. Installation of
such equipment should be performed by
qualified professionals.
Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will
diminish their effectiveness and may lead
to a collision. Pumping makes the stopping
distance longer. Just press firmly on your
brake pedal when you need to slow down or
stop.
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded.
The ABS cannot prevent collisions,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle
too closely, or hydroplaning.
The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or
dangerous manner that could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
WARNING! (Continued)
6
21_VM_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 145
146SAFETY
Electronic Brake Control (EBC) System
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced
Electronic Brake Control (EBC) system that
includes the Brake Assist System (BAS),
Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Start Assist
(HSA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) and Trailer
Sway Control (TSC). All systems work together to
enhance vehicle stability and control in various
driving conditions and are commonly referred to
as ESC.
Brake Assist System (BAS)
BAS is designed to optimize the vehicle’s
braking capability during emergency braking
maneuvers. The system detects an emergency
braking situation by sensing the rate and
amount of brake application and then applies
optimum pressure to the brakes. This can help
reduce braking distances. The BAS
complements the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS). Applying the brakes very quickly results
in the best BAS assistance. To receive the
benefit of the system, you must apply continuous braking pressure during the
stopping sequence (do not “pump” the brakes).
Do not reduce brake pedal pressure unless
braking is no longer desired. Once the brake
pedal is released, the BAS is deactivated.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ESC enhances directional control and stability
of the vehicle under various driving conditions.
ESC corrects for over/under steering of the
vehicle by applying the brake of the appropriate
wheel to counteract the above conditions.
Engine power may also be reduced to help the
vehicle maintain the desired path.
Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more
than appropriate for the steering wheel posi
-
tion.
Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less
than appropriate for the steering wheel posi -
tion.
ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine
the vehicle path intended by the driver and
compares it to the actual path of the vehicle.
When the actual path does not match the
intended path, ESC applies the brake of the
appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting the
oversteer or understeer condition.
WARNING!
The Brake Assist System (BAS) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing road
conditions. BAS cannot prevent collisions,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery
surfaces, or hydroplaning. The capabilities of
a BAS-equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner,
which could jeopardize the user's safety or
the safety of others.
21_VM_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 146
148SAFETY
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
(located in the instrument cluster) starts to
flash as soon as the tires lose traction and the
ESC system becomes active. The ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light also
flashes when TCS is active. If the ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light begins to
flash during acceleration, ease up on the
accelerator and apply as little throttle as
possible. Be sure to adapt your speed and
driving to the prevailing road conditions.
The ESC OFF Indicator Light indicates
the Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
is in a reduced mode.
NOTE:
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light and the ESC OFF Indicator Light come
on momentarily each time the ignition switch
placed in the ON position.
Each time the ignition is placed in the ON
position, the ESC system will be on even if it
was turned off previously.
Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM)
ERM anticipates the potential for wheel lift by
monitoring the driver’s steering wheel input and
the speed of the vehicle. When ERM determines
that the rate of change of the steering wheel
angle and vehicle’s speed are sufficient to
potentially cause wheel lift, it then applies the
appropriate brake and may also reduce engine
power to lessen the chance that wheel lift will
occur.
ERM can only reduce the chance of wheel lift
occurring during severe or evasive driving
maneuvers; it cannot prevent wheel lift due to
other factors, such as road conditions, leaving
the roadway, or striking objects or other
vehicles.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
HSA is designed to assist the driver when
starting a vehicle from a stop on a hill. HSA will
maintain the level of brake pressure the driver
applied for a short period of time after the driver
takes their foot off of the brake pedal. If the
driver does not apply the throttle during this
short period of time, the system will release
brake pressure and the vehicle will roll down the
hill. The system will release brake pressure in
proportion to the amount of throttle applied as
the vehicle starts to move in the intended
direction of travel.
HSA Activation Criteria
The following criteria must be met in order for
HSA to activate:
The vehicle must be stopped.
The vehicle must be on a 5% (approximate)
grade or greater hill.
Gear selection matches vehicle uphill direc -
tion (i.e., vehicle facing uphill is in forward
gear; vehicle backing uphill is in REVERSE
gear).
WARNING!
Many factors, such as vehicle loading, road
conditions and driving conditions, influence
the chance that wheel lift or rollover may
occur. ERM cannot prevent all wheel lift or roll
overs, especially those that involve leaving
the roadway or striking objects or other vehi -
cles. The capabilities of an ERM-equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user's safety or the safety of others.
21_VM_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 148
SAFETY149
HSA will work in REVERSE and all forward gears
when the activation criteria have been met. The
system will not activate if the vehicle is placed
in NEUTRAL or PARK.
Traction Control System (TCS)
TCS monitors the amount of wheel spin of each
of the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected,
brake pressure is applied to the slipping
wheel(s) and engine power is reduced to
provide enhanced acceleration and stability. A
feature of the TCS system, Brake Limited
Differential (BLD), functions similarly to a
limited slip differential and controls the wheel
spin across a driven axle. If one wheel on a
driven axle is spinning faster than the other, the
system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This will allow more engine torque to be
applied to the wheel that is not spinning. This
feature remains active even if TCS and ESC are
in the “Partial Off” mode Ú
page 146.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) — If Equipped
TSC uses sensors in the vehicle to recognize an
excessively swaying trailer and will take the
appropriate actions to attempt to stop the sway.
The system may reduce engine power and apply
the brake of the appropriate wheel(s) to
counteract the sway of the trailer.
NOTE:
TSC cannot stop all trailers from swaying.
Always use caution when towing a trailer and
follow the trailer tongue weight recommenda -
tions Ú page 77.
When TSC is functioning, the ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light will flash, the engine
power may be reduced and you may feel the
brakes being applied to individual wheels to
attempt to stop the trailer from swaying. TSC is
disabled when the ESC system is in the “Partial
Off” mode.
AUXILIARY DRIVING SYSTEMS
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
will warn the driver of a low tire pressure based
on the vehicle recommended cold placard
pressure.
The tire pressure will vary with temperature by
about 1 psi (7 kPa) for every 12°F (6.5°C). This
means that when the outside temperature
decreases, the tire pressure will decrease. Tire
pressure should always be set based on cold
inflation tire pressure. This is defined as the tire
pressure after the vehicle has not been driven
for at least three hours, or driven less than
1 mile (1.6 km) after a three hour period. The
cold tire inflation pressure must not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure molded into the
WARNING!
There may be situations on minor hills with a
loaded vehicle, or while pulling a trailer, when
the system will not activate and slight rolling
may occur. This could cause a collision with
another vehicle or object. Always remember
the driver is responsible for braking the
vehicle.
WARNING!
If TSC activates while driving, slow the vehicle
down, stop at the nearest safe location, and
adjust the trailer load to eliminate trailer
sway.
6
21_VM_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 149
168SAFETY
Enhanced Accident Response System
In the event of an impact, if the communication
network remains intact, and the power remains
intact, depending on the nature of the event,
the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) will
determine whether to have the Enhanced
Accident Response System perform the
following functions:
Cut off fuel to the engine (if equipped)
Cut off battery power to the electric motor (if
equipped)
Flash hazard lights as long as the battery has
power
Turn on the interior lights, which remain on
as long as the battery has power or for
15 minutes from the intervention of the
Enhanced Accident Response System
Unlock the power door locks
Your vehicle may also be designed to perform
any of these other functions in response to the
Enhanced Accident Response System:
Turn off the Fuel Filter Heater, Turn off the
HVAC Blower Motor, Close the HVAC Circula -
tion Door
Cut off battery power to the:
Engine
Electric Motor (if equipped)
Electric Power Steering
Brake booster
Electric park brake
Automatic transmission gear selector
Horn
Front wiper
Headlamp washer pump
NOTE:
After an accident, remember to cycle the igni -
tion to the STOP/OFF position and remove the
key from the ignition switch to avoid draining
the battery. Carefully check the vehicle for fuel
leaks in the engine compartment and on the
ground near the engine compartment and fuel
tank before resetting the system and starting
the engine. If there are no fuel leaks or damage
to the vehicle electrical devices (e.g. headlights)
after an accident, reset the system by following
the procedure described below. If you have any
doubt, contact an authorized dealer.
Enhanced Accident Response System Reset
Procedure
In order to reset the Enhanced Accident
Response System functions after an event, the
ignition switch must be changed from ignition
AVV/START or MAR/RUN to ignition STOP/OFF.
Carefully check the vehicle for fuel leaks in the
engine compartment and on the ground near
the engine compartment and fuel tank before
resetting the system and starting the engine.
After a crash, if the vehicle will not start after
performing the reset procedure, the vehicle
must be towed to an authorized dealer to be
inspected and to have the Enhanced Accident
Response System reset.
21_VM_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 168