2022 FIAT 500X Owners Manual

SAFETY175
Warning Light does not come on when the ignition
is placed in ON/RUN mode, have the light repaired
as soon as possible.
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (EBC)
S
YSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with an advanced
Electronic Brake Control (EBC) system. This system
includes Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Brake
Assist System (BAS), Dynamic Steering Torque
(DST), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD),
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Roll
Mitigation (ERM), Hill Start Assist (HSA), and
Traction Control System (TCS). These systems work
together to enhance both vehicle stability and
control in various driving conditions.
Brake System Warning Light
The red Brake System Warning Light will turn on
when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN mode
and may stay on for as long as four seconds.
If the Brake System Warning Light remains on or
comes on while driving, it indicates that the brake
system is not functioning properly and that
immediate service is required. If the Brake System
Warning Light does not come on when the ignition
is placed in the ON/RUN mode, have the light
repaired as soon as possible.
Brake Assist System (BAS)
The 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.
Dynamic Steering Torque (DST)
DST is a feature of the ESC and Electric Power
Steering (EPS) modules that provides torque at the
steering wheel for certain driving conditions in
which the ESC module is detecting vehicle
instability. The torque that the steering wheel
receives is only meant to help the driver realize
optimal steering behavior in order to reach/
maintain vehicle stability. The only notification the
driver receives that the feature is active is the
torque applied to the steering wheel.
NOTE:The DST feature is only meant to help the driver
realize the correct course of action through small
torques on the steering wheel, which means the
effectiveness of the DST feature is highly
dependent on the driver’s sensitivity and overall
reaction to the applied torque. It is very important
to realize that this feature will not steer the vehicle,
meaning the driver is still responsible for steering
the vehicle.
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
EBD manages the distribution of the braking
torque between the front and rear axles by limiting
braking pressure to the rear axle. This is done to
prevent overslip of the rear wheels to avoid vehicle
instability, and to prevent the rear axle from
entering ABS before the front axle.
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.
6

22_FD_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 175

176SAFETY
(Continued)
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, striking
objects or other vehicles.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ESC enhances directional control and stability of
the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC
corrects for oversteering or understeering of the
vehicle by applying the brake of the appropriate
wheel(s) 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 position.
Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less
than appropriate for the steering wheel position.
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.
The ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
located in the instrument cluster will start to flash
as soon as the ESC system becomes active. The
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light also
flashes when the 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.
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 rollovers,
especially those that involve leaving the roadway
or striking objects or other vehicles. 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.
WARNING!
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing road condi -
tions. ESC cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in turns,
driving on very slippery surfaces, or hydro -
planing. ESC also cannot prevent accidents
resulting from loss of vehicle control due to
inappropriate driver input for the conditions.
Only a safe, attentive, and skillful driver can
prevent accidents. The capabilities of an ESC
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in a
reckless or dangerous manner which could
jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.

22_FD_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 176

SAFETY177
ESC Operation Modes
To disable ESC and other active safety systems,
follow the instruction below.
There are two operation modes of active safety
systems on the vehicle:
ESC On
Partial Off ESC On
All active safety systems are enabled. This is the
normal operating mode when driving a vehicle.
This mode should be used in most driving
conditions. The system will be in "ESC On" mode
every time the engine is started
NOTE:You are advised to select "Partial Off " mode only
for specific driving requirements.
Partial Off
By pressing the ESC OFF button located below the
radio screen when driving, the intervention of the
ESC and TCS systems is limited to braking action
on the single wheels.
The other systems remain enabled. Activation of
this mode is indicated by the warning lamp on the
instrument panel switching on (if equipped,
together with a message on the display).
To restore "ESC On" operating mode, press the
button below the radio screen again.
"ESC On" mode will automatically reactivate every
time the engine is started.
NOTE:When traveling on snowy roads with snow chains,
it may be helpful to activate "Partial Off" mode: in
these conditions, you can obtain better traction by
slipping the drive wheels.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
HSA is designed to mitigate roll back from a
complete stop while on an incline. If the driver
releases the brake while stopped on an incline,
HSA will continue to hold the brake pressure for a
short period. If the driver does not apply the
throttle before this time expires, the system will
release brake pressure and the vehicle will roll
down the hill as normal.
The following conditions must be met in order for
HSA to activate:
The feature must be enabled.
The vehicle must be stopped.
The parking brake must be off.
The driver door must be closed.
The vehicle must be on a sufficient grade.
Vehicle modifications, or failure to properly
maintain your vehicle, may change the
handling characteristics of your vehicle, and
may negatively affect the performance of the
ESC system. Changes to the steering system,
suspension, braking system, tire type and size
or wheel size may adversely affect ESC perfor
-
mance. Improperly inflated and unevenly worn
tires may also degrade ESC performance. Any
vehicle modification or poor vehicle mainte -
nance that reduces the effectiveness of the
ESC system can increase the risk of loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
WARNING!WARNING!
When in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS functionality
of ESC, except for the limited slip feature
described in the Traction Control System (TCS)
section, has been disabled and the ESC OFF
Indicator Light will be illuminated. When in
“Partial Off” mode, the engine power reduction
feature of TCS is disabled, and the enhanced
vehicle stability offered by the ESC system is
reduced.
6

22_FD_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 177

178SAFETY
The gear selection must match vehicle uphill
direction (i.e., vehicle facing uphill is in forward
gear; vehicle backing uphill is in REVERSE gear).
HSA will work in REVERSE gear and all forward
gears. The system will not activate if the trans -
mission is in PARK or NEUTRAL. For vehicles
equipped with a manual transmission, if the
clutch is pressed, HSA will remain active.
Disabling And Enabling HSA
This feature can be turned on or turned off. To
change the current settings in the instrument
cluster display see Ú page 64.
Traction Control System (TCS)
The TCS monitors the amount of wheel spin of
each of the driven wheels. If wheel spin is
detected, the TCS may apply brake pressure to the
spinning wheel(s) and/or reduce vehicle power to
provide enhanced acceleration and stability. A
feature of the TCS, 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 vehicle torque
to be applied to the wheel that is not spinning. BLD
may remain enabled even if TCS and ESC are in
reduced modes.
AUXILIARY DRIVING SYSTEMS
BLIND SPOT MONITORING (BS M) —
I
F EQUIPPED
BSM uses two radar sensors, located inside the
rear fascia/bumper, to detect highway licensable
vehicles (automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, etc.)
that enter the blind spot zones from the rear/front/
side of the vehicle.
Rear Detection Zones

When the vehicle is started, the BSM Warning Light
will momentarily illuminate in both outside
rearview mirrors to let the driver know that the
system is operational. The BSM system sensors
operate when the vehicle is in any forward gear
and enters standby mode when the vehicle is in
PARK.
The BSM detection zone covers approximately one
lane width on both sides of the vehicle, 10 ft (3 m).
The zone length starts at the outside mirror and
extends approximately 20 ft (6 m) beyond the rear
fascia/bumper of the vehicle. The BSM system
monitors the detection zones on both sides of the
vehicle when the vehicle speed reaches
approximately 6 mph (10 km/h) or higher and will
alert the driver of vehicles in these areas.
WARNING!
There may be situations where the Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will not activate and slight rolling
may occur, such as on minor hills or with a
loaded vehicle, or while pulling a trailer. HSA is
not a substitute for active driving involvement. It
is always the driver’s responsibility to be
attentive to distance to other vehicles, people,
and objects, and most importantly brake
operation to ensure safe operation of the vehicle
under all road conditions. Your complete
attention is always required while driving to
maintain safe control of your vehicle. Failure to
follow these warnings can result in a collision or
serious personal injury.

22_FD_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 178

SAFETY179
NOTE:
The BSM system DOES NOT alert the driver
about rapidly approaching vehicles that are
outside the detection zones.
If a trailer is connected to the vehicle, it is neces -
sary to deactivate BSM system manually by
settings menu to avoid a misdetection
Ú page 123.
The area on the rear fascia/bumper where the
radar sensors are located must remain free of
snow, ice, and dirt/road contamination so that the
BSM system can function properly. Do not block
the radar sensors located on the rear fascia/
bumper with foreign objects (bumper stickers,
bicycle racks, etc.).

Rear Sensor Locations
The BSM system notifies the driver of objects in the
detection zones by illuminating the BSM warning
light located in the outside mirrors, in addition to
sounding an audible (chime) alert (whenever the
turn signal is activated) and reducing the radio
volume Ú
page 181.

BSM Warning Light

The BSM system monitors the detection zone from
three different entry points (side, rear, front) while
driving to see if an alert is necessary. The BSM
system will issue an alert during these types of
zone entries.
Entering From The Side
Vehicles that move into your adjacent lanes from
either side of the vehicle.
Side Monitoring

Entering From The Rear
Vehicles that come up from behind your vehicle on
either side and enter the rear detection zone with
a relative speed of less than 31 mph (50 km/h).

Rear Monitoring

6

22_FD_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 179

180SAFETY
Overtaking Traffic
If you pass another vehicle slowly with a relative
speed less than 15 mph (25 km/h) and the vehicle
remains in the blind spot for approximately
1.5 seconds, the warning light will be illuminated.
If the difference in speed between the two vehicles
is greater than 15 mph (25 km/h), the warning
light will not illuminate.

Overtaking/Approaching Overtaking/Passing

The BSM system is designed not to issue an alert
on stationary objects such as guardrails, posts,
walls, foliage, berms, etc. However, occasionally
the system may alert on such objects. This is
normal operation and your vehicle does not require
service.
The BSM system will not alert you of objects that
are traveling in the opposite direction of the vehicle
in adjacent lanes Ú page 297.
Opposing Traffic

WARNING!
The Blind Spot Monitoring system is only an aid
to help detect objects in the blind spot zones.
The BSM system is not designed to detect
pedestrians, bicyclists, or animals. Even if your
vehicle is equipped with the BSM system, always
check your vehicle’s mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and use your turn signal before
changing lanes. Failure to do so can result in
serious injury or death.

22_FD_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 180

SAFETY181
Rear Cross Path (RCP)
RCP is intended to aid the driver when backing out
of parking spaces where their vision of oncoming
vehicles may be blocked. Proceed slowly and
cautiously out of the parking space until the rear
end of the vehicle is exposed. The RCP system will
then have a clear view of the cross traffic and if an
oncoming vehicle is detected, alert the driver.

RCP Detection Zones

RCP monitors the rear detection zones on both
sides of the vehicle, for objects that are moving
toward the side of the vehicle with a minimum
speed of approximately 1 mph (2 km/h), to objects
moving a maximum of approximately 22 mph
(35 km/h), such as in parking lot situations.
When RCP is on and the vehicle is in REVERSE, the
driver is alerted using both the visual and audible
alarms, including reducing the radio volume.
NOTE:In a parking lot situation, oncoming vehicles can be
blocked by vehicles parked on either side. If the
sensors are blocked by other structures or
vehicles, the system will not be able to alert the
driver.
Blind Spot Modes
Blind Spot has three selectable modes of
operation that are available in the Uconnect
system.
Blind Spot Alert Lights Only
When operating in Blind Spot Alert mode, the BSM
system will provide a visual alert in the appropriate
side view mirror based on a detected object.
However, when the system is operating in Rear
Cross Path (RCP) mode, the system will respond with both visual and audible alerts when a
detected object is present. Whenever an audible
alert is requested, the radio is muted.
Blind Spot Alert Lights/Chime
When operating in Blind Spot Alert Lights/Chime
mode, the BSM system will provide a visual alert in
the appropriate side view mirror based on a
detected object. If the turn signal is then activated,
and it corresponds to an alert present on that side
of the vehicle, an audible chime will also be
sounded. Whenever a turn signal and detected
object are present on the same side at the same
time, both the visual and audible alerts will be
issued. In addition to the audible alert, the radio (if
on) will also be muted.
NOTE:Whenever an audible alert is requested by the
BSM system, the radio is also muted.
When the system is in RCP, the system will respond
with both visual and audible alerts when a
detected object is present. Whenever an audible
alert is requested, the radio is also muted. Turn/
hazard signal status is ignored; the RCP state
always requests the chime.
Blind Spot Alert Off
When the BSM system is turned off, there will be
no visual or audible alerts from either the BSM or
RCP systems.
WARNING!
RCP is not a backup aid system. It is intended to
be used to help a driver detect an oncoming
vehicle in a parking lot situation. Drivers must be
careful when backing up, even when using RCP.
Always check carefully behind your vehicle, look
behind you, and be sure to check for
pedestrians, animals, other vehicles,
obstructions, and blind spots before backing up.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury or
death.
6

22_FD_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 181

182SAFETY
NOTE:The BSM system will store the current operating
mode when the vehicle is shut off. Each time the
vehicle is started the previously stored mode will
be recalled and used.
Blind Spot Monitoring Fault Warnings
Blinded Sensor
In the case of a blinded sensor:
BSM Mirror Warning Lights are turned on contin -
uously.
An instrument cluster message will display
“Blind Spot Monitoring Unavailable - Wipe Rear
Bumper Corners.”
NOTE:The rear fascia/bumper must be clean and free of
any obstructing debris.
System Not Available
In the case of the system being temporarily
unavailable:
BSM Mirror Warning Lights are turned on contin -
uously.
An instrument cluster message will display
“Blind Spot Monitoring Temporarily Unavail -
able.” In the case of the system being completely
unavailable:
A chime will turn on.
An instrument cluster message will display
“Blind Spot Monitoring Unavailable - Service
Required.”
NOTE:The vehicle must be taken to the nearest autho
-
rized dealer for service.
FULL BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH
M
ITIGATION
The Full Brake Control system with Mitigation
provides the driver with audible warnings (through
the radio), visual warnings (within the instrument
cluster display), and may apply a brake jerk to warn
the driver when it detects a potential frontal
collision. The warnings and limited braking are
intended to provide the driver with enough time to
react, avoid or mitigate the potential collision.
NOTE:
The Full Brake Control system monitors the
information from the forward looking sensors as
well as the Electronic Brake Controller (EBC), to
calculate the probability of a forward collision.
When the system determines that a forward
collision is probable, the driver will be provided with audible and visual warnings and may
provide a brake jerk warning.
If the driver does not take action based upon
these progressive warnings, then the system
will provide a limited level of active braking to
help slow the vehicle and mitigate the potential
forward collision. If the driver reacts to the warn
-
ings by braking and the system determines that
the driver intends to avoid the collision by
braking but has not applied sufficient brake
force, the system will compensate and provide
additional brake force as required.
After the end of the intervention of automatic
braking, the transmission may remain in last gear
stored; therefore the car could lurch forward, once
the brakes release a few seconds later. If the Full
Brake Control system event stops the vehicle
completely, the system will hold the vehicle at
standstill for two seconds and then release the
brakes.
If a Full Brake Control system event begins at a
speed below 26 mph (42 km/h), the system may
provide the maximum braking possible to mitigate
the potential forward collision. If the Full Brake
Control system event stops the vehicle completely,
the system will hold the vehicle at standstill for two
seconds and then release the brakes.

22_FD_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 182