2023 NISSAN KICKS Owners Manual

Af ter starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and move the shif t lever from P
(Park) to any of the desired shif t positions.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shif t le-
ver is in any position while the engine is
not running. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpect-
edly or roll away and result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
P (Park)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the P (Park) position only when the ve-
hicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) shif t lever position when
the vehicle is parked or when starting the
engine. Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped.
The brake pedal should be depressed to
move the shif t lever from N (Neutral) or
any drive position to P (Park). The P (Park) position is automatically en-
gaged if you switch off the ignition.
Apply the parking brake. When parking on a
hill, apply the parking brake first, then move
the shif t lever into the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use
the R (Reverse) position only when the
vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the R (Reverse) position to back up.
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before selecting the R (Reverse)
position. The brake pedal must be de-
pressed in to move the shif t lever from P
(Park) or the shif t lever button pressed in
from N (Neutral) or any drive position to R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shif t to N (Neutral) and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is
moving.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
L(Low)
Use this position for engine braking on
steep downhill gradients/climbing steep
slopes and whenever approaching sharp
bends. Do not use the L (Low) position in
any other circumstances.
Starting and driving5-19

Shif t lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged,
the shif t lever may not be moved from the
P (Park) position even with the brake pedal
depressed and the shif t lever button
pressed.
It will be necessary to jump start or have
your battery charged. For additional infor-
mation, see “Jump starting” (P. 6-10). It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer or a professional towing service.To move the shif t lever, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the LOCK
position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Using a protective cloth on the tip of a small (1/8 inch or 3 mm) flat-head
screwdriver, remove the shif t lock re-
lease cover.
• If available, a plastic trim tool can also be used.
4. Insert the rod from the spare tire tool kit into the shif t lock release slot and push
in at an angle (about 45°). A small screw-
driver or small trim tool may also be
used.
•
For additional information, see “NISSAN
Intelligent Key® system” (P. 3-6).
5. Move the shif t lever to the N (Neutral) position while holding down the shif t
lock release.
6. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion. Now the vehicle may be moved to
the desired location. If the shif t lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park), have the transmission checked as
soon as possible. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
CAUTION
Make sure to take extra care during the
removal of the shif t lock cap as this
part is easily damaged.
WARNING
If the shif t lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is de-
pressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and
others.
LSD2644
5-20Starting and driving

Drive sport mode switch (if so
equipped)
To select the drive sport mode, push the
drive sport mode switch with the shif t lever
in the D (Drive) position.
The SPORT mode indicator light illumi-
nates in the meter or the drive sport mode
indicator in the vehicle information display
illuminates next to the Transmission Shif t
Position indicator. To turn off the drive sport
mode, push the drive sport mode switch
again. The SPORT mode indicator light or
drive sport mode indicator will turn off.
When the shif t lever is shif ted to any posi-tion other than D (Drive), the drive sport
mode will be automatically turned off.
OFF position:
For normal driving and fuel economy, use
the OFF position.
ON position:
For driving up or down long slopes where
engine braking is necessary, or for powerful
acceleration, use the ON position. The
transmission will automatically select a dif-
ferent gear ratio, allowing the engine to
provide high output.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the drive
sport mode in the ON position. This re-
duces fuel economy.Accelerator downshif t
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shif ts
the transmission down into a lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid tem-
perature becomes too high (for example,
when climbing steep grades in high tem-
peratures with heavy loads, such as when
towing a trailer), engine power and, under
some conditions, vehicle speed will be de-
creased automatically to reduce the
chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelera-
tor pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed
may be limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel
spinning and subsequent hard braking,
the fail-safe system may be activated.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may come on to indicate the fail-safe
mode is activated. For additional infor-
mation, see “Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)” (P. 2-19). This will occur even if all
electrical circuits are functioning prop-
erly. In this case, place the ignition switch
in the OFF position and wait for 10 sec-
onds. Then push the switch back to the
ON position. The vehicle should return to
LSD2647
Starting and driving5-21

its normal operating condition. If it does
not return to its normal operating condi-
tion, have the transmission checked and
repaired, if necessary. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature pro-
tection mode or fail-safe operation oc-
curs, vehicle speed may be gradually
reduced. The reduced speed may be
lower than other traffic, which could in-
crease the chance of a collision. Be es-
pecially careful when driving. If neces-
sary, pull to the side of the road at a safe
place and allow the transmission to re-
turn to normal operation, or have it re-
paired 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 shif t 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
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require
the assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly be-
come high enough to cause a signifi-
cant risk of injury or death to people
and pets.
HAND TYPE
To engage: Pull the lever upOA.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to the P (Park) position.
3. While pulling up on the parking brake lever slightly, press the button and lower
completely
OB.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
WSD0169
PARKING BRAKE
5-22Starting and driving

ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE
(switch type)
The electronic parking brake can be ap-
plied or released automatically or by oper-
ating the parking brake switch.
Automatic operation
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 shif t lever is in the P (Park) position.
– The driver’s seat belt is unfastened.
– The ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position.
– The parking brake is applied manually.
– If a malfunction occurs in the automatic brake hold function.
The electronic parking brake is automati-
cally released as soon as the vehicle starts
and the accelerator pedal is depressed
with the driver’s seat belt fastened.
WARNING
• When the automatic brake hold func-
tion is activated, the electronic park-
ing brake will not be automatically
applied when the engine is stopped
without using the ignition switch (for
example, by engine stalling).
• Before leaving the vehicle, move the
shif t lever to the P (Park) position and
check that the electronic parking
brake warning light is illuminated to
confirm that the electronic parking
brake is applied. The electronic park-
ing brake warning light will remain
on for a period of time af ter the driv-
er’s door is locked.
CAUTION
When parking in an area where the out-
side temperature is below 32°F (0°C),
the parking brake, if applied, may
freeze in place and may be difficult to
release.
For safe parking, it is recommended
that you place the shif t lever in the P
(Park) position and securely block the
wheels.
NOTE:
• To keep the electronic parking brake released af ter the engine is turned off,
place the ignition switch in the OFF po-
sition, depress the brake pedal and
push down the parking brake switch
before opening the driver’s door.
• If a malfunction occurs in the elec- tronic parking brake system (for ex-
ample, due to battery discharge), it is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer.
• Under the following conditions, the parking brake will automatically be ap-
plied and the brake force of the auto-
matic brake hold will be released:LSD4106
Starting and driving5-23

– The braking force is applied by theautomatic brake hold function for
3 minutes or longer.
– The shif t lever is in the P (Park) position.
– The driver’s seat belt is unfastened.
– The ignition switch is placed in the OFF position.
–
The parking brake is applied manually.– If a malfunction occurs in the auto- matic brake hold function.
Manual operation
The electronic parking brake will not be au-
tomatically 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 indica-
tor 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
light
OAwill turn off.
Before driving, check that the electronic
parking brake indicator light (
or PARK)
goes out. For additional information, see “Warning lights, indicator lights and audible
reminders” (P. 2-11).
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 reminders” (P. 2-11).
• While the electronic parking brake is applied or released, an operating
sound is heard from the lower side of
the rear seat. This is normal and does
not indicate a malfunction.
• When the electronic parking brake is frequently applied and released in a
short period of time, the parking brake
may not operate in order to prevent the
parking brake system from overheat-
ing. If this occurs, operate the elec-
tronic parking brake switch again af ter
waiting approximately 1 minute.
• If the electronic parking brake must be applied while driving in an emergency,
pull up and hold the parking brake
switch. When you release the parking
brake switch, the parking brake will be
released. • While pulling up the electronic parking
brake switch during driving, the park-
ing brake is applied and a chime
sounds. The electronic parking brake
indicator light in the meter and in the
parking brake switch illuminates. This
does not indicate a malfunction. The
electronic parking brake indicator light
in the meter and in the parking brake
switch turns off when the parking
brake is released.
• When pulling the electronic parking brake switch up with the ignition
switch in the OFF or AUTO ACC position,
the parking brake switch indicator
light will continue to illuminate for a
short period of time.
5-24Starting and driving

The automatic brake hold function main-
tains the braking force without the driver
having to depress the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or
intersection. As soon as the driver de-
presses the accelerator pedal again, the
automatic brake hold function is deacti-
vated and the braking force is released. The
operating status of the automatic brake
hold can be displayed on the vehicle infor-
mation display. For additional information,
see “Vehicle information display” (P. 2-24).
WARNING
• The automatic brake hold function is
not designed to hold the vehicle on a
steep hill or slippery road. Never use
the automatic brake hold when the
vehicle is stopped on a steep hill or
slippery road. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to move.
• The automatic brake hold warning
may appear in the vehicle informa-
tion display to request that the driver
retake control by depressing the
brake pedal •
When the automatic brake hold func-
tion is activated but fails to maintain
the vehicle at a standstill, depress the
brake pedal to stop the vehicle. If the
vehicle unexpectedly moves due to
outside conditions, the chime may
sound and automatic 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 shif t lever in
the P (Park) position and apply the
parking brake when parking your ve-
hicle, entering or exiting the vehicle,
or loading luggage. Failure to do so
could cause the vehicle to move or
roll away unexpectedly and result in
serious personal injury or property
damage. •
If any of the following conditions
occur, the automatic brake hold
function may not function. Have the
system checked promptly. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service. Failure to op-
erate the vehicle in accordance with
these conditions could cause the ve-
hicle to move or roll away unexpect-
edly and result in serious personal in-
jury or property damage.
– A warning message appears in the
vehicle information display.
– The indicator light on the auto-
matic brake hold switch does not
illuminate when the switch is
pushed.
• The automatic brake hold function
will not be activated if the Slip indica-
tor light, electronic parking brake
warning light or master warning light
illuminate and the chassis control
system fault message appears in the
vehicle information display.
•
To maintain the braking force to keep
the vehicle to a standstill, a noise may
be heard. This is not a malfunction.
AUTOMATIC BRAKE HOLD (if so
equipped)
Starting and driving5-25

HOW TO ACTIVATE/DEACTIVATE
THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE HOLD
FUNCTION
For additional information on activating
and deactivating the automatic brake hold
function, refer to the instructions outlined
in this section.
How to activate the automatic
brake hold function
1.With the ignition switch in the ON position,
push the automatic brake hold switch
O1.
The indicator light on the automatic brake
hold switch
O2illuminates.
2. When the automatic brake hold function goes 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 shif t lever is not in the P (Park) position.
• The vehicle is not parked on a steep hill.
NOTE:
The automatic brake hold status recalls
the ON or OFF position when the engine
is turned on or off.
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 auto-
matic brake hold function. To deactivate
the automatic 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 au-
tomatic brake hold function, refer to the
instructions outlined in this section.
To maintain braking force
automatically
With the automatic brake hold function ac-
tivated and the automatic brake hold indi-
cator light (white) illuminated on the meter,
depress the braking pedal to stop the ve-
hicle. The brake force is automatically
maintained without your foot depressed
on the brake pedal. While the brake hold is
maintained, the automatic brake hold indi-
cator light (green) illuminates on the meter.
LSD4137
5-26Starting and driving