2023 NISSAN PATHFINDER warning

Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
• Spinning the front wheels on slippery
surfaces may cause the AWD
warning message to display and the
4WD system to automatically switch
from the 4WD to the 2WD mode. This
could reduce the traction. Be espe-
cially careful when towing a trailer
(4WD models).
• Drive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Every person
who drives or rides in this vehicle
should be seated with their seat belt
fastened. This will keep you and your
passengers in position when driving
over rough terrain.
• Do not drive across steep slopes. In-
stead drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. Off-road
vehicles can tip over sideways much
more easily than they can forward or
backward.
• Many hills are too steep for any ve-
hicle. If you drive up them, you may
stall. If you drive down them, you may
not be able to control your speed. If
you drive across them, you may roll
over. •
Do not shif t gears while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
• 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 control your
speed.
• Heavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to overheat
and fade, resulting in loss of control
and an accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low gear to control your
speed.
• Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly 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. In-
stead 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 encounter-
ing strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your NISSAN is more
affected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
• Do not drive beyond the perfor-
mance capability of the tires, even
with 4WD engaged.
Starting and driving5-11

WARNING
Do not operate the push-button igni-
tion switch while driving the vehicle ex-
cept in an emergency. (The engine will
stop when the ignition switch is pushed
three consecutive times in quick suc-
cession or the ignition switch is pushed
and held for more than 2 seconds.) If
the engine stops while the vehicle is
being driven, this could lead to a crash
and serious injury.
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch will illuminate.
Push the ignition switch center:
• Once to change to ON.
• Two times to change to OFF.
The ignition switch will automatically re-
turn to the LOCK position when any door is
either opened or closed with the switch in
the OFF position. When the ignition switch cannot be placed
in the OFF position, proceed as follows:
1. Push the park button to shif t to the P
(Park) position.
2. Push the ignition switch. The ignition switch position will change to the ON
position.
3. Push the ignition switch again to the OFF position.
The shif t position can be shif ted from
the P (Park) position if the ignition switch
is in the ON position and the brake pedal
is depressed.
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged,
the ignition switch cannot be moved
from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for opera-
tion are displayed on the vehicle informa-
tion display. For additional information, see
“Vehicle information display – 7 inch (18 cm)
Type A” (P. 2-23) or “Vehicle information dis-
play – 12.3 inch (31 cm) Type B” (P. 2-48).
LSD2645
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-13

NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
The NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
will not allow the engine to start without
the use of the registered key.
If the engine fails to start using a registered
key (for example, when interference is
caused by another registered key, an auto-
mated toll road device or automatic pay-
ment device on the key ring), restart the
engine using the following procedure:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON posi-tion for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Place the ignition switch in the OFF or LOCK position, and wait approximately
10 seconds.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Restart the engine while holding the de- vice (which may have caused the inter-
ference) separate from the registered
key.
If the no start condition re-occurs, NISSAN
recommends placing the registered key on
a separate key ring to avoid interference
from other devices. • Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
• Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool- ant, brake fluid, and windshield-washer
fluid as frequently as possible, or at least
whenever you refuel.
• Check that all windows and lights are clean.
• Visually inspect tires for their appearance and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
• Lock all doors.
• Position seat and adjust headrests/head restraints.
• Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
• Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to do likewise.
• Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position. For additional information,
see “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P. 2-12). 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Confirm that the vehicle is in the P (Park)
position.
The Intelligent Key must be carried
when operating the ignition switch.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion. Depress the brake pedal and push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while de-
pressing the brake pedal with the igni-
tion switch in any position.
• If the engine is very hard to start in extremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to the
floor) and while holding, crank the en-
gine. Release the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.
• If the engine is very hard to start be- cause it is flooded, depress the accel-
erator pedal all the way to the floor
and hold it. Push the ignition switch to
the ON position to start cranking the
engine. Af ter 5 or 6 seconds, stop
cranking by pushing the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. Af ter
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the engine with
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-16Starting and driving

ENGINE PROTECTION MODE
The engine has an engine protection mode
to reduce the chance of damage if the
coolant temperature becomes too high
(for example, when climbing steep grades
in high temperatures with heavy loads,
such as when towing a trailer). When the
engine temperature reaches a certain
level:
• The engine coolant temperature gaugewill move toward the H position.
• Engine power may be reduced.
• The air conditioning cooling function may be automatically turned off for a short
time (the blower will continue to operate).
Engine power and, under some conditions,
vehicle speed will decrease. Vehicle speed
can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the vehicle may not accelerate at
the desired speed. The transmission will
downshif t or upshif t as it reaches pre-
scribed shif t points. You can also shif t
manually.
As driving conditions change and engine
coolant temperature is reduced, vehicle
speed can be increased using the accel-
erator pedal, and the air conditioning cool-
ing function will automatically be turned
back on. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may
also come on if the engine coolant tem-
perature is not reduced or the air condi-
tioning cooling function does not turn back
on. If
only it remains on, you do not need to
have your vehicle towed, but have it in-
spected soon. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service. For
additional information, see “Malfunction In-
dicator Light (MIL)” (P. 2-20).
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced en-
gine power and vehicle speed. The re-
duced speed may be lower than other
traffic, which could increase the chance
of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If the vehicle cannot
maintain a safe driving speed, pull to
the side of the road in a safe area. Allow
the engine to cool and return to normal
operation. For additional information,
see “If your vehicle overheats” (P. 6-13).
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil
pressure warning light on could cause
serious damage to the engine almost
immediately. Such damage is not cov-
ered by warranty. Turn off the engine as
soon as it is safe to do so.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (A/T)
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), or M
(Manual) range. Always depress the
brake pedal until shif ting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an
accident.
• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
• Do not downshif t abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-18Starting and driving

•Never shif t 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 acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
CAUTION
• To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle; when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the ve-
hicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
• Except in an emergency, do not shif t
to the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
• WARM UP THE ENGINE – Due to the
higher idle speeds, the engine is cold.
Extra caution must be exercised
when shif ting the shif t lever into a
driving position immediately af ter
starting the engine.
The A/T 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 fol-
lowing pages. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driv-
ing enjoyment.
Engine power may be automatically re-
duced to protect the A/T if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving on
slippery roads or while being tested on
some dynamometers.
Starting the vehicle
1. Af ter starting the engine, fully depress
the foot brake pedal before moving the
shif t position out of the P (Park) position.
This Automatic Transmission is de-
signed so that the foot brake pedal
must be depressed before shif ting
from P (Park) to any driving position
while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
The shif t position cannot be shif ted
out of the P (Park) position and into
any of the other positions if the igni-
tion switch is placed in the OFF
position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shif t 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 shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or M
(Manual) range. Always depress the
brake pedal until shif ting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an
accident.
• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
• Do not downshif t abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
• Never shif t 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 acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
Starting and driving5-19

WARNING
Apply the electronic parking brake if
the shif t lever is in any position while
the engine is not running. Failure to do
so could cause the vehicle to move un-
expectedly or roll away and result in
serious personal injury or property
damage.
CAUTION
• Use the P (Park), R (Reverse) or D
(Drive) position only when the vehicle
is completely stopped.
• When switching to the desired shif t
position by operating the shif t lever,
check that the shif t lever returns to
the home position by releasing your
hand from the lever. Holding the shif t
lever in a mid-way position may also
damage the shif t control system.
• Do not operate the shif t lever while
the accelerator pedal is depressed.
This may cause a sudden start which
could result in an accident. •
The following operations are not al-
lowed because excessive force
would be applied to the transmission
and this may result in damage to the
vehicle:
– Moving the shif t lever to the R (Re-
verse) position when driving
forward
– Moving the shif t lever to the D
(Drive) position when reversing
If these operations are attempted, a
chime sounds and the vehicle shif ts to
the N (Neutral) position.
If the vehicle is moving over 5 mph (8
km/h) when shif ting to D (Drive) from R
(Reverse), the N (Neutral) position will
automatically be selected. A buzzer will
sound, noting that D (Drive) was not se-
lected. When selecting D (Drive) while
reversing below 5 mph (8 km/h) the
range will change normally.
P (Park)
CAUTION
• To prevent transmission damage,
use the P (Park) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
• Do not slide the shif t lever while
pressing the park button. This may
damage the shif t control system.
Use the P (Park) position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped be-
fore pressing the park button to engage
the P (Park) position. For maximum safety,
the brake pedal must be depressed before
engaging the P (Park) position. Use this po-
sition together with the electronic parking
brake. When parking on a hill, first depress
the brake pedal, apply the electronic park-
ing brake and then engage the P (Park)
position. The parking lock should not be
used as a brake when parking. In order to
secure the vehicle, always apply the elec-
tronic parking brake in addition to the park-
ing lock.
Starting and driving5-21

NOTE:
If the vehicle is moving over 5 mph (8
km/h) when shif ting to D (Drive) from R
(Reverse), the N (Neutral) position will au-
tomatically be selected. A buzzer will
sound, noting that D (Drive) was not se-
lected. When selecting D (Drive) while re-
versing below 5 mph (8 km/h), the range
will change normally.
Neutral hold mode function (if so
equipped)
This function enables you to get out of the
vehicle when it is in the N (Neutral) position,
while the engine is running. While this func-
tion is activated, the vehicle can be moved
by pushing with hand (when car washing).
When using this function, release the elec-
tronic parking brake.
WARNING
• Use this function on a level surface
only. Failure to do so may cause the
vehicle to move accidentally and
could result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
• Do not use this function for a purpose
other than car washing. •
Do not turn the engine off af ter neu-
tral hold mode function is activated,
otherwise the N (Neutral) position
will not be kept and the vehicle will
automatically be placed in the P
(Park) position.
• If this function is not activated re-
gardless of proper operation, trans-
mission may malfunction. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
To activate the Neutral hold mode, perform
the following operations:
1. Push the ignition switch to start the engine.
2. Release the electronic parking brake.
3. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
4. Push the P (Park) button.
5. Slide the shif t lever to the N (Neutral) position, and hold it for 0.5 second until
“N” appears in the vehicle information
display. 6. Slide the shif t lever to the N (Neutral)
position again, and hold it for 0.5 sec-
onds, until a message “Neutral Hold
Mode has been activated” appears in
the vehicle information display. For addi-
tional information, see “Neutral Hold
Mode activated” (P. 2-41) or (P. 2-68).
7. The ignition switch has to be kept in the ON position. Otherwise Neutral hold
mode is canceled and the P (Park) posi-
tion is engaged automatically.
To exit the Neutral hold mode, place the
shif t lever in any position other than the N
(Neutral) position.
NOTE:
• It is necessary to perform the steps 4
through 6 within approximately 5 sec-
onds to prevent incorrect operation.
• When the shif ter is changed to the N
(Neutral) position, approximately 5
seconds later, a message will appear in
the vehicle information display. For ad-
ditional information, see “Neutral Hold
Mode guidance” (P. 2-41) or (P. 2-68).
Starting and driving5-23

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.
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE
(switch type)
The electronic parking brake can be ap-
plied or released by operating the parking
brake switch.
LSD4139
PARKING BRAKE
5-26Starting and driving