Nissan Pathfinder: Starting and driving - Driving the vehicle

• Engine protection mode
• Automatic Transmission (A/T)

Engine protection mode Nissan Pathfinder

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 gauge will 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 downshift or upshift as it reaches prescribed shift points. You can also shift manually.

As driving conditions change and engine coolant temperature is reduced, vehicle speed can be increased using the accelerator pedal, and the air conditioning cooling function will automatically be turned back on.

The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may also come on if the engine coolant temperature is not reduced or the air conditioning cooling function does not turn back on. If only it remains on, you do not need to have your vehicle towed, but have it inspected soon. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.

WARNING Overheating can result in reduced engine power and vehicle speed. The reduced 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.

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 covered by warranty. Turn off the engine as soon as it is safe to do so.

Automatic Transmission (A/T) Nissan Pathfinder 2025

Basic information

WARNING

• Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), or M (Manual) range. Always depress the brake pedal until shifting is completed.

  Failure to do so could cause you to lose control and have an accident.

• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use caution when shifting into a forward or reverse gear before the engine has warmed up.
• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of control.
• Never shift 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 accident or damage the transmission.

CAUTION

• To avoid possible damage to your vehicle; when stopping the vehicle on an uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by depressing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake should be used for this purpose.
• Except in an emergency, do not shift to the N (Neutral) position while driving.

  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 shifting the shift lever into a driving position immediately after starting the engine.

The A/T in your vehicle is electronically controlled to produce maximum power and smooth operation.

The recommended operating procedures for this transmission are shown on the following pages. Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle performance and driving enjoyment.

Engine power may be automatically reduced 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. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the shift position out of the P (Park) position.

This Automatic Transmission is designed so that the foot brake pedal must be depressed before shifting from P (Park) to any driving position while the ignition switch is in the ON position.

The shift position cannot be shifted out of the P (Park) position and into any of the other positions if the engine is not running.

2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift 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 shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or M (Manual) range. Always depress the brake pedal until shifting is completed.

  Failure to do so could cause you to lose control and have an accident.

• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use caution when shifting into a forward or reverse gear before the engine has warmed up.
• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a loss of control.
• Never shift 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 accident or damage the transmission.

CAUTION

• To avoid possible damage to your vehicle; when stopping the vehicle on an uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by depressing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake should be used for this purpose.
• Except in an emergency, do not shift to the N (Neutral) position while driving.

  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 shifting the shift lever into a driving position immediately after starting the engine.

Shifting

Basic information

1. Home position (central position)

Press the button 1 to shift

Shift without pressing the button 1

How to shift to each position

After starting the engine, fully depress the brake pedal and press the shift lever button.

• Shift to PARK
  Press the park button 2
• Shift to REVERSE
  1. Press the shift lever button 1
  2. Move the shift lever from the home position to the R (Reverse) position
• Shift to NEUTRAL
  • From P (Park)
    Without pressing the shift lever button, pull the shift lever backward (1 step) or push the shift lever forward (1 step) from the home position and hold until the N (Neutral) position indicator illuminates on the shift lever and meter.
  • From R (Reverse)
    Without pressing the shift lever button, pull the shift lever backward (1 step) from the home position and hold until the N (Neutral) position indicator illuminates on the shift lever and meter.
  • From D (Drive)
    Without pressing the shift lever button, push the shift lever forward (1 step) from the home position and hold until the N (Neutral) position indicator illuminates on the shift lever and meter.
• Shift to DRIVE
  Pull the shift lever from the home position to D (Drive) position.

Confirm that the vehicle is in the desired shift position by checking the shift indicator located on the shift lever or in the vehicle information display.

WARNING Apply the electronic parking brake if the shift lever is in any position while the engine is not running. Failure to do so could cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly 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 shift position by operating the shift lever, check that the shift lever returns to the home position by releasing your hand from the lever. Holding the shift lever in a mid-way position may also damage the shift control system.
• Do not operate the shift lever while the accelerator pedal is depressed.

  This may cause a sudden start which could result in an accident.

• The following operations are not allowed because excessive force would be applied to the transmission and this may result in damage to the vehicle:
  • Moving the shift lever to the R (Reverse) position when driving forward
  • Moving the shift lever to the D (Drive) position when reversing

If these operations are attempted, a chime sounds and the vehicle shifts to the N (Neutral) position.

If the vehicle is moving over 5 mph (8 km/h) when shifting to D (Drive) from R (Reverse), the N (Neutral) position will automatically be selected. A buzzer will sound, noting that D (Drive) was not selected.

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 shift lever while pressing the park button. This may damage the shift control system.

Use the P (Park) position when the vehicle is parked or when starting the engine. Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped before 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 position together with the electronic parking brake. When parking on a hill, first depress the brake pedal, apply the electronic parking 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 electronic parking brake in addition to the parking lock.

In the event of a malfunction of the vehicle's electronics, the transmission may lock in the P (Park) position. Have the vehicle's electronics checked immediately. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.

The P (Park) position is automatically engaged if:

• You place the ignition switch in the OFF position
• You unfasten the driver's seat belt and open the driver side door when the vehicle is stationary or driving at very low speed and the transmission is in the D (Drive) position, the N (Neutral) position, the R (Reverse) position or M (Manual) mode with your foot off the brake.

CAUTION To avoid A/T malfunction, you must manually place the shift position in the P (Park) position under the above conditions.

R (Reverse)

CAUTION

• To prevent transmission damage, use the R (Reverse) position only when the vehicle is completely stopped and the brake is pressed.

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 depressed and the shift lever button pressed to move the shift lever from the home position to R (Reverse). If the vehicle is placed in R (Reverse) position while the vehicle is moving forward, the chime will sound and the vehicle will switch into the N (Neutral) position.

NOTE: If the vehicle is moving over 5 mph (8 km/h ), when shifting to D (Drive) from R (Reverse), the N (Neutral) position will automatically be selected. A buzzer will sound, noting that D (Drive) was not selected.

When selecting D (Drive) while reversing below 5 mph (8 km/h), the range will change normally.

N (Neutral)

Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged when the vehicle is completely stopped, and the brake is pressed. The engine can be started in this position. You may shift to the N (Neutral) position and restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is moving.

You can select this position by holding the shift lever at this position for 0.5 seconds.

D (Drive)

Use this position for all normal forward driving when the vehicle is completely stopped, and the brake is pressed. The A/T changes gears automatically. All forward gears are available. If the vehicle is placed in the D (Drive) position while the vehicle is reversing, the chime will sound and the vehicle will switch into the N (Neutral) position.

NOTE: If the vehicle is moving over 5 mph (8 km/h) when shifting to D (Drive) from R (Reverse), the N (Neutral) position will automatically be selected. A buzzer will sound, noting that D (Drive) was not selected.

When selecting D (Drive) while reversing 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 function is activated, the vehicle can be moved by pushing with hand (when car washing).

When using this function, release the electronic 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 after neutral 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 regardless of proper operation, transmission may malfunction. It is recommended 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. Press the P (Park) button.

5. Slide the shift lever to the N (Neutral) position, and hold it for 0.5 second until "N" appears in the vehicle information display.

6. Slide the shift lever to the N (Neutral) position again, and hold it for 0.5 seconds, until a message "Neutral Hold Mode has been activated" appears in the vehicle information display.

7. The ignition switch has to be kept in the ON position. Otherwise Neutral hold mode is canceled and the P (Park) position is engaged automatically.

To exit the Neutral hold mode, place the shift lever in any position other than the N (Neutral) position.

NOTE:

• It is necessary to perform the steps 4 through 6 within approximately 5 seconds to prevent incorrect operation.
• When the shifter is changed to the N (Neutral) position, approximately 5 seconds later, a message will appear in the vehicle information display.
• If the Neutral hold mode is unavailable, a message will appear in the vehicle information display. To activate the Neutral hold mode, wait for a while without shifting operation and then perform the operations again.

Manual shift mode

Basic information

When the shift lever is moved to the D (Drive) position again with the vehicle in the D (Drive) position while driving, the transmission enters the manual shift mode.

Shift range can be selected manually by using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

When shifting up, pull the right-side paddle shifter (+) A . The transmission shifts to the higher range.

When shifting down, pull the left-side paddle shifter (−) B . The transmission shifts to the lower range.

When canceling the manual shift mode, move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position again. The transmission returns to the normal driving mode.

When you pull the paddle shifter while in the D (Drive) position, the transmission will shift to the upper or lower range temporarily.

The transmission will automatically return to the D (Drive) position after a short period of time. If you want to return to the D (Drive) position manually, pull and hold the paddle shifter for about 1.5 seconds.

In the manual shift mode, the shift range is displayed in the vehicle information display.

Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:

1M⇔2M⇔3M⇔4M⇔5M⇔6M⇔7M⇔8M ⇔ 9M

9M (9th) and 8M (8th)

Use this position for all normal forward driving at highway speeds.

7M (7th), 6M (6th) and 5M (5th)

Use these positions when driving up long slopes, or for engine braking when driving down long slopes.

4M (4th), 3M (3rd) and 2M (2nd)

Use these positions for hill climbing or engine braking on downhill grades.

1M (1st)

Use this position when climbing steep hills slowly or driving slowly through deep snow, or for maximum engine braking on steep downhill grades.

• Remember not to drive at high speeds for extended periods of time in lower than the 8th range. This reduces fuel economy.
• Pulling the same paddle shifter twice will shift the ranges in succession. However, if this motion is rapidly done, the second shifting may not be completed properly.
• In the manual shift mode, the transmission may not shift to the selected gear. This helps maintain driving performance and reduces the chance of vehicle damage or loss of control.
• In the manual shift mode, the transmission may shift up automatically to a higher range than selected if the engine speed is too high. When the vehicle speed decreases, the transmission automatically shifts down and shifts to 1st gear before the vehicle comes to a stop.

Accelerator downshift - in D (Drive) position -

For passing or hill climbing, depress the accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmission down into a lower gear, depending on the vehicle speed.

High fluid temperature protection mode

This transmission has a high fluid temperature protection mode. If the fluid temperature becomes too high (for example, when climbing steep grades in high temperatures with heavy loads, such as when towing a trailer), engine power and, under some conditions, vehicle speed will be decreased automatically to reduce the chance of transmission damage. Vehicle speed can be controlled with the accelerator pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed may be limited.

Fail-safe

When the fail-safe operation occurs, please note that the transmission will be locked in any of the forward gears according to the condition.

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 information, see "Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)". This will occur even if all electrical circuits are functioning properly.

In this case, place the ignition switch in the OFF position and wait for 10 seconds.

Then push the switch back to the ON position. The vehicle should return to its normal operating condition. If it does not return to its normal operating condition, (the MIL may be illuminated even when the vehicle has returned to its normal operating condition), it is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.

WARNING When the high fluid temperature protection mode or fail-safe operation occurs, vehicle speed may be gradually reduced. The reduced speed may be lower than other traffic, which could increase the chance of a collision. Be especially careful when driving. If necessary, pull to the side of the road at a safe place and allow the transmission to return to normal operation, or have it repaired if necessary.