Special Driving Conditions

Hazardous Driving Conditions

When driving in hazardous conditions such as water, snow, ice, mud, or sand, take the following suggestions:

• Drive carefully and keep a longer braking distance.
• Avoid sudden braking or steering.
• When your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, or sand, use second gear. Accelerate slowly to avoid unnecessary wheel spin.
• Place sand, rock salt, traction chains, or other non-slip materials under the wheels to provide additional traction while the vehicle is stuck in ice, snow, or mud.

WARNING

Downshifting with the automatic transmission on slippery surfaces while moving may cause an accident. A sudden change in tire speed may cause the tires to skid. Be careful when downshifting on slippery surfaces.

Rocking the Vehicle

If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the steering wheel right and clear the area around the front wheels. Then shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and forward gear.

Try to avoid wheel spin and do not race the engine.

To avoid transmission damage, wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator pedal during shifting and gently press the accelerator pedal once the transmission is engaged. Slowly alternating wheel rotation forward and reverse creates a rocking motion that may free the vehicle.

WARNING

If the vehicle is stuck and excessive wheel spin occurs, tire temperature can increase very rapidly. If the tire is damaged, the tire may burst or explode. This condition is dangerous - you and others may be injured. Do not attempt this procedure if people or objects are anywhere near the vehicle.

If you attempt to free the vehicle, the vehicle may overheat quickly, possibly causing an engine compartment fire or other damage. Try to avoid wheel spin as much as possible to prevent overheating of any tire or the engine. DO NOT allow the vehicle wheels to spin above 35 mph (56 km/h).

Information

The ESC system must be turned OFF before rocking the vehicle.

NOTICE

If you are still stuck after rocking the vehicle several times, have the vehicle towed out to avoid engine overheating, possible transmission damage, and tire damage. See "Towing" in Chapter 6.

Cornering Smoothly

Avoid braking or shifting gears in turns, especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners should always be taken with gentle acceleration.

Night Driving

Night driving presents more hazards than driving during the day. Here are some important tips to remember:

• Slow down and keep a greater distance between you and other vehicles, as it may be more difficult to see at night, especially in areas where there may be no street lights.
• Adjust the mirrors to reduce glare from other drivers' headlights.
• Keep the headlights clean and properly aimed. Dirty or misaimed headlights make it much harder to see at night.
• Try not to look directly at the headlights of oncoming vehicles. You may be temporarily blinded, and your eyes will need a few seconds to adjust to the darkness.

Driving in the Rain

Rain and wet roads can make driving dangerous. Here are some things to consider when driving in rain or on slippery roads:

• Slow down and allow more following distance. Heavy rain reduces visibility and increases the distance needed to stop your vehicle.
• Turn off cruise control.
• Replace the wiper blades when they show signs of streaking or have missing areas on the windshield.
• Tires should be properly maintained with a tread depth of at least 2/32 inch. If your tires lack tread, sudden braking on wet pavement may cause a skid and possibly lead to an accident. See "Tire Replacement" in chapter 7.
• Turn on the headlights to make it easier for others to see you.
• Driving too fast through large puddles may affect your brakes. If you must drive through puddles, drive through them slowly.
• If you believe your brakes may be wet, lightly apply them while driving until normal braking returns.

Hydroplaning

If the road is wet enough and you are driving fast enough, your vehicle may lose contact with the road surface and effectively ride on water. The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.

The risk of hydroplaning increases as tire tread depth decreases. See "Tire Replacement" in chapter 7.

Driving in Flooded Areas

Avoid driving through flooded areas unless you are sure the water is not higher than the bottom of the wheel hub. Drive slowly through any water. Allow adequate stopping distance because braking effectiveness may be reduced.

After driving through water, dry the brakes by gently applying them several times while driving slowly.

Highway Driving

Tires

Adjust tire pressure as specified. Insufficient inflation may cause the tires to overheat or become damaged.

Do not install worn or damaged tires, as they may reduce road grip or adversely affect vehicle handling. This may cause a sudden tire failure, which may result in loss of vehicle control and an accident.

Information

Never inflate tires above the maximum inflation pressure indicated on the tire.

Fuel, Engine Coolant, and Engine Oil

Driving at higher highway speeds consumes more fuel and is less efficient than driving at a slower, more moderate speed. Maintain a moderate speed to save fuel when driving on the highway. Be sure to check both the engine coolant level and engine oil level before driving.

Drive Belt

A loose or damaged drive belt may cause the engine to overheat.

Reducing the Risk of Rollover

Your multipurpose passenger vehicle is classified as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). SUVs have a higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications. Due to these design characteristics, they have a higher center of gravity than conventional vehicles, making them more likely to roll over if you make sharp turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. Because of this risk, the driver and passengers are strongly recommended to fasten their seat belts. In a rollover accident, an unbelted person is much more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.

There are steps the driver can take to reduce the risk of rollover. Whenever possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, do not load the vehicle with heavy cargo on the roof, and never modify your vehicle in any way.

WARNING

Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. To prevent rollover or loss of control:

• Take corners at a lower speed than you would with a passenger vehicle.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers.
• Do not modify your vehicle in any way that would raise the center of gravity.
• Keep tires properly inflated.
• Do not carry heavy loads on the roof.