To turn off the traction control on Nissan Altima, press the “traction control off” button. In Nissan Altima, the button should be on the left of the steering wheel. If you own a newer model, your car might not have this button. In this case, go to the “VDC setting” option in your dashboard control and select “off” to the system.
This article will describe the whole process of how to turn off traction control Nissan Altima in detail.
How To Turn Off Traction Control Nissan Altima Using Button?
Here is the process of turning the traction control button off using the traction control button.
Step 1: Locating The Button
Owners often get confused about where is the traction control button located in Nissan Altima.
| Nissan Altima Models | Button Location | Button Sign |
| 2002 – 2006 Nissan Altima | Left to the steering wheel | “TCS OFF” |
| 2007 – 2009 Nissan Altima | Left to the steering wheel | “TCS OFF” / “VDC OFF” |
| 2010 Nissan Altima | Left to the steering wheel | “VDC OFF” |
| 2011 – 2018 Nissan Altima | Left to the steering wheel | A car on a squiggly road and labeled by “OFF” |
The traction control feature was added to Nissan Altima from 2002. At first, the system was known as a traction control system or TCS. so, the button was previously signed as “TCS OFF”.
Gradually, the system updated into the VDC system so the button was also changed to the “VDC OFF” button. Over time the button changed its sign to a car on a squiggly road and labeled by “OFF”.
The traction control off button in Nissan Altima is on the left side of the steering and usually beside the trunk release button.
Step 2: Turning The Traction Control Off
Push the off button, and the traction control of your Nissan Altima car will be turned off. You will notice the traction control off sign on the instrument cluster.
Summary:
Locate the Traction control “off” button in your Nissan Altima and press it to turn it off.
How To Turn Off Traction Control Nissan Altima Without Button?
In some newer Nissan Altima cars from 2019 and onwards, there might be no traction control “off” button on the dashboard. That doesn’t mean your car doesn’t have the traction control feature. This feature has been mandatory for all cars since 2011 as this is a great safety feature (1).
If you have a 2019 or newer Nissan Altima model, you have to do it from the control panel. Here’s how to turn off the traction control from settings-
Step 1: Select the “settings” option from your dashboard control.
Step 2: Select the “VDC setting”.
Step 3: In the VDC setting, you will notice an option called “system”, and the option will be set to “ON”. Select the system and turn it “OFF”. Once you turn the system off, There will be a sign of a car on a squiggly road labeled “OFF” appearing on the instrument cluster.
This is how you turn off the traction control on Nissan Altima.
Here is another question in your mind. How do I turn my traction control back on?
To turn the traction control button back on, press the same button you used for turning it off. For modern cars, go to the “VDC setting” and select “on”. Moreover, every time you switch the ignition, the traction control button automatically turns on.
Why Does My Traction Control Keep Turning On Nissan Altima?
There are some situations when the traction control on your Nissan Altima will keep turning on. The situations are mentioned below.
- Your Nissan Altima’s brake pad is worn out (2).
- Your car lacks brake fluid.
- The traction control fuse is blown.
- The throttle body is clogged or dirty.
- Your car’s transmission speed sensor is broken.
Is It Ok To Drive My Nissan Altima With Traction Control On?
Yes, it’s okay to drive the Nissan Altima with traction control on. In fact, it’s recommended to keep this feature on, especially in adverse weather conditions, or on slippery roads.
Keeping the traction control turned on assures more control over the car. As a result, the confidence of the driver also increases.
So, when to turn on the traction control in Nissan Altima? Here are some situations when you should keep the traction control turned on.
- When the road is too slippery from rain or light snowfall.
- When the road is difficult to see, such as during heavy fog or at night.
- When your car’s tires are under-inflated.
- When the tires of your cars are old and the friction patterns are worn out.
- When driving uphill or downhill.
Is It Ok To Drive My Nissan Altima With The Traction Control Off?
It is okay to drive with the traction control turned off. In fact, in some conditions, the traction control is required to be turned off.
Here is when you should turn off the traction control in Nissan Altima.
- When you are stuck on a deep muddy or snowy road.
- When driving on heavy snow with a tire chain on.
- While racing on a race track.
FAQs
Is VDC The Same As Traction Control?
VDC and traction control are not exactly the same things, rather traction control is a part of VDC. VDC is a more advanced system that also uses other sensors to control the steering of the car apart from the traction control. It was introduced in the Nissan Altima in 2007.
Does Turning The Traction Control Off Save Gas?
No, turning the VDC off doesn’t save gas. The VDC system has nothing to do with gas. So turning the system off won’t affect the gas mileage.
How Do You Know Traction Control Is Not Working?
The first symptom you will notice when the traction control is not working is the traction control warning light is on. You will also notice that the wheels spin excessively when accelerating. The symptoms will be more noticeable in slippery road conditions.
Conclusion
Here goes everything on how to turn off traction control Nissan Altima. By reading this article, I hope you can easily turn off and on the traction control on your own.
Make sure you don’t keep the traction control turned off on a slippery road, otherwise, accidents may occur.
That’s all for now. Have a great day.
