Introduced with the 2018 Pathfinder SUV, Nissan’s RDA technology was developed by a pair of Nissan engineers, who are also mothers, inspired by Nissan’s “culture of innovation.” RDA was the industry’s first system to use the horn, in addition to door sensors and a message display on the centre instrument panel, to remind drivers to check the back seat after the vehicle is parked.

Last year, Nissan joined other vehicle manufacturers in a pledge to have a rear seat reminder feature in essentially all cars and trucks by model year 2025 or sooner. Under this commitment, automakers will introduce a wide range of approaches to help parents and caregivers remember to check the back seat as they leave a vehicle.

For model year 2020, Rear Door Alert is now standard on the following models:

• ALTIMA – Midsized 4-door sedan
  “Good to drive, stylish inside and out, loaded with safety tech, and available with AWD or a turbocharged engine, it blends some of the best qualities of each of these models” – jdpower.com

• ARMADA – Full-sized SUV
  “The Nissan Armada is a full-size SUV with seating capacity for seven or eight passengers. Based on a robust body-on-frame construction, the Armada is a real-deal SUV—not a crossover—with available four-wheel-drive and standard V-8 engine” –MotorTrend

• LEAF – Compact Electric Vehicle
  “The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric compact hatchback that has an excellent range. Depending on the version and battery pack, it can go between 150 miles and 226 miles on a single charge” –AutoBlog

• MURANO – Midsize SUV
  “One of the original car-based SUVs, the Nissan Murano slots above the compact Rogue and below the three-row Pathfinder” – MotorTrend

• MAXIMA – Midsize Sports Sedan“This is a fast, comfortable, high-speed cruiser that can take a corner or curve with enthusiasm when the situation presents itself” – jdpower.com
  

• PATHFINDER – Midsize SUV
  “The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder is a mid-size crossover SUV with a versatile second row, and optional third row that’s well suited for smaller passengers” – AutoBlog

• ROGUE – Compact Crossover
  “Owners say their favourite things about the Rogue are (in descending order) the exterior styling, driving dynamics, interior design and visibility and safety (in a tie), and the seats” – jdpower.com

• QASHQAI – Compact Sport Crossover
  “In many ways, it offers “class-above” design, materials, technologies, and functionality” – jdpower.com

• SENTRA – Compact Sedan
  “I wouldn’t be surprised if it became the best-selling Nissan sedan, or if it became one of the best-selling compact sedans in America” – jdpower.com
  

• TITAN – Full-Size Pickup Truck
  “Versatile and durable, the 2020 Titan feels solid like a full-size pickup should” –thecarconnection.com

• KICKS – Subcompact Crossover
  “Unlike some small crossovers, it’s legitimately fuel-efficient” – jdpower.com

How RDA works
Once activated, the system monitors when a rear door is opened and closed before and after the vehicle is in motion. If a rear door was used before a trip but was not opened after the vehicle is parked, the system reminds the driver to check the rear seat. Once the vehicle is in park, the system will first display a notification in the instrument panel. If the driver exits the vehicle and does not open a rear door, the system progresses to distinctive chirps of the horn.

The RDA system is easy to configure and can be temporarily, or permanently, turned on through a menu in the cluster display or through a separate RDA switch, depending on the model.

If you’re interested in seeing Nissan’s Rear Door Alert system work in person, please click the button below. Depending on current conditions, traditional guided tours may not be available so we’ll contact you to discuss what is possible. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications, at any time, without notice.