2021 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID Owners Manual

06
6-29
ESC operation
ESC ON condition
When the ignition switch is in the
ON position, the ESC and the ESC
OFF indicator lights illuminate for
approximately three seconds. After both
lights go off, the ESC is enabled.
When operating
When the ESC is in operation,
the ESC indicator light blinks:
• When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the wheels,
you may hear sounds from the brakes,
or feel a corresponding sensation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and it
means your ESC is active.
• When the ESC activates, the engine
may not respond to the accelerator as
it does under routine conditions.
• If the Cruise Control was in use when
the ESC activates, the Cruise Control
automatically disengages. The Cruise
Control can be reengaged when the
road conditions allow. See “Cruise
Control System” section in chapter 7
(if equipped).
• When moving out of the mud or
driving on a slippery road, the engine
rpm (revolutions per minute) may
not increase even if you press the
accelerator pedal deeply. This is to
maintain the stability and traction of
the vehicle and does not indicate a
problem. ESC OFF condition
To cancel ESC operation:
• State 1
Press the ESC OFF button briefly.
The ESC OFF indicator light and/or
message “Traction Control disabled”
will illuminate. In this state, the traction
control function of ESC (engine
management) is disabled, but the
brake control function of ESC (braking
management) still operates.
• State 2
Press and hold the ESC OFF button
continuously for more than 3 seconds.
The ESC OFF indicator light and/or
message “Traction & Stability Control
disabled” illuminates and a warning
chime sounds. In this state, both the
traction control function of ESC (engine
management) and the brake control
function of ESC (braking management)
are disabled.
If the ignition switch is placed in the
LOCK/OFF position when ESC is off, ESC
remains off. Upon restarting the vehicle,
ESC will automatically turn on again.

Driving your vehicle
6-30
Indicator lights
■ ESC indicator light (blinks)
■ ESC OFF indicator light (comes on)
When the ignition switch is set to the
ON position, the ESC indicator light
illuminates, then goes off if the ESC
system is operating normally.
The ESC indicator light blinks whenever
the ESC is operating.
If the ESC indicator light stays on, your
vehicle may have a malfunction with
the ESC system. When this warning light
illuminates we recommend that the
vehicle be checked by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.
The ESC OFF indicator light comes on
when ESC is turned off.
WARNING
When ESC is blinking, this indicates the
ESC is active:
Drive slowly and NEVER attempt to
accelerate. NEVER turn the ESC off
while the ESC indicator light is blinking
or you may lose control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident.
NOTICE
Driving with wheels and tires with
different sizes may cause the ESC
system to malfunction. Before replacing
tires, make sure all four tires and wheels
are the same size. Never drive the
vehicle with different sized wheels and
tires installed.
ESC OFF usage
When Driving
The ESC OFF mode should only be used
briefly to help free the vehicle if stuck in
snow or mud, by temporarily stopping
operation of ESC, to maintain wheel
torque.
To turn ESC off while driving, press the
ESC OFF button while driving on a flat
road surface.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the transmission:
• Do not allow wheel(s) of one axle to
spin excessively while the ESC, ABS,
and parking brake warning lights
are displayed. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Reduce engine power and do not
spin the wheel(s) excessively while
these lights are displayed.
• When operating the vehicle on
a dynamometer, make sure the
ESC is turned off (ESC OFF light
illuminated).
Information
Turning the ESC off does not affect ABS
or standard brake system operation.

06
6-31
Vehicle Stability Management
(VSM) (if equipped)
The Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
is a function of the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system. It helps the vehicle
stay stable when accelerating or braking
suddenly on wet, slippery and rough
roads where traction over the four tires
can suddenly become uneven.
WARNING
Take the following precautions when
using the Vehicle Stability Management
(VSM):
• ALWAYS check the speed and the
distance to the vehicle ahead. The
VSM is not a substitute for safe
driving practices.
• Never drive too fast for the road
conditions. The VSM system will not
prevent accidents. Excessive speed
in bad weather, on slippery and
uneven roads can result in severe
accidents.
VSM operation
When operating
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may activate the ESC,
you may hear sounds from the brakes,
or feel a corresponding sensation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and it means
your VSM is active.
Information
The VSM does not operate when:
• Driving on a banked road such as
gradient or incline.
• Driving in reverse.
• The ESC OFF indicator light is on.
• The EPS (Electric power steering)
warning light (
) is on or blinks.

Driving your vehicle
6-32
VSM OFF condition
To cancel VSM operation, press the ESC
OFF button. ESC OFF indicator light (
)
will illuminate.
To turn on VSM, press the ESC OFF
button again. The ESC OFF indicator light
will go out.
WARNING
If the ESC indicator light () or EPS
warning light () stays illuminated
or blinks, your vehicle may have a
malfunction with the VSM system.
When the warning light illuminates
we recommend that the vehicle be
checked by an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer as soon as possible.
NOTICE
Driving with wheels and tires with
different sizes may cause the VSM
system to malfunction. Before replacing
tires, make sure all four tires and wheels
are the same size. Never drive the
vehicle with different sized tires and
wheels installed.
Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)
(if equipped)
The Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)
helps prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards when starting a vehicle from
a stop on a hill. The system operates the
brakes automatically for approximately
2 seconds and releases the brake after 5
seconds or when the accelerator pedal is
depressed.
WARNING
Always be ready to depress the
accelerator pedal when starting off
an incline. The HAC activates only for
approximately 2 seconds.
Information
• HAC does not operate when the shift
button is in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
• HAC activates even when the ESC
(Electronic Stability Control) is off.
However, it does not activate, when
ESC does not operate normally.

06
6-33
Trailer stability assist (TSA)
(if equipped)
Trailer stability assist is operated as
vehicle stability control system. Trailer
stability assist system has an effort to
help stabilize the vehicle and trailer when
the trailer sways or oscillates. There are
various reasons making vehicle sway and
oscillate. Almost case it happens at high
speed however, if the trailer is affected
by crosswinds, buffeting, and improper
overloading, it may be a risk of swaying.
Factors of swaying such as:
-High speed
-Strong crosswinds
-Improper overloading
-Sudden controlling of steering wheel
-Uneven road
Trailer stability assist system
continuously analyzes the vehicle
and trailer instability. When the
Trailer stability assist system detects
some sway, the brakes are applied
automatically to help stabilize the vehicle
on the front wheel. However, if it is
not enough to stabilize, the brakes are
applied on all wheels automatically and
engine power is properly reduced. When
the vehicle is stable from swaying, trailer
stability assist system does not operate.
Downhill Brake Control (DBC)
(if equipped)
OTM060014
Downhill Brake Control assists the driver
to descend down a steep hill without
having to depress the brake pedal.
The system automatically applies the
brakes to maintain vehicle speed below
a certain speed and allows the driver
to concentrate on steering the vehicle
down hill.
The system is turned off whenever the
engine is turned off.
Press the button to turn on the system
and press the button again to turn it off.

Driving your vehicle
6-34
System operation
ModeIndicator Description
Standby
Green light on
Press the Downhill Brake Control button when vehicle
speed is under 37 mph (60 km/h). Downhill Brake
Control will turn on and enter the standby mode. The
system does not turn on if vehicle speed is over 37 mph
(60 km/h).
Activated
Green light blink
In the standby mode, Downhill Brake Control will
activate under the following conditions:
• The hill is steep enough.
• The brake pedal or accelerator pedal is not depressed.
• Vehicle speed is within 2~25 mph (4~40 km/h) range
(within 1.5~5 mph (2.5~8 km/h) when reversing).
Within the activation speed range 2~25 mph (4~40
km/h), the driver can control the vehicle speed by
depressing the brake pedal or accelerator pedal.
Deactivated
Green light off
Downhill Brake Control will turn off under the following
conditions:
• The Downhill Brake Control button is pressed again.
• Vehicle speed is over 37 mph (60 km/h).
Green light on
Downhill Brake Control will be deactivated but maintain
the standby mode under the following conditions:
• The hill is not steep enough.
• Vehicle speed is between 25~37 mph (40~60 km/h).
System
malfunction
Yellow light on
The yellow warning light illuminates when the system
may have malfunctioned or may not work properly
during activation. If this occurs, Downhill Brake Control
is deactivated. We recommend that the system be
inspected by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as
possible.

06
6-35
OJX1069039L
Downhill Brake Control disabled. Control
vehicle speed (manually)
When Downhill Brake Control is not
working properly this warning message
will appear on the cluster LCD display
and you will hear a warning sound. If
this occurs, control vehicle speed by
depressing the brake pedal.
WARNING
Always turn off Downhill Brake Control
on normal roads. The system might
activate inadvertently from the standby
mode when driving through speed
bumps or making sharp curves.
Information
• Downhill Brake Control may not
deactivate on steep inclines even though
the brake pedal or accelerator pedal is
depressed.
• Downhill Brake Control may not
always maintain vehicle speed at a
certain speed.
• Downhill Brake Control does not
operate when:
-The gear is in P (Park).
-ESC is activated.
• Noise or vibration may occur from the
brakes when Downhill Brake Control is
activated.
The rear stop light comes on when
Downhill Brake Control is activated.

Driving your vehicle
6-36
Good braking practices
WARNING
Whenever leaving the vehicle or
parking, always come to a complete
stop and continue to depress the brake
pedal. Move the shift button into the P
(Park) position, then apply the parking
brake, and set the ignition switch in the
LOCK/OFF position.
Vehicles parked with the parking brake
not applied or not fully engaged may
roll inadvertently and may cause injury
to the driver and others. ALWAYS apply
the parking brake before exiting the
vehicle.Wet brakes can be dangerous! The
brakes may get wet if the vehicle is
driven through standing water or if it
is washed. Your vehicle will not stop as
quickly if the brakes are wet. Wet brakes
may cause the vehicle to pull to one side.
To dry the brakes, apply the brakes
lightly until the braking action returns to
normal. If the braking action does not
return to normal, stop as soon as it is safe
to do so and we recommend that you
call an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for
assistance.
DO NOT drive with your foot resting on
the brake pedal. Even light, but constant
pedal pressure can result in the brakes
overheating, brake wear, and possibly
even brake failure.
If a tire goes flat while you are driving,
apply the brakes gently and keep the
vehicle pointed straight ahead while you
slow down. When you are moving slowly
enough for it to be safe to do so, pull off
the road and stop in a safe location.
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal
when the vehicle is stopped to prevent
the vehicle from rolling forward.