
Vehicle Information, Consumer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
2-10
Items Tire sizeWheel 
size Inflation pressure  
kPa (psi) Wheel bolt 
torque  lbf·ft  
(kgf·m, N·m)
Normal load Maximum load
Front RearFront Rear
Full size tire
235/60 R18 7.5J x 18
240(35)79~94
(11~13, 107~127)235/55 R19 7.5J x 19
255/45 R20 8.5J x 20
Compact 
spare tireT135/90 D17 4.0B x 17420(60)
NOTICE
•	 It is permissible to add 3 psi to the standard tire pressure specification if colder 
temperatures are expected soon.
Tires typically lose 1psi (7kPa) for every 12°F temperature drop. If extreme 
temperature variations are expected, recheck your tire pressure as necessary to 
keep them properly inflated.
•	 Tire inflation pressures will vary with changes in elevation. If driving in areas of 
higher or lower elevation, be sure to check and adjust for proper tire inflation.
 CAUTION
•	When replacing tires, use the same size originally supplied with the vehicle.
Using tires of a different size can damage the related parts or not work properly.
•	 When replacing tires, ALWAYS use the same size, type, construction and tread 
pattern supplied with the vehicle for all tires.
TIRES AND WHEELS    

Seats & Safety System
3-2
You will find many safety precautions 
and recommendations throughout this 
section, and throughout this manual. 
The safety precautions in this section are 
among the most important.
Always wear your seat belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all 
types of accidents. Air bags are designed 
to supplement seat belts, not replace 
them. So even though your vehicle is 
equipped with air bags, ALWAYS make 
sure you and your passengers wear your 
seat belts, and wear them properly.
Restrain all children
All children under age 13 should ride 
in your vehicle properly restrained in a 
rear seat, not the front seat. Infants and 
small children should be restrained in 
an appropriate Child Restraint System. 
Larger children should use a booster 
seat with the lap/shoulder belt until they 
can use the seat belt properly without a 
booster seat.
Air bag hazards
While air bags can save lives, they can 
also cause serious or fatal injuries to 
occupants who sit too close to them, or 
who are not properly restrained. Infants, 
young children, and short adults are at 
the greatest risk of being injured by an 
inflating air bag. Follow all instructions 
and warnings in this manual.
Driver distraction
Driver distraction presents a serious and 
potentially deadly danger, especially for 
inexperienced drivers. Safety should be 
the first concern when behind the wheel 
and drivers need to be aware of the wide 
array of potential distractions, such as 
drowsiness, reaching for objects, eating, 
personal grooming, other passengers, 
and using mobile phones.Drivers can become distracted when 
they take their eyes and attention off 
the road or their hands off the wheel to 
focus on activities other than driving. 
To reduce your risk of distraction and an 
accident:
•	
ALWAYS set up your mobile devices 
(i.e., MP3 players, phones, navigation 
units, etc.) when your vehicle is 
parked or safely stopped.
•	 ONLY use your mobile device when 
allowed by laws and conditions permit 
safe use. NEVER text or email while 
driving. Most countries have laws 
prohibiting drivers from texting. Some 
countries and cities also prohibit 
drivers from using handheld phones.
•	 NEVER let the use of a mobile device 
distract you from driving. You have a 
responsibility to your passengers and 
others on the road to always drive 
safely, with your hands on the wheel 
as well as your eyes and attention on 
the road.
Control your speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash 
injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher 
the speed, the greater the risk, but 
serious injuries can also occur at lower 
speeds. Never drive faster than is safe 
for current conditions, regardless of the 
maximum speed posted.
Keep your vehicle in safe 
condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical 
failure can be extremely hazardous. To 
reduce the possibility of such problems, 
check your tire pressures and condition 
frequently, and perform all regularly 
scheduled maintenance.
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS    

Seats & Safety System
3-34
Children Always in the Rear
 WARNING
Always properly restrain children in the 
vehicle. Children of all ages are safer 
when restrained in the rear seat. A child 
riding in the front passenger seat can 
be forcefully struck by an inflating air 
bag resulting in SERIOUS INJURY or 
DEATH.
Children under age 13 should always 
ride in the rear seats and must always be 
properly restrained to minimize the risk 
of injury in an accident, sudden stop or 
sudden maneuver.
According to accident statistics, children 
are safer when properly restrained in the 
rear seats than in the front seat. Even 
with air bags, children can be seriously 
injured or killed. Children too large for a 
Child Restraint System must use the seat 
belts provided.
All 50 states have child restraint laws 
which require children to travel in 
approved Child Restraint Systems.
The laws governing the age or height/
weight restrictions at which seat belts 
can be used instead of Child Restraint 
System differs among states, so 
you should be aware of the specific 
requirements in your country, and where 
you are travelling.
Child Restraint Systems must be properly 
placed and installed in the rear seat. 
You must use a commercially available 
Child Restraint System that meets the 
requirements of the Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 213).
Child Restraint Systems are generally 
designed to be secured in a vehicle seat 
by lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt, 
or by a LATCH system in the rear seats of 
the vehicle.
Child Restraint System (CRS)
Infants and younger children must be 
restrained in an appropriate rearward-
facing or forward-facing CRS that has 
first been properly secured to the seat 
of the vehicle. Read and comply with 
the instructions for installation and use 
provided by the manufacturer of the 
Child Restraint System.
 WARNING
An improperly secured child restraint 
can increase the risk of SERIOUS 
INJURY or DEATH in an accident. Always 
take the following precautions when 
using a Child Restraint System:
•	NEVER install a child or infant 
restraint in the front passenger's 
seat.
•	 Always properly secure the child 
restraint to a rear seat of the vehicle.
•	 Always follow the child restraint 
system manufacturer's instructions 
for installation and use.
•	 Always properly restrain your child in 
the child restraint.
•	 If the vehicle head restraint prevents 
proper installation of a child seat 
(as described in the child restraint 
system manual), the head restraint of 
the respective seating position shall 
be readjusted or entirely removed.
•	 Do not use an infant carrier or a 
child safety seat that "hooks" over 
a seatback, it may not provide 
adequate protection in an accident.
•	 After an accident, have an authorized 
HYUNDAI dealer check the child 
restraint system, seat belts, tether 
anchors and lower anchors.
ChILD REsTRAInT s YsTEm (CRs)    
![HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2021  Owners Manual 04
4-15
AUTO HOLD indicator light
This indicator light illuminates:
•	[White] When you activate Auto Hold 
by pressing the AUTO HOLD switch.
•	 [Green] When you stop the vehicle 
completely by dep HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2021  Owners Manual 04
4-15
AUTO HOLD indicator light
This indicator light illuminates:
•	[White] When you activate Auto Hold 
by pressing the AUTO HOLD switch.
•	 [Green] When you stop the vehicle 
completely by dep](/manual-img/35/41163/w960_41163-112.png)
04
4-15
AUTO HOLD indicator light
This indicator light illuminates:
•	[White] When you activate Auto Hold 
by pressing the AUTO HOLD switch.
•	 [Green] When you stop the vehicle 
completely by depressing the brake 
pedal with Auto Hold activated.
•	 [Yellow] Whenever there is a 
malfunction with the Auto Hold 
function.
If this occurs, we recommend that 
you have the vehicle inspected by an 
authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
For more details, refer to “Electronic 
Parking Brake (EPB)” section in chapter 
6.
Low tire pressure warning 
light
This warning light illuminates:
•	 When you set the ignition switch or 
the Engine Start/Stop button to the 
ON position.
 - The low tir
e pressure warning light 
illuminates for approximately 3 
seconds and then goes off.
•	 When one or more of your tires are 
significantly underinflated. (The 
location of the underinflated tires are 
displayed on the LCD display.)
For more details, refer to “Tire Pressure 
Monitoring System (TPMS)” section in 
chapter 8.
This warning light remains ON after 
blinking for approximately 60 seconds, or 
repeatedly blinks ON and OFF in 3 second 
intervals:
When there is a malfunction with the 
TPMS.
If this occurs, we recommend that 
you have the vehicle inspected by an 
authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as 
possible.
For more details, refer to “Tire Pressure 
Monitoring System (TPMS)” section in 
chapter 8.
 WARNING
Safe Stopping
•	 The TPMS cannot alert you to severe 
and sudden tire damage caused by 
external factors.
•	 If you notice any vehicle instability, 
immediately take your foot off the 
accelerator pedal, apply the brakes 
gradually with light force, and slowly 
move to a safe position off the road.   

Convenient features
5-88
Limitations of the system
High Beam Assist may not work properly 
in the following situations:
•	Light from a vehicle is not detected 
because of lamp damage, or because 
it is hidden from sight, etc.
•	 Headlamp of a vehicle is covered with 
dust, snow or water.
•	 A vehicle’s headlamps are off but the 
fog lamps are on and etc.
•	 There is a lamp that has a similar 
shape as a vehicle’s lamp.
•	 Headlamps have been damaged or 
not repaired properly.
•	 Headlamps are not aimed properly.
•	 Driving on a narrow curved road, 
rough road, uphill or downhill.
•	 Vehicle in front is partially visible on a 
crossroad or curved road.
•	 There is a traffic light, reflecting sign, 
flashing sign or mirror ahead.
•	 There is a temporary reflector or flash 
ahead (construction area).
•	 The road conditions are bad such as 
being wet, iced or covered with snow.
•	 A vehicle suddenly appears from a 
curve.
•	 The vehicle is tilted from a flat tire or 
is being towed.
•	 Light from a vehicle is not detected 
because of exhaust fume, smoke, fog, 
snow, etc.
For more details on the limitations 
of the front view camera, refer to 
“Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 
(FCA)” section in chapter 7.  WARNING
•	 At times, High Beam Assist may not 
work properly. It is the responsibility 
of the driver for safe driving 
practices and always check the road 
conditions for your safety.
•	 When High Beam Assist does 
not operate normally, change 
the headlamp position manually 
between high beam and low beam.    

Driving your vehicle
6-46
Indicator lights
■ ESC indicator light (blinks)
■ ESC OFF indicator light (comes on)
When the Engine Start/Stop button is 
pressed 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 
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 ESC 
is active:
Drive slowly and NEVER attempt to 
accelerate. NEVER turn 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 
ESC is turned off (ESC OFF light 
illuminated).
 Information
Turning ESC off does not affect ABS or 
standard brake system operation.    

06
6-51
Good braking practices
 WARNING
Whenever leaving the vehicle or 
parking, always come to a complete 
stop and continue to depress the brake 
pedal. Shift the gear to the P (Park) 
position, then apply the parking brake, 
and press the Engine Start/Stop button 
to the 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.   

Driving your vehicle
6-52
Four Wheel Drive (4WD) delivers engine 
power to front and rear wheels for 
maximum traction. 4WD is useful when 
extra traction is required, such as when 
driving on, muddy, wet, or snow-covered 
roads. 
 WARNING
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS INJURY 
or DEATH:
•	Do not drive in conditions that 
exceed the vehicles intended 
design such as challenging off-road 
conditions.
•	 Avoid high speeds when cornering or 
turning.
•	 Do not make quick steering wheel 
movements, such as sharp lane 
changes or fast, sharp turns.
•	 The risk of a rollover is greatly 
increased if you lose control of your 
vehicle at highway speeds.
•	 Loss of control often occurs if two or 
more wheels drop off the roadway 
and the driver over steers to reenter 
the roadway.
•	 In the event your vehicle leaves 
the roadway, do not steer sharply. 
Instead, slow down before pulling 
back into the travel lanes.
NOTICE
•	Do not drive in water if the level 
is higher than the bottom of the 
vehicle.
•	 Check your brake condition once 
you are out of mud or water. Depress 
the brake pedal several times as you 
move slowly until you feel normal 
braking return.
•	 Shorten your scheduled 
maintenance interval if you drive in 
off-road conditions such as sand, 
mud or water (see "Maintenance 
Under Severe Usage Conditions" 
section in chapter 9).
•	 Always wash your vehicle thoroughly 
after off road use, especially the 
bottom of the vehicle.
•	 Be sure to equip the vehicle with four 
tires of the same size and type.
•	 Make sure that a full time 4WD 
vehicle is towed by a flat bed tow 
truck.
FOUR WhEEL DRIVE (4 WD) (IF E QUIppED)