2021 HYUNDAI SONATA Protection

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. 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 shorter 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 cellular 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 or getting
into 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 when conditions
permit safe use. NEVER text or email
while driving. Most states have laws
prohibiting drivers from texting. Some
states 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

3-6
ODN8039003
Seatback angle
To recline the seatback:
1.
L
ean forward slightly and lift up the
seatback lever.
2.

Car
efully lean back on the seat and
adjust the seatback to the position
you desire.
3.

R
elease the lever and make sure the
seatback is locked in place. (The lever
MUST return to its original position for
the seatback to lock.)
Reclining seatback
Sitting in a reclined position when the
vehicle is in motion can be dangerous.
Even when buckled up, the protection of
your restraint system (seat belts and air
bags) is greatly reduced by reclining your
seatback.
WARNING
NEVER ride with a reclined seatback
when the vehicle is moving.
Riding with a reclined seatback
increases your chance of serious or fatal
injuries in the event of a collision or
sudden stop.
Drivers and passengers should ALWAYS
sit well back in their seats, properly
belted, and with the seatbacks upright. Seat belts must be snug against your
hips and chest to work properly. When
the seatback is reclined, the shoulder
belt cannot do its job because it will not
be snug against your chest. Instead,
it will be in front of you. During an
accident, you could be thrown into the
seat belt, causing neck or other injuries.
The more the seatback is reclined,
the greater chance the passenger’s
hips will slide under the lap belt or the
passenger’s neck will strike the shoulder
belt.
ODN8039004
Seat cushion height
To change the height of the seat cushion:
•
Push down on the lever several times,
to lower the seat cushion.
• Pull up on the lever several times, to
raise the seat cushion.
Seats & Safety System

3-8
Reclining seatback
Sitting in a reclined position when the
vehicle is in motion can be dangerous.
Even when buckled up, the protection of
your restraint system (seat belts and air
bags) is greatly reduced by reclining your
seatback.
WARNING
NEVER ride with a reclined seatback
when the vehicle is moving. Riding
with a reclined seatback increases your
chance of serious or fatal injuries in
the event of a collision or sudden stop.
Driver and passengers should ALWAYS
sit well back in their seats, properly
belted, and with the seatbacks upright.
Seat belts must be snug against your hips
and chest to work properly. When the
seatback is reclined, the shoulder belt
cannot do its job because it will not be
snug against your chest. Instead, it will
be in front of you. During an accident,
you could be thrown into the seat belt,
causing neck or other injuries. The more
the seatback is reclined, the greater
chance the passenger’s hips will slide
under the lap belt or the passenger’s
neck will strike the shoulder belt.ODN8039007
Seat cushion tilt (1)
To change the angle of the front part of
the seat cushion: Push the front portion
of the control switch up to raise or
down to lower the front part of the seat
cushion. Release the switch once the
seat reaches the desired position.
Seat cushion height (2)
To change the height of the seat cushion:
Push the rear portion of the control
switch up to raise or down to lower the
height of the seat cushion. Release the
switch once the seat reaches the desired
position.
Seats & Safety System

03
3-23
To fasten your seat belt:
Pull the seat belt out of the retractor
and insert the metal tab into the buckle.
There will be an audible “click” when
the tab locks into the buckle. When
not securing a child restraint, the seat
belt operates in the same way as the
driver’s seat belt (Emergency Locking
Retractor Type). It automatically adjusts
to the proper length only after the lap
belt portion of the seat belt is adjusted
manually so that it fits snugly across your
hips.
When the seat belt is fully extended from
the retractor to allow the installation of
a child restraint system, the seat belt
operation changes to allow the belt to
retract, but not to extend (Automatic
Locking Retractor Type). Refer to the
“Using a Child Restraint System” section
in this chapter.
NOTICE
Although the seat belt retractor
provides the same level of protection
for seated passengers in either
emergency or automatic locking
modes, the emergency locking mode
allows seated passengers to move
freely in their seat while keeping
some tension on the belt. During a
collision or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.
To deactivate the automatic locking
mode, unbuckle the seat belt and allow
the belt to fully retract.
Rear center seat belt
ODN8039074L
When using the rear center seat belt, the
buckle with the “CENTER” mark must be
used.
WARNING
Make sure that the seatback is locked in
place when using the rear center seat
belt.
If not, the seatback may move when
there is a sudden stop or collision,
which could result in serious injury.

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3-27
Larger children
Children under age 13 and who are too
large for a booster seat must always
occupy the rear seat and use the
available lap/shoulder belts. A seat belt
should lie across the upper thighs and
be snug across the shoulder and chest
to restrain the child safely. Check belt fit
periodically. Children are afforded the
most safety in the event of an accident
when they are restrained by a proper
restraint system and/or seat belts in the
rear seat. Always have the LATCH system
inspected by your authorized HYUNDAI
dealer after an accident. An accident can
damage the LATCH system and may not
properly secure the child restraint.
If a larger child over age 13 must be
seated in the front seat, the child must
be securely restrained by the available
lap/shoulder belt and the seat should be
placed in the rearmost position.
If the shoulder belt portion slightly
touches the child’s neck or face, try
placing the child closer to the center
of the vehicle. If the shoulder belt still
touches their face or neck, they need to
be returned to an appropriate booster
seat in the rear seat.
WARNING
• Always make sure children are
wearing their seat belts and that they
are properly adjusted before driving.
• NEVER allow the shoulder belt to
contact the child’s neck or face.
• Do not allow more than one child to
use a single seat belt.
Transporting an injured person
A seat belt should be used when an
injured person is being transported.
Consult a physician for specific
recommendations.
One person per belt
Two people (including children) should
never attempt to use a single seat belt.
This could increase the severity of
injuries in case of an accident.
Do not lie down
Sitting in a reclined position when the
vehicle is in motion can be dangerous.
Even when buckled up, the protections
of your restraint system (seat belts and
air bags) is greatly reduced by reclining
your seatback.
To reduce the chance of injuries in the
event of an accident and to achieve the
maximum effectiveness of the restraint
system, all passengers should be sitting
up and the front and rear seats should
be in an upright position when the car is
moving.
A seat belt cannot provide proper
protection if the person is lying down in
the rear seat or if the front or rear seats
are in a reclined position.
WARNING
• NEVER ride with a reclined seatback
when the vehicle is moving.
• Riding with a reclined seatback
increases your chance of serious
or fatal injuries in the event of a
collision or sudden stop.
• Drivers and passengers should
always sit well back in their seats,
properly belted, and with the
seatbacks upright.

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3-29
Children Always in the Rear
WARNING
Always properly restrain children in the
rear seats of 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 must 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 must use the seat belts
provided.
All 50 states have child restraint laws
which require children to travel in
approved child restraint devices. The
laws governing the age or height/weight
restrictions at which seat belts can be
used instead of child restraints differs
among states, so you should be aware of
the specific requirements in your state,
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 rear-facing
or forward-facing CRS that has first
been properly secured to the rear seat
of the vehicle. Read and comply with
the instructions for installation and use
provided by the manufacturer of the
child restraint.
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 a HYUNDAI
dealer check the child restraint
system, seat belts, tether anchors
and lower anchors.
Child RestRaint sy stem (CRs )

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This vehicle is equipped with an Advanced Supplemental Air Bag System for the
driver’s seat and front passenger’s seats.
The front air bags are designed to supplement the three-point seat belts. For these air
bags to provide protection, the seat belts must be worn at all times when driving.
You can be severely injured or killed in an accident if you are not wearing a seat belt.
Air bags are designed to supplement seat belts, but do not replace them. Also, air bags
are not designed to deploy in every collision. In some accidents, the seat belts are the
only restraint protecting you.
WARNING
AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ALWAYS use seat belts and child restraints - every trip, every time, everyone! Even
with air bags, you can be seriously injured or killed in a collision if you are improperly
belted or not wearing your seat belt when the air bag inflates.
NEVER place a child in any child restraint or booster seat in the front passenger seat.
An inflating air bag could forcefully strike the infant or child causing serious or fatal
injuries.
ABC - Always Buckle Children under age 13 in the back seat. It is the safest place
for children of any age to ride. If a child age 13 or older must be seated in the front
seat, he or she must be properly belted and the seat should be moved as far back as
possible.
All occupants should sit upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered
on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their
feet on the floor until the vehicle is parked and is turned off. If an occupant is out of
position during an accident, the rapidly deploying air bag may forcefully contact the
occupant causing serious or fatal injuries.
You and your passengers should never sit or lean unnecessarily close to the air bags
or lean against the door or center console.
Move your seat as far back as possible from front air bags, while still maintaining
control of the vehicle. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) recommends that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the
center of the steering wheel and the chest.
Seats & Safety System

03
3-39
Where Are the Air Bags?
Driver’s and passenger’s front air
bags
Your vehicle is equipped with an
Advanced Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) and lap/shoulder belts at
both the driver and passenger seating
positions.
The SRS consists of air bags which are
located in the center of the steering
wheel, in the driver’s side lower crash
pad below the steering wheel column
and the passenger’s side front panel pad
above the glove box.
The air bags are labeled with the letters
“AIR BAG” embossed on the pad covers.
„„Driver’s front air bag
ODN8039034
„„Driver’s knee air bag
ODN8039035
„„Passenger’s front air bag
ODN8039036
The purpose of the SRS is to provide the
vehicle’s driver and front passengers with
additional protection than that offered
by the seat belt system alone. The SRS
uses sensors to gather information about
the driver’s and front passenger’s seat
belt usage and impact severity. The seat
belt buckle sensors determine if the
driver and front passenger’s seat belts
are fastened. These sensors provide the
ability to control the SRS deployment
based on whether or not the seat belts
are fastened, and how severe the impact
is. The advanced SRS offers the ability to
control the air bag inflation within two
levels. A first stage level is provided for
moderate-severity impacts. A second
stage level is provided for more severe
impacts. According to the impact
severity, and seat belt usage, the SRS
Control Module (SRSCM) controls the
air bag inflation. Failure to properly
wear seat belts can increase the risk or
severity of injury in an accident.