2021 HYUNDAI TUCSON HYBRID brake light

06
6-35
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)
Hill-Start Assist Control 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 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
6-37
System operation
Mode IndicatorDescription
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 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.

Driving your vehicle
6-38
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.

06
6-39
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.

Driving your vehicle
6-52
Information
The ESC system must be turned OFF
before rocking the vehicle.
NOTICE
If you are still stuck after rocking the
vehicle a few times, have the vehicle
pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid
engine overheating, possible damage to
the transmission, and tire damage. See
“Towing” section in chapter 8.
Smooth cornering
Avoid braking or gear changing in
corners, especially when roads are wet.
Ideally, corners should always be taken
under gentle acceleration.
Driving at night
Night driving presents more hazards than
driving in the daylight. Here are some
important tips to remember:
• Slow down and keep more distance
between you and other vehicles, as it
may be more difficult to see at night,
especially in areas where there may
not be any street lights.
• Adjust your mirrors to reduce the glare
from other drivers’ headlamps.
• Keep your headlamps clean and
properly aimed. Dirty or improperly
aimed headlamps will make it much
more difficult to see at night.
• Avoid staring directly at the
headlamps of oncoming vehicles. You
could be temporarily blinded, and it
will take several seconds for your eyes
to readjust to the darkness.
Driving in the rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous. Here are a few things to
consider when driving in the rain or on
slick pavement:
• Slow down and allow extra following
distance. A heavy rainfall makes
it harder to see and increases the
distance needed to stop your vehicle.
• Turn OFF your Cruise Control. (if
equipped)
• Replace your windshield wiper blades
when they show signs of streaking or
missing areas on the windshield.
• Be sure your tires have enough tread.
If your tires do not have enough tread,
making a quick stop on wet pavement
can cause a skid and possibly lead to
an accident. See “Tire Tread” section
in chapter 9.
• Turn on your headlamps to make it
easier for others to see you.
• Driving too fast through large puddles
can affect your brakes. If you must go
through puddles, try to drive through
them slowly.
• If you believe your brakes may be wet,
apply them lightly while driving until
normal braking operation returns.
Hydroplaning
If the road is wet enough and you are
going fast enough, your vehicle may
have little or no contact with the road
surface and actually ride on the water.
The best advice is SLOW DOWN when
the road is wet.
The risk of hydroplaning increases as
the depth of tire tread decreases, refer
to “Tire Tread” section in chapter 9.

Driving your vehicle6-54
winter driving
The severe weather conditions of winter
quickly wear out tires and cause other
problems. To minimize winter driving
problems, you should take the following
suggestions:
Snow or icy conditions
You need to keep sufficient distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle in
front of you.
Apply the brakes gently. Speeding, rapid
acceleration, sudden brake applications,
and sharp turns are potentially
very hazardous practices. During
deceleration, use engine braking to the
fullest extent. Sudden brake applications
on snowy or icy roads may cause the
vehicle to skid.
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it
may be necessary to use snow tires or to
install tire chains on your tires.
Always carry emergency equipment.
Some of the items you may want to carry
include tire chains, tow straps or chains,
a flashlight, emergency flares, sand, a
shovel, jumper cables, a window scraper,
gloves, ground cloth, coveralls, a blanket,
etc.
Snow tires
WARNING
Snow tires should be equivalent in size
and type to the vehicle’s standard tires.
Otherwise, the safety and handling of
your vehicle may be adversely affected.
We recommend that you use snow tires
when road temperature is below 45°F
(7°C). Refer to the below chart, and
mount the recommended snow tire for
your vehicle.
If you mount snow tires on your vehicle,
make sure to use the same Inflation
pressure as the original tires. Mount
snow tires on all four wheels to balance
your vehicle’s handling in all weather
conditions. The traction provided by
snow tires on dry roads may not be as
high as your vehicle’s original equipment
tires. Check with the tire dealer for
maximum speed recommendations.

Driving your vehicle
6-58
Do not let your parking brake freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged position.
This is most likely to happen when there
is an accumulation of snow or ice around
or near the rear brakes or if the brakes
are wet. When there is the risk that your
parking brake may freeze, temporarily
apply it with the gear in P (Park). Also,
block the rear wheels in advance, so the
vehicle may not roll. Then, release the
parking brake.
Do not let ice and snow accumulate
underneath
Under some conditions, snow and ice
can build up under the fenders and
interfere with the steering. When driving
in such conditions during the severe
winter, you should check underneath
the vehicle on a regular basis, to ensure
that the front wheels and the steering
components is unblocked.
Carry emergency equipment
In accordance with weather conditions,
you should carry appropriate emergency
equipment, while driving. Some of the
items you may want to carry include tire
chains, tow straps or chains, flashlight,
emergency flares, sand, shovel, jumper
cables, window scraper, gloves, ground
cloth, coveralls, blanket, etc.
Do not place objects or materials in the
engine compartment
Putting objects or materials in the engine
compartment may cause an engine
failure or combustion, because they may
block the engine cooling. Such damage
will not be covered by the manufacturer’s
warranty.

Driving your vehicle
6-64
Safety chains
You should always attach chains between
your vehicle and your trailer.
Instructions about safety chains may
be provided by the hitch manufacturer
or trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains. Always leave just
enough slack so you can turn with your
trailer. And, never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to
your country’s regulations and that
it is properly installed and operating
correctly.
If your trailer weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trailer
brakes loaded, then it needs its own
brakes and they must be adequate. Be
sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes so you’ll be able
to install, adjust and maintain them
properly. Be sure not to modify your
vehicle’s brake system.
WARNING
Do not use a trailer with its own brakes
unless you are absolutely certain that
you have properly set up the brake
system. This is not a task for amateurs.
Use an experienced, competent trailer
shop for this work.
Driving with a trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting
out for the open road, you must get to
know your trailer. Acquaint yourself with
the feel of handling and braking with the
added weight of the trailer. And always
keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical
connector(s), lights, tires and brakes.
During your trip, occasionally check
to be sure that the load is secure, and
that the lights and trailer brakes are still
working.
Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when driving
your vehicle without a trailer. This can
help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You will need more passing distance up
ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And,
because of the increased vehicle length,
you’ll need to go much farther beyond
the passed vehicle before you can return
to your lane.