2022 HYUNDAI KONA Owners Manual

Driving your vehicle
6-40
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
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
Vehicle Stability Management
(VSM)
Vehicle Stability Management 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 Vehicle Stability Management:
ALWAYS check the speed and the
distance to the vehicle ahead. VSM
is not a substitute for safe driving
practices.
Never drive too fast for the road
conditions. VSM will not prevent
accidents. Excessive speed in bad
weather, on slippery and uneven
roads can result in severe accidents.
VSM operation
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may activate 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

06
6-41
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
have 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 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. Hill-Start Assist Control
activates only for approximately 2
seconds.
Information

Driving your vehicle
6-42
Downhill Brake Control (DBC)
OOS060020L
The Downhill Brake Control (DBC) feature
assists the driver to descend down a
steep hill without having to depress the
brake pedal. The system automatically
applies the brakes to maintain the
vehicle speed below 5 mph (8 km/h)
and allows the driver to concentrate on
steering the vehicle down hill.
WARNING
Always turn off the DBC on normal
roads. The DBC might activate
inadvertently from the standby mode
when driving through speed bumps or
making sharp curves.
NOTICE
The DBC defaults to the OFF position
whenever the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position.
Noise or vibration may occur
from the brakes when the DBC is
activated.
The rear stop light comes on when
DBC is activated.

06
6-43
DBC operation
Mode Indicator light Description
Standby
illuminated
Press the DBC button when vehicle speed is under
25 mph (40 km/h). The DBC system will turn ON and
enter the standby mode.
The system does not turn ON if vehicle speed is over
25 mph (40 km/h).
Activated
blinks
In the standby mode, if vehicle speed is under 22 mph
(35 km/h) while driving down a steep hill, the DBC will
activate automatically.
Temporarily
deactivated
illuminated
In the activated mode, the DBC will temporarily
deactivate under the following conditions:
The hill is not steep enough.
The brake pedal or accelerator pedal is depressed.
If the above conditions are not met, the DBC will
automatically activate again.
OFF
not illuminated
The DBC will turn OFF under the following conditions:
The DBC button is pressed again.
Vehicle speed is over 38 mph (60 km/h).

Driving your vehicle
6-44
OJX1069039L
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
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06
6-45
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 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
6-46
OOS060003K
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.

06
6-47
Four Wheel Drive (4WD) operation
Four Wheel Drive (4WD) mode selection
Transfer
mode
Selection
button
Indicator
lightDescription
4WD AUTO
(4WD LOCK is
deactivated)(not
illuminated)
In the 4WD AUTO mode, under normal
operating conditions, the vehicle operates
similar to conventional 2WD vehicles. If
the system determines there is a need
for four wheel drive, the engine’s driving
power is distributed to all four wheels
automatically.
Use this mode when driving on normal
roads.
4WD LOCK
(illuminated)
This mode is used for climbing or
descending sharp grades, off-road
driving, driving on sandy and muddy
roads, etc., to maximize traction.
This mode automatically begins to
deactivate at speeds above 25 mph (40
km) and is shifted to 4WD AUTO mode
at speed above 38 mph (60 km). If the
vehicle decelerates to speeds below
25 mph (40 km), however, the transfer
mode is shifted into 4WD LOCK mode
again.
WARNING
If 4WD warning light () stays on the instrument cluster, your vehicle may have a
malfunction with the 4WD system. When the 4WD warning light () illuminates,
have the vehicle be checked by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.