2023 HYUNDAI KONA brakes

Driving your vehicle6-22
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
WARNING
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) or
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system will not prevent accidents
due to improper or dangerous driving
maneuvers. Even though vehicle
control is improved during emergency
braking, always maintain a safe
distance between you and objects
ahead of you. Vehicle speeds should
always be reduced during extreme
road conditions. The braking distance
for vehicles equipped with ABS or ESC
may be longer than for those without
these systems in the following road
conditions.
Drive your vehicle at reduced speeds
during the following conditions:

[ Rough, gravel or snow-covered
roads.

[ On roads where the road surface is
pitted or has different surface height.

[ Tire chains are installed on your
vehicle.
The safety features of ABS or ESC
equipped vehicle should not be tested
by high speed driving or cornering. This
could endanger the safety of yourself or
others.
ABS is an electronic braking system that
helps prevent a braking skid. ABS allows
the driver to steer and brake at the same
time.
Using ABS
To obtain the maximum benefit from
your ABS in an emergency situation,
do not attempt to modulate your brake
pressure and do not try to pump your
brakes. Depress your brake pedal as hard
as possible.
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 ABS is active.
ABS does not reduce the time or distance
it takes to stop the vehicle.
Always maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you.
ABS will not prevent a skid that results
from sudden changes in direction, such
as trying to take a corner too fast or
making a sudden lane change. Always
drive at a safe speed for the road and
weather conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of stability.
Always steer moderately when braking
hard. Severe or sharp steering wheel
movement can still cause your vehicle to
veer into oncoming traffic or off the road.
On loose or uneven road surfaces,
operation of the anti-lock brake system
may result in a longer stopping distance
than for vehicles equipped with a
conventional brake system.
The ABS (
) warning light will stay
on for several seconds after the Engine
Start/Stop button is in the ON position.
During that time, ABS will go through
self-diagnosis and the light will go off if
everything is normal.

06
6-23
WARNING
If the ABS () warning light is on and
stays on, you may have a problem with
the ABS. Your power brakes will work
normally. To reduce the risk of serious
injury or death, contact your authorized
HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.
NOTICE
When you drive on a road having poor
traction, such as an icy road, and apply
your brakes continuously, ABS will be
active continuously and the ABS (
)
warning light may illuminate. Pull your
vehicle over to a safe place and turn the
vehicle off.
Restart the vehicle. If the ABS warning
light is off, then your ABS system is
normal.
Otherwise, you may have a problem
with your ABS system. Contact an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as
possible.
Information
When you jump start your vehicle because
of a drained battery, the ABS ()
warning light may turn on at the same
time. This happens because of the low
battery voltage. It does not mean your
ABS is malfunctioning. Have the battery
recharged before driving the vehicle.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
OOSN061005L
Electronic Stability Control(ESC) helps
to stabilize the vehicle during cornering
maneuvers.
ESC checks where you are steering and
where the vehicle is actually going. ESC
applies braking pressure to any one of
the vehicle's brakes and intervenes in the
engine management system to assist the
driver with keeping the vehicle on the
intended path. It is not a substitute for
safe driving practices. Always adjust your
speed and driving to the road conditions.
WARNING
Never drive too fast for the road
conditions when cornering. ESC will not
prevent accidents.
Excessive speed in turns, abrupt
maneuvers, and hydroplaning on wet
surfaces can result in severe accidents.

Driving your vehicle6-24
ESC operation
ESC ON condition
When the engine is turned off and then
on again, ESC oper
ation is enabled,
and it is activated in the ESC operating
mode (not in ESC Sport mode or ESC
OFF mode) regardless of the ESC mode
before turning off the engine.
You may select between the following
state of ESC:

[ ESC NORMAL activated (ESC ON)

[ ESC SPORT activated (ESC SPORT
indicator illuminates)

[ ESC deactivated (ESC OFF indicator
illuminates)
When operating
When 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 ESC activates, the engine may
not respond to the accelerator as it
does under routine conditions.

[ If Cruise Control was in use when ESC
activates, Cruise Control automatically
disengages. Cruise Control can be
reengaged when the road conditions
allow. See “Cruise Control (CC)” later
in this chapter.

[ 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.
Indicator lights

v
ESC indicator light (blinks)

v ESC OFF indicator light (comes on)
When the Engine Start/Stop button is
in 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 have 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.

06
6-29
VSM operation
When operating
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which ma
y 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
VSM does not operate when:

[ Driving through banked corners might
result in a ESC system shut down,
due to system self-diagnostics and an
assumption of a sensor failure. In the
next ignition cycle, the ESC system is
available again.

[ Driving in reverse.

[ The ESC OFF indicator light is on.

[ The EPS (Electric power steering)
warning light (
) is on or blinks.
VSM OFF condition
To cancel VSM operation, press the ESC
OFF butt

on. 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.

Driving your vehicle6-30
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 2
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

[ The HAC does not operate when
the gear is shifted to P (Park) or N
(Neutral).

[ The HAC activates even when the ESC
(Electronic Stability Control) is off.
However, it does not activate, when
ESC does not operate normally.
Downhill Brake Control (DBC)
OOSN061006L
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 Engine Start/Stop
button 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.

Driving your vehicle6-32
OJX1069039L
Downhill Brake Control disabled. Control
vehicle speed
When Downhill Brake Control is not
w
orking 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.
WARNING
If the DBC red indicator light
illuminates, the system may have
overheated or have malfunctioned.
When the warning light illuminates
even though the DBC system has cooled
off, have your vehicle checked by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as
possible.
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
6-33
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.
WARNING
Whenever leaving the vehicle or
parking, always come to a complete
stop and continue to depress the brake
pedal. Move the shift lever into the P
(Park) position, then apply the parking
brake, and set the Engine Start/Stop
button in 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.

06
6-53
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 Replacement”
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 Replacement” section in
chapter 9.