2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE steering

Driving your vehicle6-34
Good driving practices

[ Never move the shift button from
P (Park) or N (Neutral) to any other
position with the accelerator pedal
depressed.

[ Never move the shift button into P
(Park) when the vehicle is in motion.
Be sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before you attempt to shift
into R (Reverse) or D (Drive).

[ Do not move the shift button to N
(Neutral) when driving. Doing so
may result in an accident because
of a loss of engine braking and the
transmission could be damaged.

[ Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light, but
consistent pedal pressure can result
in the brakes overheating, brake wear
and possibly even brake failure.

[ Always apply the parking brake when
leaving the vehicle. Do not depend on
placing the transmission in P (Park) to
keep the vehicle from moving.

[ Exercise extreme caution when
driving on a slippery surface. Be
especially careful when braking,
accelerating or shifting gears. On a
slippery surface, an abrupt change
in vehicle speed can cause the drive
wheels to lose traction and may cause
loss of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.

[ Optimum vehicle performance and
economy is obtained by smoothly
depressing and releasing the
accelerator. WARNING
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS INJURY
or DEATH:

[ALWAYS wear your seatbelt. In a
collision, an unbelted occupant
is significantly more likely to be
seriously injured or killed than a
properly belted occupant.

[ 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 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 t ravel lanes.

[ HYUNDAI recommends you follow all
posted speed limits.

Driving your vehicle6-44
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.

06
6-45
During that time, ABS will go through
self-diagnosis and the light will go off if
everything is normal. If the light stays on,
you may have a problem with your ABS.
Contact an authorized HYUNDAI dealer
as soon as possible.
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)
OTM060013
Electronic Stability Control 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 vehicle6-48
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 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 on a banked road such as
gradient or incline.

[ 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.

06
6-49
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

[Hill-Start Assist Control does not
operate when the gear is shifted to P
(Park) or N (Neutral).

[ Hill-Start Assist Control 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)
OTM060014
Downhill Brake Control assists the driver
to descend down a steep hill without
having to depress the brake pedal.
The system automatically applies the
brakes to maintain vehicle speed below
a certain speed and allows the driver
to concentrate on steering the vehicle
down hill.
The system is turned off whenever the
engine is turned off.
Press the button to turn on the system
and press the button again to turn it off.

06
6-53
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 t ravel 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.
)285:+((/'5,9(

06
6-57
For safe 4WD operation
Before driving

[Mak
e sure all passengers are wearing
seat belts.

[ Sit upright and closer to the steering
wheel than usual. Adjust the steering
wheel to a position comfortable for
you to drive.
Driving on snow-covered or icy roads

[ S
tart off slowly by applying the
accelerator pedal gently.

[ Use snow tires or tire chains.

[ Keep sufficient distance between your
vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

[ Apply engine braking during
deceleration by using the paddle
shifter (manual shift mode) and
manually selecting a lower gear.

[ Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration,
sudden brake applications, and sharp
turns to prevent skids.
Information
When using Snow Tires, mount them on
all four wheels.
If a full set of chains is not available for
an 4WD vehicle when using tire chains,
chains may be installed on the front wheels
only.
For more details on Snow Tires and Tire
Chains, refer to "Winter Driving" section
later in this chapter.
CAUTION
Mud or snow
If one of the front or rear wheels
begins to spin in mud, snow, etc., the
vehicle can sometimes be driven out by
engaging the accelerator pedal further;
however avoid running the engine
continuously at high rpm because doing
so could damage the AWD system.
Driving in sand or mud

[Maintain slo
w and constant speed.
Operate the accelerator pedal slowly
to ensure safe driving (wheel-slip
prevention).

[ Keep sufficient distance between your
vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

[ Reduce vehicle speed and always
check the road condition.

[ Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration,
sudden brake applications, and sharp
turns to prevent getting stuck.

[ When the vehicle is stuck in snow,
sand or mud, the tires may not
operate.

[ This is to protect the transmission and
not a malfunction.
NOTICE
Moving the vehicle forcibly to get out
of mud or sand can cause damage/
overheat of the engine or damage/
breakdown of the transmission,
differential or 4WD system as well as
damage to tires. If excessive wheel slip
occurs after entering a sandy/muddy
road, the vehicle may fall into the sand/
mud. When it happens, put a stone or
a tree branch under the tire, and then
try to pull out the vehicle, or try to get it
unstuck by repeatedly moving forwards
and backwards.

06
6-59
Driving through water

[T
ry to avoid driving in deep standing
water. It may stall your engine and
clog your exhaust pipes.

[ Do not change gear while driving in
water.
CAUTION
Always drive slowly in water. If you
drive too fast, water may get into the
engine compartment and wet the
ignition system causing your vehicle to
suddenly stop.
Additional driving conditions

[Become f
amiliar with the off-road
conditions before driving.

[ Always pay attention when driving off-
road and avoid dangerous areas.

[ Drive slowly when driving in heavy
wind.

[ Reduce vehicle speed when
cornering. The center of gravity
of 4WD vehicles is higher than
conventional 2WD vehicles, making
them more likely to roll over when you
rapidly turn corners.

[ Always hold the steering wheel firmly
when you are driving off-road.
WARNING
Do hold the steering wheel tightly
when you are driving off-road. You may
hurt your arm by a sudden steering
maneuver or from steering wheel
rebound due to an impact with objects
on the ground. You could lose control
of the steering wheel which may lead to
serious injury or death.
Emergency precautions
Tires
When replacing tires, be sure to equip
all four tires with the same size, type,
tread patterns, brand and load-carrying
capacity.
WARNING
Do not use tire and wheel with different
size and type from the one originally
installed on your vehicle. It can affect
the safety and performance of your
vehicle, which could lead to steering
failure or rollover causing serious injury.
In an emergency situation, a compact
spare tire (if equipped) or Tire Mobility
Kit (if equipped) may be used. But,
do not use the compact spare tire
continuously. Repair or replace the
original tire as soon as possible to avoid
failure of the differential or 4WD system.
WARNING
Never start or run the engine while
an 4WD vehicle is raised on a jack.
The vehicle can slip or roll off of a jack
causing serious injury or death to you or
those nearby.