2023 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID Owners Manual

Safety System
3-20
Seat Belt Warning Light
Seat belt warning light
(for driver’s seat)
ODN8039070LODN8039070L
As a reminder to the driver, the seat
belt warning light will illuminate for
approximately 6 seconds each time
you place the ignition switch to the ON
position regardless of belt fastening.
However, if the seat belt is Unfastened,
a warning chime will sound for
approximately 6 seconds.
If you continue not to fasten the seat
belt and you drive at 6 mph (9 km/h) or
more but less than 12mph (20 km/h), the
warning light will stay illuminated.
If you continue not to fasten the seat
belt and you drive over 12 mph (20 km/h)
the seat belt warning chime will sound
for approximately 100 seconds and the
corresponding warning light will blink.
If you unfasten the seat belt while driving
under 12 mph (20 km/h), the seat belt
warning light will illuminate until the seat
belt is fastened.
If you unfasten the seat belt while
driving over 12 mph (20 km/h), the
seat belt warning chime will sound for
approximately 100 seconds and the
corresponding warning light will blink.
Seat belt warning light
(for front passenger’s seat)
As a reminder to the front passenger,
the front passenger’s seat belt warning
lights will illuminate for approximately 6
seconds each time you place the ignition
switch to the ON position regardless of
belt fastening.
If you continue not to fasten the seat
belt and you drive at 6 mph (9 km/h) or
more but less than 12mph (20 km/h), the
warning light will stay illuminated.
If you continue not to fasten the seat
belt and you drive over 12 mph (20 km/h)
the seat belt warning chime will sound
for approximately 100 seconds and the
corresponding warning light will blink.
If you unfasten the seat belt while driving
under 12 mph (20 km/h) the seat belt
warning light will illuminate until the seat
belt is fastened.
If you unfasten the seat belt while
driving over 12 mph (20 km/h), the
seat belt warning chime will sound for
approximately 100 seconds and the
corresponding warning light will blink.
WARNING
The front passenger’s seat belt warning
light may not properly operate if the
front passenger does not sit properly in
the seat.
If you place an object on the passenger
seat or back seat or under the seats,
the warning chime may sound. Please
remove the object if the chime sounds.

03
3-21
Seat Belt Restraint System
WARNING
Improperly positioned seat belts may
increase the risk of serious injury
in an accident. Take the following
precautions when adjusting the seat
belt:
• Position the lap portion of the seat
belt as low as possible across your
hips, not on your waist, so that it fits
snugly.
• Position one arm under the shoulder
belt and the other over the belt, as
shown in the illustration.
• Always position the shoulder belt
anchor into the locked position at the
appropriate height.
• NEVER position the shoulder belt
across your neck or face.
Seat Belt-Driver’s 3-point system
with emergency locking retractor
OHI038140OHI038140
To fasten your seat belt:
Pull the seat belt out of the retractor and
insert the metal tab (1) into the buckle
(2). There will be an audible “click” when
the tab locks into the buckle.
OHI038137OHI038137
You should place the lap belt (1) portion
across your hips and the shoulder belt (2)
portion across your chest.
The seat belt automatically adjusts to the
proper length after the lap belt portion
is adjusted manually so that it fits snugly
around your hips. If you lean forward in
a slow, easy motion, the belt will extend
and move with you.
If there is a sudden stop or impact, the
belt will lock into position. It will also lock
if you try to lean forward too quickly.

Safety System
3-22
NOTICE
If you are not able to smoothly pull
enough of the seat belt out from the
retractor, firmly pull the seat belt out
and release it. After release, you will be
able to pull the belt out smoothly.
Height adjustment
You can adjust the height of the shoulder
belt anchor to one of the three different
positions for maximum comfort and
safety. The shoulder portion should be
adjusted so it lies across your chest and
midway over your shoulder nearest the
door, not over your neck. To adjust the
height of the seat belt anchor, lower
or raise the height adjuster into an
appropriate position.

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.
OHI038142OHI038142
To release your seat belt:
Press the release button (1) in the locking
buckle.
When it is released, the belt should
automatically draw back into the
retractor. If this does not happen, check
the belt to be sure it is not twisted, then
try again.
Rear center seat belt
ODN8039074LODN8039074L
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.

Safety System
3-24
Pre-tensioner seat belt
(Driver and front passenger)
OHI038143L OHI038143L
Your vehicle is equipped with driver’s
and front passenger’s Pre-tensioner
Seat Belts (Retractor Pre-tensioner). The
purpose of the pre-tensioner is to make
sure the seat belts fit tightly against the
occupant’s body in certain frontal or side
collision(s).
When the vehicle stops suddenly, or
if the occupant tries to lean forward
too quickly, the seat belt retractor will
lock into position. In certain frontal or
side collision(s), the pre-tensioner will
activate and pull the seat belt into tighter
contact against the occupant’s body.
If the system senses excessive tension
on the driver or passenger’s seat belt
when the pre-tensioner system activates,
the load limiter inside the retractor
pre-tensioner will release some of the
pressure on the affected seat belt.
WARNING
• Always wear your seat belt and sit
properly in your seat.
• Do not use the seat belt if it is loose
or twisted. A loose or twisted seat
belt will not protect you properly in
an accident.
• Do not place anything near the
buckle. This may adversely affect
the buckle and cause it to function
improperly.
• Always replace your pre-tensioners
after activation or an accident.
• NEVER inspect, service, repair
or replace the pre-tensioners by
yourself. This must be done by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
• Do not hit the seat belt assemblies.
WARNING
Do not touch the pre-tensioner seat
belt assemblies for several minutes
after they have been activated. When
the pre-tensioner seat belt mechanism
deploys during a collision, the pre-
tensioners become hot and can burn
you.

03
3-25
OHI038175LOHI038175L
The Pre-Tensioner Seat Belt System
consists mainly of the following
components. Their locations are shown
in the illustration above:
1. SRS air bag warning light
2. Retractor pre-tensioner
3. SRS control module
NOTICE
The sensor that activates the SRS air
bag is connected with the pre-tensioner
seat belts. The SRS air bag warning light
on the instrument panel will illuminate
for approximately 6 seconds after the
ignition switch is in the ON position,
and then it should turn off.
If the pre-tensioner is not working
properly, the warning light will
illuminate even if the SRS air bag is not
malfunctioning. If the warning light
does not illuminate, stays illuminated
or illuminates when the vehicle is being
driven, have an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer inspect the pre-tensioner seat
belts and SRS air bags as soon as
possible.
NOTICE
• Both the driver’s and front
passenger’s pre-tensioner seat belts
may be activated in certain frontal or
side collisions or rollovers.
• When the pre-tensioner seat belts
are activated, a loud noise may be
heard and fine dust, which may
appear to be smoke, may be visible in
the passenger compartment. These
are normal operating conditions and
are not hazardous.
• Although it is non-toxic, the fine
dust may cause skin irritation and
should not be inhaled for prolonged
periods. Wash all exposed skin areas
thoroughly after an accident in
which the pre-tensioner seat belts
were activated.
WARNING
• Fasten your seat belt while sitting
properly in an upright position to
maximize the effectiveness of the
pre-tensioner seat belt system.
• A pre-tensioner seat belt system
is designed to activate only once.
Replace the pre-tensioner seat belt
system, if it was activated in an
accident.

Safety System
3-26
Additional Seat Belt Safety
Precautions
Seat belt use during pregnancy
The seat belt should always be used
during pregnancy. The best way to
protect your unborn child is to protect
yourself by always wearing the seat belt.
Pregnant women should always wear
a lap-shoulder seat belt. Place the
shoulder belt across your chest, routed
between your breasts and away from
your neck. Place the lap belt line so
that it fits snugly and as low as possible
across the hips, not across the abdomen.
WARNING
• Pregnant women and patients are
more vulnerable to any impacts on
the abdomen during an abrupt stop
or accident. If you are in an accident
while pregnant, consult your doctor.
• To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death to an unborn child during an
accident, pregnant women should
NEVER place the lap portion of the
seat belt above or over the area of
the abdomen where the unborn child
is located.
Seat belt use and children
Infant and small children
All 50 states have child restraint laws
which require children to travel in
approved child restraint devices,
including booster seats. The age 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. Infant and child
restraints must be properly placed
and installed in a rear seat. For more
information refer to the “Child Restraint
Systems” section in this chapter.
WARNING
ALWAYS properly restrain infants
and small children in a child restraint
appropriate for the child’s height and
weight.
To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death to a child and other passengers,
NEVER hold a child in your lap or arms
when the vehicle is moving. The violent
forces created during an accident will
tear the child from your arms and throw
the child against the interior of the
vehicle.
Small children are best protected
from injury in an accident when
properly restrained in the rear seat
by a child restraint system that meets
the requirements of the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards. Before buying
any child restraint system, make sure
that it has a label certifying that it meets
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
FMVSS 213. The restraint must be
appropriate for your child’s height and
weight. Check the label on the child
restraint for this information. Refer to the
“Child Restraint Systems” section in this
chapter.

03
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.