2023 HYUNDAI SONATA Owners Manual

Seats & Safety System
3-44
•
In addition to inflating in certain side
collisions, vehicles equipped with a
rollover sensor, side and curtain air
bags will inflate if the sensing system
detects a rollover.
When a rollover is detected, side and
curtain air bags will remain inflated
longer to help provide protection
from ejection, especially when used in
conjunction with the seat belts.
• To help provide protection, the air
bags must inflate rapidly. The speed
of air bag inflation is a consequence
of extremely short time in which
to inflate the air bag between the
occupant and the vehicle structures
before the occupant impacts those
structures. This speed of inflation
reduces the risk of serious or life-
threatening injuries and is thus a
necessary part of air bag design.
However, the rapid air bag inflation can also cause injuries which can
include facial abrasions, bruises and
broken bones because the inflation
speed also causes the air bags to
expand with a great deal of force.
• There are even circumstances under
which contact with the air bag can
cause fatal injuries, especially if the
occupant is positioned excessively
close to the air bag.
You can take steps to help reduce the
risk of being injured by an inflating air
bag. The greatest risk is sitting too close
to the air bag. An air bag needs space to
inflate. It is recommended that drivers sit
as far as possible between the center of
the steering wheel and the chest while
still maintaining control of the vehicle.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death from an inflating air bag, take the
following precautions: • NEVER place a child restraint in the
front passenger seat.
Always properly restrain children
under age 13 in the rear seats of the
vehicle.
• Adjust the front passenger’s and
driver’s seats as far to the rear as
possible while allowing you to
maintain full control of the vehicle.
• Hold the steering wheel with
hands at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions.
• NEVER place anything or anyone
between the air bag and the seat
occupant.
• Do not allow the front passenger
to place their feet or legs on the
dashboard.

03
3-45
„„Driver’s front air bag (1)
ODN8039077L
When the SRSCM detects a sufficiently
severe impact to the front of the vehicle,
it will automatically deploy the front air bags.
„„Driver’s front air bag (2)
ODN8039078L
Upon deployment, tear seams molded
directly into the pad covers will separate
under pressure from the expansion of the
air bags. Further opening of the covers
allows full inflation of the air bags.
A fully inflated air bag, in combination
with a properly worn seat belt, slows the
driver or the front passenger forward
motion, reducing the risk of head and
chest injury.
„„Driver’s front air bag (3)
ODN8039079L
„„Passenger’s front air bag
ODN8039080L
After complete inflation, the air bag
immediately starts deflating, enabling
the driver to maintain forward visibility
and the ability to steer or operate other
controls.
WARNING
To prevent objects from becoming
dangerous projectiles when the
passenger’s air bag inflates: • Do not install or place any objects
(drink holder, CD holder, stickers,
etc.) on the front passenger’s panel
above the glove box where the
passenger’s air bag is located.
• Do not install a container of liquid
air freshener near the instrument
cluster or on the instrument panel
surface.

Seats & Safety System
3-46
What to Expect After an Air Bag
Inflates
After a frontal or side air bag inflates, it
will deflate very quickly. Air bag inflation
will not prevent the driver from seeing
out of the windshield or being able
to steer. Curtain air bags may remain
partially inflated for some time after they
deploy.
WARNING
After an air bag inflates, take the
following precautions: • Open your windows and doors as
soon as possible after impact to
reduce prolonged exposure to the
smoke and powder released by the
inflating air bag.
• Do not touch the air bag storage
area’s internal components
immediately after an air bag has
inflated. The parts that come into
contact with an inflating air bag may
be very hot.
• Always wash exposed skin areas
thoroughly with cold water and mild soap.
• Always have an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer replace the air bag
immediately after deployment. Air
bags are designed to be used only
once. Noise and smoke from inflating air bag
When the air bags inflate, they make a
loud noise and may produce smoke and
powder in the air inside of the vehicle.
This is normal and is a result of the
ignition of the air bag inflator. After the
air bag inflates, you may feel substantial
discomfort in breathing because of the
contact of your chest with both the seat
belt and the air bag, as well as from
breathing the smoke and powder. The
powder may aggravate asthma for some
people. If you experience breathing
problems after an air bag deployment,
seek medical attention immediately.
Though the smoke and powder are
nontoxic, they may cause irritation to
the skin, eyes, nose, throat, etc. If this is
the case, wash and rinse with cold water
immediately and seek medical attention
if the symptoms persist.

03
3-47
Occupant Classification System
(OCS)
ODN8A039038
Your vehicle is equipped with an
Occupant Classification System (OCS) in
the front passenger’s seat.
Main components of the Occupant
Classification System • A detection device located within the
front passenger seat cushion.
• Electronic system to determine
whether the passenger air bag
systems should be activated or
deactivated.
• An indicator light located on the
instrument panel which illuminates
the words “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
indicating the front passenger air bag
system is deactivated.
• The instrument panel air bag indicator
light is interconnected with the OCS.
The OCS is designed to help detect
the presence of a properly-seated
front passenger and determine if the
passenger’s front air bag should be
enabled (may inflate) or not.
The purpose is to help reduce the risk
of injury or death from an inflating air
bag to certain front passenger seat
occupants, such as children, by requiring
the air bag to be automatically turned
OFF. For example, if a child restraint of the
type specified in the regulations is on the
seat, the occupant classification sensor
can detect it and cause the air bag to
turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants
who are properly seated and wearing the
seat belt properly, should not cause the
passenger air bag to be automatically
turned OFF. For small adults it may be
turned OFF, however, if the occupant
does not sit in the seat properly (for
example, by not sitting upright, by sitting
on the edge of the seat, or by otherwise
being out of position), this could cause
the sensor to turn the air bag OFF.
You will find the “PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF” indicator on the center fascia
panel. This system detects the conditions
1-4 in the following table and activates or
deactivates the front passenger air bag based on these conditions.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle
occupants are seated properly and
wearing the seat belt properly for the
most effective protection by the air bag
and the seat belt.
The OCS may not function properly if the
passenger takes actions which can affect
the classification system. These include: •
Failing to sit in an upright position.
• Leaning against the door or center console.
• Sitting towards the sides of the front
of the seat.
• Putting their legs on the dashboard or
resting them on other locations which
reduce the passenger weight on the
front seat.
• Wearing the seat belt improperly.
• Reclining the seatback.
• Wearing a thick cloth like ski wear or
hip protection wear.
• Putting an additional thick cushion on
the seat.
• Putting electrical devices (e.g.
notebook, satellite radio) on the seat
with inverter charging.

Seats & Safety System
3-48
Condition and operation in the front passenger Occupant Classification System
Condition detected by the
occupant classification system Indicator/Warning light Devices
“PASSENGER
AIR BAG OFF”
indicator light SRS warning
light Front passenger
air bag
1. Adult *1
Off Off Activated
2. Infant *2
or child restraint
system with 12 months old
*3 *4 On Off Deactivated
3. Unoccupied On Off Deactivated
4. Malfunction in the system Off On Activated
*1 : The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the
front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as a child depending on his/her
physique and posture.
*2 : Do not allow children to ride in the front passenger seat. When a larger child who has
outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat, the system may
recognize him/her as an adult depending upon his/her physique or sitting position.
*3 : Never install a child restraint system on the front passenger seat.
*4 : The PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator may turn on or off when a child above 12
months to 12 years old (with or without child restraint system) sits in the front passenger
seat. This is a normal condition.

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3-49
WARNING
Riding in an improper position or placing weight on the front passenger’s seat when
it is unoccupied by a passenger adversely affects the OCS. To reduce the risk of
serious injury or death:
OVQ036013NB •
NEVER put a heavy load in the front seat or seatback
pocket, or hang any items on the front passenger
seat.
OLMB033100 •
NEVER place your feet on the front passenger
seatback.
OLMB033101 •
NEVER sit with your hips shifted towards the front of
the seat.
OLMB033103 •
NEVER ride with the seatback reclined when the
vehicle is moving.
OLMB033102 •
NEVER place your feet or legs on the dashboard.

Seats & Safety System
3-50
OLMB033104•
NEVER lean on the door or center console or sit on
one side of the front passenger seat.
ODH035900K •
Do not sit on the passenger seat wearing heavily
padded clothes such as ski wear and hip protector.
ODH035901K •
Do not use car seat accessories such as thick blankets
and cushions which cover up the car seat surface.
OHI038161 •
Do not place electronic devices such as laptops, DVD
player, or conductive materials such as water bottles
on the passenger seat.
• Do not use electronic devices such as laptops and
satellite radios which use inverter chargers.
OHI038162 •
If large quantity of liquid has been spilled on the
passenger seat, the air bag warning light may
illuminate or malfunction.
Therefore, make sure the seat has been completely
dried before driving the vehicle.
• Do not place sharp objects on the front passenger seat. These may damage the
occupant detection system, if they puncture the seat cushion.
• Do not place any items under the front passenger seat.
• When changing or replacing the seat or seat cover, use original items only.
The OCS has been developed based on using original HYUNDAI car seats only.
Altering or changing the authentic parts may result in system malfunction and
increase risk of injury when in collision. Any of the above could interfere with the
proper operation of the OCS sensor thereby increasing the risk of an injury in an
accident.

03
3-51
OHI038118
Proper seated position for OCS
If the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
indicator is on when an adult is seated
in the front passenger seat, place the
Engine Start/Stop button in the OFF
position and ask the passenger to sit
properly (sitting upright with the seat
back in an upright position, centered
on the seat cushion with their seat belt
on, legs comfortably extended and their
feet on the floor). Restart the engine and
have the person remain in that position.
This will allow the system to detect the
person and to enable the passenger air
bag. If the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
indicator is still on, ask the passenger to
move to the rear seat.
WARNING
NEVER allow an adult passenger to ride
in the front passenger seat when the
“PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator
is illuminated. During a collision, the
air bag will not inflate if the indicator
is illuminated. Have your passenger
reposition themselves in the seat. If the
“PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator
remains illuminated after the passenger
repositions themselves properly
and the vehicle is restarted, have
the passenger move to the rear seat
because the air bag will not inflate.
NOTICE
The “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
indicator illuminates for approximately
4 seconds after the Engine Start/
Stop button is in the ON position or
after the engine is started. If the front
passenger seat is occupied, the OCS will
then classify the front passenger after
several more seconds.