2023 HYUNDAI TUCSON ESP

Driving your vehicle
6-34
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. If the light stays
on, you may have a problem with your
ABS. We recommend that you contact an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as
possible.

Driving your vehicle
6-36
ESC operation
ESC ON condition
When the Engine Start/Stop button is
in the ON position, ESC and the ESC
OFF indicator lights illuminate for
approximately three seconds. After both
lights go off, ESC is enabled.
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)” section in chapter 7 (if
equipped).
• 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. ESC OFF condition
To cancel ESC operation:
• State 1
Press the ESC OFF button briefly. The
ESC OFF indicator light and/or message
'Traction Control disabled' will illuminate.
In this state, the traction control function
of ESC (engine management) is disabled,
but the brake control function of ESC
(braking management) still operates.
• State 2
Press and hold the ESC OFF button
continuously for more than 3 seconds.
The ESC OFF indicator light and/or
message 'Traction & Stability Control
disabled' illuminates and a warning
chime sounds. In this state, both the
traction control function of ESC (engine
management) and the brake control
function of ESC (braking management)
are disabled.
If the Engine Start/Stop button is pressed
to the OFF position when ESC is off, ESC
remains off. Upon restarting the vehicle,
ESC will automatically turn on again.

Driving your vehicle
6-38
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 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
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.

Driving your vehicle
6-52
ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) (IF EQUIPPED)
„„Type A
ONX4060013
„„Type B
ONX4E060031
The All Wheel Drive (AWD) System
delivers engine power to all front and
rear wheels for maximum traction. AWD
is useful when extra traction is required
on roads such slippery, muddy, wet, or
snow-covered roads.
Occasional off-road use such as
established unpaved roads and trails are
OK. It is always important that the driver
carefully reduces the speed to a level
that does not exceed the safe operating
speed for those conditions.
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" in
chapter 7).
• 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 AWD
vehicle is tow ed by a flat bed tow
truck.

Driving your vehicle
6-54
WARNING
If AWD warning light () stays on
the instrument cluster, your vehicle
may have a malfunction with the AWD
system. When the AWD warning light
(
) illuminates we recommend that
the vehicle be checked by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.
NOTICE
• Maintain AWD Auto mode when
driving on roads in normal
conditions.
• When driving under normal road
conditions (especially when
cornering) in AWD Lock mode, a
driver may find minor mechanical
vibration or noise, which is extremely
normal phenomenon, not a
malfunction. When AWD Lock mode
is released, such noise or vibration
will be immediately gone.
CAUTION
When driving on normal roads,
deactivate the AWD LOCK mode by
pushing the AWD LOCK button (AWD
LOCK indicator light goes off). Driving
on normal roads with the AWD LOCK
mode, especially, when cornering
may cause mechanical noise or
vibration. The noise and vibration will
disappear when the AWD LOCK mode
is deactivated. Prolong driving with the
noise and vibration may damage some
parts of the power train.
NOTICE
When the AWD LOCK mode is
deactivated, a sensation may be felt as
the driving power is delivered entirely
to the front wheels.
For safe AWD operation
Before driving
• Make 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
• Start 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.
• Use engine braking during
deceleration.
• Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration,
sudden brake applications, and sharp
turns to prevent skids.
Driving in sand or mud
• Maintain slow and constant speed.
• Use tire chains driving in mud if
necessary.
• 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.
CAUTION
When the vehicle is stuck in snow, sand
or mud, place a non-slip material under
the drive wheels to provide traction
OR Slowly spin the wheels in forward
and reverse directions which causes
a rocking motion that may free the
vehicle. However, avoid running the
engine continuously at high RPM, doing
so may damage the AWD system.

06
6-59
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 Tread” section
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 Tread” section in chapter 9.

Driving your vehicle
6-70
Safety chains
You should always attach chains between
your vehicle and your trailer.
Instructions about safety chains may
be provided by the hitch manufacturer
or trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains. Always leave just
enough slack so you can turn with your
trailer. And, never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to
your country’s regulations and that
it is properly installed and operating
correctly.
If your trailer weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trailer
brakes loaded, then it needs its own
brakes and they must be adequate. Be
sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes so you’ll be able
to install, adjust and maintain them
properly. Be sure not to modify your
vehicle’s brake system.
WARNING
Do not use a trailer with its own brakes
unless you are absolutely certain that
you have properly set up the brake
system. This is not a task for amateurs.
Use an experienced, competent trailer
shop for this work.
Driving with a trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting
out for the open road, you must get to
know your trailer. Acquaint yourself with
the feel of handling and braking with the
added weight of the trailer. And always
keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical
connector(s), lights, tires and brakes.
During your trip, occasionally check
to be sure that the load is secure, and
that the lights and trailer brakes are still
working.
Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when driving
your vehicle without a trailer. This can
help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You will need more passing distance up
ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And,
because of the increased vehicle length,
you’ll need to go much farther beyond
the passed vehicle before you can return
to your lane.

Driving your vehicle
6-72
NOTICE
To prevent engine and/or transmission
overheating:
• When towing a trailer on steep
grades (in excess of 6%) pay close
attention to the engine coolant
temperature gauge to ensure the
engine does not overheat. If the
needle of the coolant temperature
gauge moves towards “H” (HOT),
pull over and stop as soon as it is
safe to do so, and allow the engine
to idle until it cools down. You may
proceed once the engine has cooled
sufficiently.
• If you tow a trailer with the maximum
gross vehicle weight and maximum
trailer weight, it can cause the
engine or transmission to overheat.
When driving in such conditions,
allow the engine to idle until it cools
down. You may proceed once the
engine or transmission has cooled
sufficiently.
• When towing a trailer, your vehicle
speed may be much slower than the
general flow of traffic, especially
when climbing an uphill grade. Use
the right hand lane when towing a
trailer on an uphill grade. Choose
your vehicle speed according to the
maximum posted speed limit for
vehicles with trailers, the steepness
of the grade, and your trailer weight.
Parking on hills
Generally, if you have a trailer attached
to your vehicle, you should not park your
vehicle on a hill.
However, if you ever have to park your
trailer on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Pull the vehicle into the parking space.
Turn the steering wheel in the
direction of the curb (right if headed
down hill, left if headed up hill).
2. Shift the gear to P (Park).
3. Set the parking brake and shut off the
vehicle.
4. Place wheel chocks under the trailer
wheels on the down hill side of the
wheels.
5. Start the vehicle, hold the brakes, shift
to neutral, release the parking brake
and slowly release the brakes until the
trailer chocks absorb the load.
6. Reapply the brakes and parking
brakes.
7. Shift the gear to P (Park) when the
vehicle is parked on a uphill grade and
in R (Reverse) on a downhill.
8. Shut off the vehicle and release the
vehicle brakes but leave the parking
brake set.
WARNING
To prevent serious or fatal injury:
• Do not get out of the vehicle without
the parking brake firmly set. If you
have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You and
others could be seriously or fatally
injured.
• Do not apply the accelerator pedal to
hold the vehicle on an uphill.