2018 Hyundai Sonata Plugin Hybrid Owner’s Manual

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid is a forward-thinking version of the popular midsize car. It combines green technology with day-to-day usability in a way that works well. The Sonata Plug-in Hybrid had an advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain that gave it an electric driving range of about 27 miles. This allowed eco-friendly drivers to lower their carbon footprint on shorter commutes. Its hybrid system moved smoothly between electric and gas power, making sure that it was as efficient and fast as possible. Even though it was good for the environment, the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid kept the same comfort, style, and technology as the rest of the Sonata line. This made it an attractive choice for people who want to drive a car that is good for the environment but is also flexible and fun to drive.

SEAT BELTS

This section describes how to use the seat belts properly. It also describes some of the things not to do when using seat belts.

Seat Belt Safety Precautions
Always fasten your seat belt and make sure all passengers have fas-tened their seat belts before starting any trip. Air bags are designed to supplement the seat belt as an addi-tional safety device, but they are not a substitute. Most states require all occupants of a vehicle to wear seat belts.

WARNING
Seat belts must be used by ALL passengers whenever the vehi-cle is moving.
Take the following precautions when adjusting and wearing seat belts:

• ALWAYS properly restrain children under age 13 in the rear seats.
• NEVER allow children to ride in the front passenger seat. If a child age 13 or older must be seated in the front seat, move the seat as far back as possi-ble and properly restrain them in the seat.
• NEVER allow an infant or child to be carried on an occupant’s lap.
• NEVER ride with the backseat reclined when the vehicle is moving.
• Do not allow children to share a seat or seat belt.
• Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.
• Always wear both the shoul-der portion and lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
• Do not use the seat belt if it is twisted. A twisted seat belt will not protect you properly in an accident.
• Do not use a seat belt if the webbing or hardware is dam-aged.
• Do not latch the seat belt into the buckles of other seats.
• NEVER unfasten the seat belt while driving. This may cause loss of vehicle control result-ing in an accident.
• Make sure there is nothing in the buckle interfering with the seat belt latch mechanism. This may prevent the seat belt from fastening securely.
• No modifications or additions should be made by the user which will either prevent the seat belt adjusting devices from operating to remove slack, or prevent the seat belt assembly from being adjusted to remove slack.

Damaged seat belts and seat belt assemblies will not operate properly. Always replace:

• Frayed, contaminated, or damaged webbing
• Damaged hardware
• The entire seat belt assembly after it has been worn in an accident, even if damage to webbing or assembly is not apparent

Seat Belt Warning Light
Seat belt warning light (for driver’s seat) The driver’s seat belt warning light and chime will come on according to the following table when the ignition switch is in the ON position.

Seat belt warning light (for front passenger’s seat)
The front passenger’s seat belt warning light will activate to the fol-lowing table when the ignition switch is in “ON” position.

Seat Belt Restraint System
Seat Belt-Driver’s 3-point sys-tem with emergency locking retractor

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. You should place the lap belt (1) por-tion across your hips and the shoul-der 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.

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 four different positions for maximum comfort and safety. The shoulder portion should be adjusted so it lies across your chest and midway over your shoulder near-est 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. To raise the height adjuster, pull it up (1). To lower it, push it down (3) while pressing the height adjuster button (2). Release the button to lock the anchor into position. Try sliding the height adjuster to make sure that it has locked into position.

WARNING
Improperly positioned seat belts may increase the risk of serious injury in an accident.Take the fol-lowing precautions when adjust-ing 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 illus-tration.
• Always position the shoulder belt anchor into the locked position at the appropriate height.
• Never position the shoulder belt across your neck or face.

Rear Seat Belt – Passenger’s 3-point system with convertible locking retractor
This type of seat belt combines the features of both an emergency locking retractor seat belt and an automatic locking retractor seat belt. Convertible retractor type seat belts are installed in the rear seat positions to help accom-modate the installation of child restraint systems. Although a convert-ible retractor is also installed in the front passenger seat position, NEVER place any infant/child restraint system in the front seat of the vehicle.

To fasten your seat belt:
Pull the seat belt out of the retractor and insert the metal tab into the buck-le. 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 automati-cally 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 installa-tion 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 protec-tion for seated passengers in either emergency or automatic locking modes, the emergency locking mode allows seated pas sengers to move freely in their seat while keeping some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop, the retractor auto-matically locks the belt to help restrain your body. To deactivate the automatic lock-ing mode, allow the unbuckled seat belt to fully retract.

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 twist-ed, then try again.

Pre-tensioner seat belt (Driver and front passenger)
Retractor Pre-tensioner Your vehicle is equipped with driver’s and front passenger’s Pre-tensioner Seat Belts. The purpose of the pre-tensioner is to make sure the seat belts fit tightly against the occupant’s body in certain frontal collisions. The pre-tensioner seat belts may be acti-vated in crashes where the frontal col-lision is severe enough. If the system senses excessive ten-sion on the driver’s or passenger’s seat belt when the pre-tensioner acti-vates, the load limiter inside the pre-tensioner will release some of the pressure on the affected seat belt. 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 collisions, the pre-tensioner will acti-vate and pull the seat belt into tighter contact against the occupant’s body.

Seat Belt Anchor Pre-tensioner
The purpose of the Seat Belt Anchor Pre-tensioner is to help the lap belt fit tightly against the occupant’s lower body in certain frontal collisions. The Seat Belt Anchor Pre-tensioner may be activated in certain crashes where the frontal collision is severe enough.

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 pro-tect you properly in an acci-dent.
• Do not place anything near the buckle. This may adversely affect the buckle and cause it to function improperly.
• Always replace your pre-ten-sioners after activation or an accident.
• NEVER inspect, service, repair or replace the pre-tensioners yourself. This must be done by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
• Do not hit the seat belt assem-blies.

FAQ