2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner’s Manual — Air bag - supplemental restraint system

1. Driver’s front air bag
2. Passenger’s front air bag
3. Side air bag
4. Curtain air bag

The vehicles are equipped with a Supplemental Air Bag System for the driver’s seat and front passenger’s seats.

The front air bags are designed to supplement the three-point seat belts. For these air bags to provide protection, the seat belts must be worn at all times when driving.

You can be severely injured or killed in an accident if you are not wearing a seat belt. Air bags are designed to supplement seat belts, but do not replace them. Also, air bags are not designed to deploy in every collision. In some accidents, the seat belts are the only restraint protecting you.

WARNING

AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

ALWAYS use seat belts Child Restraint Systems - every trip, every time, everyone! Even with air bags, you can be seriously injured or killed in a collision if you are improperly belted or not wearing your seat belt when the air bag inflates.

NEVER place a child in any Child Restraint System or booster seat in the front passenger seat, unless the air bag is deactivated.

An inflating air bag could forcefully strike the infant or child causing serious or fatal injuries.

ABC - Always Buckle Children under age 13 in the back seat. It is the safest place for children of any age to ride. If a child age 13 or older must be seated in the front seat, he or she must be properly belted and the seat should be moved as far back as possible.

All occupants should sit upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor until the vehicle is parked and the vehicle is turned off. If an occupant is out of position during an accident, the rapidly deploying air bag may forcefully contact the occupant causing serious or fatal injuries.

You and your passengers should never sit or lean unnecessarily close to the air bags or lean against the door or center console.

Move your seat as far back as possible from front air bags, while still maintaining control of the vehicle. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center of the steering wheel and the chest.

Where are the air bags?

Driver’s and passenger’s front air bags

Your vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and lap/shoulder belts at both the driver and passenger seating positions.

The SRS consists of air bags which are located in the center of the steering wheel and the passenger’s side front panel pad above the glove box.

The air bags are labeled with the letters “AIR BAG” embossed on the pad covers.

The purpose of the SRS is to provide the vehicle’s driver and front passengers with additional protection than that offered by the seat belt system alone in case of a frontal impact of sufficient severity.

The SRS uses sensors to gather information about the driver’s and front passenger's seat belt usage and impact severity.

The seat belt buckle sensors determine if the driver and front passenger's seat belts are fastened. These sensors provide the ability to control the SRS deployment based on whether or not the seat belts are fastened, and how severe the impact is.

The advanced SRS offers the ability to control the air bag inflation within two levels. A first stage level is provided for moderate-severity impacts. A second stage level is provided for more severe impacts.

According to the impact severity, and seat belt usage, the SRS Control Module (SRSCM) controls the air bag inflation. Failure to properly wear seat belts can increase the risk or severity of injury in an accident.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death from inflating front air bags, take the following precautions:

• Seat belts must be worn at all times to help keep occupants positioned properly.
• Move your seat as far back as possible from front air bags, while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
• Never lean against the door or center console.
• Do not allow the front passenger to place their feet or legs on the dashboard.
• No objects (such as crash pad cover, mobile phone holder, cup holder, perfume or stickers) should be placed over or near the air bag modules on the steering wheel, instrument panel, windshield glass, and the front passenger’s panel above the glove box. Such objects could cause harm if the vehicle is in a crash severe enough to cause the air bags to deploy.
• Do not attach any objects on the front windshield and inside mirror.

Side air bags

Your vehicle is equipped with a side air bag in each front seat. The purpose of the air bag is to provide the vehicle’s driver and the front passenger with additional protection than that offered by the seat belt alone.

The side air bags are designed to deploy during certain side impact collisions, depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and point of impact.

The side air bags on both sides of the vehicle are designed to deploy when a rollover is detected by a rollover sensor. (if equipped with rollover sensor)

The side air bags are not designed to deploy in all side impact or rollover situations.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death from an inflating side air bag and front center air bag, take the following precautions:

• Seat belts must be worn at all times to help keep occupants positioned properly.
• Do not allow passengers to lean their heads or bodies onto doors, put their arms on the doors, stretch their arms out of the window, or place objects between the doors and seats.
• Hold the steering wheel at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions, to minimize the risk of injuries to your hands and arms.
• Do not use any accessory seat covers. This could reduce or prevent the effectiveness of the system.
• Do not hang other objects except clothes. In an accident it may cause vehicle damage or personal injury especially when air bag is inflated.
• Do not place any objects over the air bag or between the air bag and yourself. Also, do not attach any objects around the area the air bag inflates such as the door, side door glass, front and rear pillar.
• Do not place any objects between the door and the seat. They may become dangerous projectiles if the side air bag inflates.
• Do not install any accessories on the side or near the side air bags.
• Do not cause impact to the doors when the Engine Start/Stop button is in the ON or START position as this may cause the side air bags to inflate.
• If the seat or seat cover is damaged, have the system be serviced by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

Curtain air bags

Curtain air bags are located along both sides of the roof rails above the front and rear doors.

They are designed to help protect the heads of the front seat occupants and the rear outboard seat occupants in certain side impact collisions.

The curtain air bags are designed to deploy during certain side impact collisions, depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and impact.

For vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor the side and/or curtain air bags and pre-tensioners on both sides of the vehicle may deploy if a rollover or possible rollover is detected.

The curtain air bags are not designed to deploy in all side impact or rollover situations.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death from an inflating curtain air bag, take the following precautions:

• All seat occupants must wear seat belts at all times to help keep occupants positioned properly.
• Properly secure Child Restraint System as far away from the door as possible.
• Do not place any objects over the air bag. Also, do not attach any objects around the area the air bag inflates such as the door, side door glass, front and rear pillar, roof side rail.
• Do not hang other objects except clothes, especially hard or breakable objects. In an accident, it may cause vehicle damage or personal injury.
• Do not allow passengers to lean their heads or bodies onto doors, put their arms on the doors, stretch their arms out of the window, or place objects between the doors and seats.
• Do not attempt to open or repair the side curtain air bags yourself. If necessary, have the air bag inspected by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

How does the air bags system operate?

The SRS consists of the following components:

(1) Driver's front air bag module
(2) Passenger's front air bag module
(3) Side air bag modules
(4) Curtain air bag modules
(5) Retractor pre-tensioner
(6) Air bag warning light
(7) SRS control module (SRSCM)/ Rollover sensor
(8) Front impact sensors
(9) Side impact sensors
(10) Side pressure sensors
(11) Seat belt buckle sensor
(12) Emergency fastening device system
(13) Occupant classification system

The SRSCM continually monitors all SRS components while the ignition switch is ON to determine if a crash impact is severe enough to require air bag deployment or pre-tensioner seat belt deployment.

SRS warning light

The SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) air bag warning light on the instrument panel displays the air bag symbol depicted in the illustration. The system checks the air bag electrical system for malfunctions. The light indicates that there is a potential problem with your air bag system, which could include your side and/or curtain air bags used for rollover protection (if equipped with rollover sensor).

WARNING

If your SRS malfunctions, the air bag may not inflate properly during an accident, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

If any of the following conditions occur, your SRS is malfunctioning:

• The light does not turn on for approximately three to six seconds when the Engine Start/Stop button is in the ON position.
• The light stays on after illuminating for approximately three to six seconds.
• The light comes on while the vehicle is in motion.
• The light blinks when the engine is running.
• Have an authorized HYUNDAI dealer inspect the SRS as soon as possible if any of these conditions occur.

During a moderate to severe frontal collision, sensors will detect the vehicle’s rapid deceleration. If the rate of deceleration is high enough, the control unit will inflate the front air bags, at the time and with the force needed.

The front air bags help protect the driver and front passenger by responding to frontal impacts in which seat belts alone cannot provide adequate restraint. When needed, the side air bags help provide protection in the event of a side impact or rollover by supporting the side upper body area.

• Air bags are activated (able to inflate if necessary) only when the Engine Start/Stop button is in the ON or START position, and it can be activated within about 3 minutes after the engine is turned off.
• Air bags inflate in the event of certain frontal or side collisions to help protect the occupants from serious physical injury.
• There is no single speed at which the air bags will inflate. Generally, air bags are designed to inflate based upon the severity of a collision and its direction. These two factors determine whether the sensors produce an electronic deployment/inflation signal.
• The front air bags will completely inflate and deflate in an instant. It is virtually impossible for you to see the air bags inflate during an accident. It is much more likely that you will simply see the deflated air bags hanging out of their storage compartments after the collision.
• In addition to inflating in serious side collisions, vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor, side and/or curtain air bags will inflate if the sensing system detects a rollover. When a rollover is detected, curtain air bags will remain inflated longer to help provide protection from ejection, especially when used in conjunction with the seat belts. (if equipped with a rollover sensor)
• 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 lifethreatening 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.

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.
• 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.

Occupant Classification System (OCS)

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 overhead console which illuminates the words “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicating the front passenger air bag system is deactivated.
• The overhead console 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 smaller adults it may turn 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 overhead console 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 thick clothes like ski wear or hip protection wear.
• Putting an additional thick cushion on the seat.
• Putting electrical devices (for example, notebook, satellite radio) on the seat with inverter charging.

Condition and operation in the front passenger Occupant Classification System

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:

• NEVER put a heavy load in the front seat or seatback pocket, or hang any items on the front passenger seat.

• NEVER place your feet on the front passenger seatback.

• NEVER sit with your hips shifted towards the front of the seat.

• NEVER ride with the seatback reclined when the vehicle is moving.

• NEVER place your feet or legs on the dashboard.

• NEVER lean on the door or center console or sit on one side of the front passenger seat.

• Do not sit on the passenger seat wearing heavily padded clothes such as ski wear and hip protector.

• Do not use car seat accessories such as thick blankets and cushions which cover up the car seat surface.

• 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.

• 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.

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 generally illuminates for approximately 4 seconds after the Engine Start/Stop button is in the ON or START position. But, if the Engine START/STOP button is pressed to the ON or START position within 3 minutes after the engine is turned OFF, the indicator does not illuminate. If the front passenger seat is occupied, the OCS will then classify the front passenger after several more seconds.

Do not install a Child Restraint System on the Front Passenger’s Seat

Even though your vehicle is equipped with the OCS, never install a child restraint in the front passenger’s seat. An inflating air bag can forcefully strike a child or child restraint resulting in serious or fatal injury.

WARNING

NEVER use a rearward facing Child Restraint on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it, DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can occur.

Why didn’t my air bag go off in a collision?

There are certain types of accidents in which the air bag would not be expected to provide additional protection. These include rear impacts, second or third collisions in multiple impact accidents, as well as low speed impacts. Damage to the vehicle indicates a collision energy absorption, and is not an indicator of whether or not an air bag should have inflated.

Air bag collision sensors

WARNING

To reduce the risk of an air bag deploying unexpectedly and causing serious injury or death:

• Do not hit or allow any objects to impact the locations where air bags or sensors are installed.
• Do not perform maintenance on or around the air bag sensors. If the location or angle of the sensors is altered, the air bags may deploy when they should not or may not deploy when they should.
• Installing bumper guards with nongenuine Hyundai or non-equivalent parts may adversely affect the collision and airbag deployment performance.
• Press the Engine Start/Stop button to the OFF or ACC position and wait for 3 minutes when the vehicle is being towed to prevent inadvertent air bag deployment.
• Have all air bag repairs performed by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

1. SRS control module / Rollover sensor
2. Front impact sensor
3. Side impact sensor (Pressure)
4. Side impact sensor (Acceleration)
5. Side impact sensor (Acceleration)

Air bag inflation conditions

Front air bags

Front air bags are designed to inflate in a frontal collision depending on the severity of impact of the front collision.

Side and curtain air bags

Side and curtain air bags are designed to inflate when an impact is detected by side collision sensors depending on the severity, speed or angles of impact resulting from a side impact collision.

Although the driver’s and front passenger’s air bags are designed to inflate in frontal collisions, they also may inflate in other types of collisions if the front impact sensors detect a sufficient impact. Side and curtain air bags are designed to inflate in side impact collisions, but they may inflate in other collisions if the side impact sensors detect a sufficient impact.

Also, the side and curtain air bags are designed to inflate when a rollover is detected by a rollover sensor. (if equipped with rollover sensor)

If the vehicle chassis is impacted by bumps or objects on unimproved roads, the air bags may deploy. Drive carefully on unimproved roads or on surfaces not designed for vehicle traffic to prevent unintended air bag deployment.

Air bag non-inflation conditions

In certain low-speed collisions the air bags may not deploy. The air bags are designed not to deploy in such cases because they may not provide benefits beyond the protection of the seat belts.

Front air bags are not designed to inflate in rear collisions, because occupants are moved backward by the force of the impact. In this case, inflated air bags would not provide any additional benefit.

Front air bags may not inflate in side impact collisions, because occupants move in the direction of the collision, and thus in side impacts, front air bag deployment would not provide additional occupant protection.

However, side and curtain air bags and front center air bag may inflate depending on the severity of impact.

In an angled collision, the force of impact may direct the occupants in a direction where the air bags would not be able to provide any additional benefit, and thus the sensors may not deploy any air bags.

Just before impact, drivers often brake heavily. Such heavy braking lowers the front portion of the vehicle causing it to “ride” under a vehicle with a higher ground clearance. Air bags may not inflate in this “underride” situation because deceleration forces that are detected by sensors may be significantly reduced by such “underride” collisions.

Front air bags may not inflate in rollover accidents because front air bag deployment would not provide additional occupant protection.

However, the side and curtain air bags and front center air bag may inflate in a rollover situation, when it is detected by the rollover sensor.

Air bags may not inflate if the vehicle collides with objects such as utility poles or trees, where the point of impact is concentrated and the collision energy is absorbed by the vehicle structure.

SRS care

The SRS is virtually maintenance-free and there are no parts you can safely service by yourself. If the SRS air bag warning light does not illuminate when the Engine Start/Stop button is in the ON position, or continuously remains on, have the system be immediately inspected by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

Any work on the SRS system, such as removing, installing, repairing, or any work on the steering wheel, the front passenger’s panel, front seats and roof rails be performed by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer. Improper handling of the SRS system may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death take the following precautions:

• Do not attempt to modify or disconnect the SRS components or wiring, including the addition of any kind of badges to the pad covers or modifications to the body structure.
• Do not place objects over or near the air bag modules on the steering wheel, instrument panel, and the front passenger’s panel above the glove box.
• Clean the air bag pad covers with a soft cloth moistened with plain water. Solvents or cleaners could adversely affect the air bag covers and proper deployment of the system.
• Always have inflated air bags be replaced by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
• If components of the air bag system must be discarded, or if the vehicle must be scrapped, certain safety precautions must be observed. Consult an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for the necessary information. Failure to follow these precautions could increase the risk of personal injury.

Additional safety precautions

Passengers should not move out of or change seats while the vehicle is moving. A passenger who is not wearing a seat belt during a crash or emergency stop can be thrown against the inside of the vehicle, against other occupants, or be ejected from the vehicle.

Do not use any accessories on seat belts. Devices claiming to improve occupant comfort or reposition the seat belt can reduce the protection provided by the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Do not modify the front seats. Modification of the front seats could interfere with the operation of the supplemental restraint system sensing components or side air bags.

Do not place items under the front seats. Placing items under the front seats could interfere with the operation of the supplemental restraint system sensing components and wiring harnesses.

Do not cause impact to the doors. Impact to the doors when the Engine Start/Stop button is in the ON or START position may cause the air bags to inflate.

Modifications to accommodate disabilities. If you require modification to your vehicle to accommodate a disability, contact the HYUNDAI Customer Connect Center at 800-633- 5151.

Adding equipment to or modifying your air bag equipped vehicle

If you modify your vehicle by changing your vehicle’s frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet metal or ride height, this may affect the operation of your vehicle’s air bag system.

Air bag warning labels

Air bag warning labels, required by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are attached to alert the driver and passengers of potential risks of the air bag system. Be sure to read all of the information about the air bags that are installed on your vehicle in this Owners Manual.