Hyundai Sonata LF Quiz
What to Do in an Emergency

Emergency Towing

In this manual: What to Do in an Emergency
Your Vehicle at a Glance — 5Your Vehicle's Safety System — 48Convenient Features of Your Vehicle — 162Multimedia System — 7Driving Your Vehicle — 90What to Do in an Emergency — 32Maintenance — 59Specifications, Consumer Information and Safety Defect Reporting — 8
~2min read

If towing is required, we recommend having it done by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer or a commercial towing service.

If towing service is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be temporarily towed using a cable or chain attached to the emergency towing hook at the rear of the vehicle.

Exercise extreme caution when towing the vehicle with a strap or chain. The driver must remain in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes.

Towing in this manner should only be performed on paved roads, for a short distance and at low speeds. In addition, the wheels, axles, powertrain, steering, and brakes must all be in good condition.

Always observe the following precautions during emergency towing:

  • Turn the ignition key to the ACC position so that the steering wheel is not locked.
  • Shift the transmission lever to N (Neutral).
  • Release the parking brake.
  • Press the brake pedal with greater force than normal, as braking effectiveness is reduced.
  • More effort will be required on the steering wheel, because the power steering system will be disabled.
  • Use a vehicle heavier than your own to tow the vehicle.
  • The drivers of both vehicles should communicate frequently with each other.
  • Before emergency towing, make sure the hook is not broken or damaged.
  • Securely attach the tow strap or chain to the hook.
  • Do not jerk the hook. Apply steady and even force.
  • Use a tow strap or chain less than 5 m (16 ft) long. Attach a white or red cloth (approximately 12 in (30 cm) wide) to the middle of the strap or chain for easy visibility.
  • Drive carefully so that the tow strap or chain remains taut during towing.
  • Before towing, check the automatic transmission for fluid leaks under the vehicle. If automatic transmission fluid is leaking, the vehicle must be transported on a flatbed or dolly.

CAUTION

To prevent damage to the vehicle and its components during towing:

  • Always pull straight forward when using the towing hooks. Do not pull from the side or at a vertical angle.
  • Do not use the towing hooks to pull the vehicle out of mud, sand, or other conditions from which the vehicle cannot drive itself.
  • Limit vehicle speed to 10 mph (15 km/h) and tow less than 1 mile (1.5 km) to avoid serious damage to the automatic transmission.

Test yourself

A quick Hyundai Sonata LF quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.