Kia Optima Hybrid 2017 Owner's Manual page 429

Driving your vehicle
(Continued)
• Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for people,
especially children, before shifting
a vehicle into D (Drive) or R (Re‐
verse).
• Before leaving the driver's seat, al‐
ways make sure the shift lever is
in the P (Park) position; then set
the parking brake fully and shut
the engine off. Unexpected and
sudden vehicle movement can oc‐
cur if these precautions are not
followed in the order identified.
• Do not use the engine brake (shift‐
ing from a high gear to lower gear)
rapidly on slippery roads.
The vehicle may slip causing an ac‐
cident.
CAUTION
• To avoid damage to your trans‐
axle, do not accelerate the engine
in R (Reverse) or any forward gear
position with the brakes on.
(Continued)
7-12
(Continued)
• When stopped on an uphill grades,
do not hold the vehicle stationary
with engine power. Use the brake
pedal or the parking brake.
• Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P
(Park) into D (Drive), or R (Reverse)
when the engine is above idle
speed.
Transaxle ranges
The indicator lights in the instrument
cluster displays the shift lever position
when the engine start/stop button
switch is in the ON position.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into P (Park). This position
locks the transaxle and prevents the
front wheels from rotating.
To shift from P (Park), you must de‐
press firmly on the brake pedal and
make sure your foot is off the acceler‐
ator pedal.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot shift the lever out of P
(Park), see Shift-lock override on page
7-14.
The shift lever must be in P (Park) be‐
fore turning the hybrid system off.
WARNING
• Shifting into P (Park) while the ve‐
hicle is in motion will cause the
drive wheels to lock which will
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
• Do not use the P (Park) position in
place of the parking brake. Always
make sure the shift lever is latch‐
ed in the P (Park) position and set
the parking brake fully.
• Never leave a child unattended in a
vehicle.
CAUTION
The transaxle may be damaged if
you shift into P (Park) while the ve‐
hicle is in motion.
R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward.