Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle)

Pulling a stuck vehicle

Pulling a stuck vehicle

WARNING

To avoid vehicle damage, serious personal injury or death when recovering a stuck vehicle:

● Contact a professional towing service to recover the vehicle if you have any questions regarding the recovery procedure.
● Attach recovery devices only to main structural members of the vehicle or the recovery hooks.
● Do not use the vehicle tie-downs to tow or free a stuck vehicle.
● Only use devices specifically designed for vehicle recovery and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
● Always pull the recovery device straight out from the front of the vehicle. Never pull at an angle.
● Route recovery devices so they do not touch any part of the vehicle except the attachment point.

If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc., use a tow strap or other device designed specifically for vehicle recovery. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the recovery device.

Do not use the tie-down hooks for towing or vehicle recovery.

Rocking a stuck vehicle

WARNING

● Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
● Do not spin your tires at high speed. This could cause them to explode and result in serious injury. Parts of your vehicle could also overheat and be damaged.

If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc., use the following procedure:

1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control System (VDC).
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear an area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and backward.

● Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and D (Drive).
● Apply the accelerator as little as possible to maintain the rocking motion.
● Release the accelerator pedal before shifting between R and D.
● Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH (55 km/h).

5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing service to remove the vehicle.

    See also:

    Maintenance precautions
    When performing any inspection or maintenance work on your vehicle, always take care to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or damage to the vehicle. The following are general precaution ...

    If your vehicle is stolen
    If your vehicle is stolen, you should change the codes of any non-rolling code device that has been programmed into HomeLink®. Consult the Owner’s Manual of each device or call the manufacturer ...

    Seats
    Seats - Do not ride in a moving vehicle when the seatback is reclined. This can be dangerous. The shoulder belt will not be against your body. In an accident, you could be thrown into it and ...