Occupant Classification System (OCS)

Your vehicle is equipped with an Occupant Classification System (OCS) in the front passenger seat.

Main Components of the Occupant Classification System

• Sensor located in the front passenger seat cushion.
• Electronic system that determines whether the passenger airbag systems should be enabled or disabled.
• Indicator located on the instrument panel that illuminates the words "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" to indicate that the front passenger airbag is deactivated.
• The airbag warning lamp on the instrument panel is linked to the OCS.

The OCS is designed to detect a properly seated front passenger and determine whether the front passenger airbag should be enabled (allowed to deploy) or not.

The purpose is to help reduce the risk of injury or death from airbag deployment for certain front passengers, such as children, by automatically turning off the airbag.

For example, if a child restraint of the type specified in the regulations is installed on the seat, the occupant classification sensor may detect it and cause the airbag to turn off.

Adult passengers in the front passenger seat who are seated properly and wearing the seat belt correctly should not have the passenger airbag automatically turned OFF. However, a small adult may have the airbag turned off if the person is not sitting properly (for example, not sitting upright, sitting on the edge of the seat, or otherwise not in the correct position). This may cause the sensor to turn off the airbag.

You will find the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator on the center instrument panel. This system detects conditions 1-4 in the following table and enables or disables the front passenger airbag based on these conditions.

Always make sure that you and all passengers in the vehicle are seated properly and wear the seat belt correctly for the most effective protection from the airbag and seat belt.

The OCS may not operate correctly if a passenger takes actions that may affect the occupant classification system. These include:

• Failing to sit upright.
• Leaning against the door or center console.
• Sitting sideways on the front of the seat.
• Placing feet on the instrument panel or on other places that reduce the weight on the front passenger seat.
• Improperly fastening the seat belt.
• Reclining the seatback.
• Wearing thick clothing, such as ski wear or hip protectors.
• Installing an additional thick cushion on the seat.
• Placing electrical devices (such as a laptop or satellite radio) on the seat with an inverter charger.

Conditions and Operation of the Front Passenger Occupant Classification System

WARNING

Riding in an incorrect position or placing a load on the front passenger seat when it is not occupied by a passenger adversely affects the OCS. To reduce the risk of serious injury or death:

• NEVER place heavy objects in the front seat pocket or seatback pocket, and never hang items on the front passenger seat.

• NEVER place your feet on the front passenger seatback.

• NEVER sit so that your hips are shifted toward the front of the seat.

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

• NEVER put your feet on the instrument panel.

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

• Do not sit in the front passenger seat wearing heavily padded clothing, such as a ski jacket or thick hip protectors.

• Do not use seat accessories, such as thick blankets and cushions, that cover the upper surface of the seat.

• Do not place electronic devices, such as laptops, DVD players, or conductive materials such as water bottles, on the front passenger seat.

• Do not use electronic devices, such as laptops and satellite radios, that use inverter chargers.

• If a large amount of liquid has been spilled on the passenger seat, the airbag warning light may come on or malfunction.

Therefore, before driving, make sure the seat is completely dry.

• Do not place sharp objects on the front passenger seat. They may damage the occupant detection system if they puncture the seat cushion.

• Do not place any objects under the front passenger seat.

• When changing or replacing the seat or seat cover, use only genuine parts. The OCS was designed based on the use of genuine HYUNDAI seats only. Modifying or replacing genuine parts may cause system malfunctions and increase the risk of injury in a collision. Any of the above may interfere with proper operation of the OCS sensor, thereby increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Correct Sitting Position for the OCS

If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator is on while an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, turn the Engine Start/Stop button to the OFF position and ask the passenger to sit properly (sitting upright with the seatback in the upright position, centered on the seat cushion with the seat belt fastened, legs comfortably extended, and feet on the floor). Restart the engine and keep the passenger in this position. This allows the system to detect the occupant and enable the passenger airbag. 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 sit in the front passenger seat when the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light is on. In a collision, the air bag will not deploy while the indicator light is on. Ask your passenger to adjust their position on the seat. If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light remains on after the passenger has taken the correct position and the vehicle has been restarted, the passenger should move to the rear seat, because the air bag will not deploy.

NOTICE

The "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator comes on for approximately 4 seconds after the Engine Start/Stop button is turned to the ON position or after the engine starts. If the front passenger seat is occupied, the OCS classifies the front passenger within a few more seconds.

Do not install a child restraint in the front passenger seat.

Even if your vehicle is equipped with OCS, never install a child restraint in the front passenger seat. The inflating air bag can strike the child or child restraint with great force, resulting in serious or fatal injury.

WARNING

• NEVER install a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
• The deploying front air bag can strike a child with great force, resulting in serious injury or death.
• Always properly secure children in an appropriate child restraint in the rear seat of the vehicle.