Driver and Passenger Front Airbags

■ Driver Front Airbag

■ Passenger Front Airbag

Your vehicle is equipped with an Advanced Supplemental Restraint System (airbag) and knee/shoulder belts for both the driver and front passenger seated positions.

The system is indicated by the words "AIR BAG" on the driver's airbag cover on the steering wheel and on the passenger side trim panel above the glove box.

The SRS consists of airbags installed under the pad covers in the center of the steering wheel and in the passenger-side instrument panel above the glove box.

The purpose of the SRS is to provide the driver and/or front passenger with additional protection beyond that offered by the seat belt system alone in a frontal collision of sufficient severity. The SRS uses sensors to collect information about the driver's and front passenger's seat belt use and the severity of the impact.

The seat belt buckle sensors determine whether the driver and front passenger seat belts are fastened.

These sensors allow the SRS deployment to be controlled based on whether the seat belts are fastened and how severe the impact is.

The advanced SRS offers the ability to control airbag deployment in two stages. The first-stage level is provided for moderate-severity impacts. The second-stage level is provided for more severe impacts.

The front passenger airbag is designed to help reduce injuries to children seated close to the instrument panel in low-speed collisions. However, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seat.

Based on impact severity and seat belt use, the SRSCM (SRS Control Module) controls airbag inflation. Failure to wear seat belts properly may increase the risk or severity of injury in an accident.

✽ NOTICE

The driver's hands should be on the steering wheel at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. The passenger's hands should be placed on the lap.

In addition, your vehicle is equipped with an occupant detection system in the front passenger seat. The occupant detection system detects the presence of an occupant in the front passenger seat and will turn off the front passenger airbag under certain conditions. For more information, refer to "Occupant Detection System" in this chapter.

Modifying the seat structure may cause the airbag to deploy at a different level than intended.

Manufacturers are required by government regulations to provide a contact point for persons with disabilities who make modifications to the vehicle, which may affect the advanced airbag system. This contact is a free Kia Customer Experience Department at 1-877-KIAAUTO (1-877-542-2886). However, Kia does not support or endorse any modifications to any part or structure of the vehicle that may affect the advanced airbag system, including the occupant detection system.

WARNING - Replacement/Modifications

The front passenger seat, instrument panel or door must only be replaced by an authorized Kia dealer using genuine Kia parts designed for this vehicle and model. Any other such replacement or modification may adversely affect the operation of the occupant detection system and your advanced airbags.

The advanced airbags are combined with seat belt pretensioners to help provide enhanced occupant protection in frontal collisions. The front airbags are not designed to deploy in collisions where sufficient protection can be provided by the seat belt pretensioner.

✽ NOTICE

Airbags can only be used once. Have an authorized Kia dealer replace the airbag immediately after deployment.

The front airbags are not designed to deploy in a side impact, rear impact, or rollover crash. However, when the frontal deployment threshold is exceeded in a side collision, the front airbags may deploy. Also, the front airbags will not deploy in a frontal collision below the deployment threshold.

WARNING - SRS Wiring

Do not tamper with or disconnect the SRS wiring or other SRS components. This may result in injury from accidental airbag deployment or cause the SRS to not operate.

WARNING - Do Not Attach Objects

• No objects (such as a cover, cell phone holder, cup holder, air freshener, or stickers) should be placed over or near the airbag modules on the steering wheel, instrument panel, windshield glass, and the passenger-side panel above the glove box. Such objects could cause injury if the vehicle is in a crash severe enough to deploy the airbags. Do not place any objects on top of the airbag or between the airbag and yourself.
• Never place or insert an object into any small hole near the side airbag labels attached to the vehicle seats. When the airbag deploys, the object may interfere with deployment and cause an unexpected accident or personal injury.