Driver and passenger front airbags (if equipped)

Your vehicle is equipped with a supplemental passive restraint system (airbag) and three-point seat belts for both the driver and the front passenger seats.

The presence of the system is indicated by the word "AIR BAG" engraved on the airbag module cover in the steering wheel and/or on the lower driver-side dashboard panel located under the steering wheel, and on the passenger-side panel above the glove box.

The SRS system consists of airbag modules installed beneath the covers in the center of the steering wheel, in the lower dashboard panel, under the steering column, and in the passenger-side panel below the glove box.

The purpose of the SRS system is to provide additional protection, beyond that offered by the seat belts, to the driver and/or front passenger in the event of a frontal impact of a certain severity.

WARNING Always use seat belts and child restraints - on every trip, at all times, for every occupant! Airbags inflate with tremendous force in an instant. Seat belts help keep occupants in the correct position so they can make full use of the protection offered by the airbags. Occupants who do not wear their seat belts properly are exposed to serious risks in an accident, despite the presence of airbags. Always observe the precautions in this manual regarding seat belts, airbags and occupied seats.

For the passive restraint system to provide maximum protection in an accident, thereby reducing the risk of injury:

• Never place a child in a child seat on the front seat.
• Always seat children in the rear seats and secure them properly. It is the safest position for children of any age.
• If front seat occupants do not maintain a correct position, they may be injured by the front and side airbags.
• Move your seat as far back from the front airbags as possible, while still keeping a distance that allows you to control the vehicle comfortably.
• Both the driver and passengers must avoid sitting too close to the airbags unless absolutely necessary. Drivers and passengers who do not sit correctly risk serious injury if the airbags deploy in a collision.
• Never lean toward the door or the center console. Always sit upright.
• Do not allow a passenger to ride in the front seat when the passenger airbag OFF indicator is illuminated, as the airbag will not deploy in a collision in this condition.
• Do not place any object on or near the airbag modules in the steering wheel, dashboard, lower driver's side dashboard panel, or front passenger side panel above the glove box. These objects could become projectiles if the vehicle is involved in a collision severe enough to deploy the airbags.
• Do not handle or disconnect the wiring or components of the SRS system. The airbags could deploy accidentally or be disabled, endangering personal safety.
• If the SRS airbag warning light “ ” comes on or flashes while driving, have the airbag system checked as soon as possible by an authorized Kia dealer.
• Airbags are single-use. Once they have deployed, they must be replaced immediately by an authorized Kia dealer.
• The SRS system is designed so that the front airbags deploy only if the impact is of a certain severity and occurs within a range of 30° from the vehicle's longitudinal axis. Also, airbags can deploy only once. Always wear your seat belts.
• The front airbags do not deploy in side impacts, rear-end collisions, or rollovers. The front airbags also do not deploy in minor frontal impacts.
• Child seats must never be installed in the front seat. In a collision, airbag deployment could seriously injure or kill a child in a child seat.
• Children up to 12 years of age must always sit in the rear seats. Never let children sit in the front seat. If a child over 12 years of age must sit in the front seat, they must fasten the seat belt with the seat moved as far back as possible.
• To receive the maximum level of protection in any type of collision, all occupants, including the driver, must always wear seat belts, regardless of whether airbags are present.

Do not sit too close to the airbag, and do not lean your upper body too close to it while driving.

Improper sitting or an incorrect seating position can be fatal in a collision. Until the vehicle is parked and the key is removed, occupants must sit upright in their respective seats, centered on the seat cushion with the seat belt fastened, legs comfortably extended, and feet resting on the floor.

To provide effective protection in a collision, the SRS airbag system must inflate extremely quickly.

If an occupant is out of position because they have not fastened their seat belt, they could strike the airbag violently, causing very serious and sometimes fatal injuries.

Front passenger airbag ON/OFF indicator (if equipped) The front passenger airbag can be deactivated using an ON/OFF switch when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat or when the seat is unoccupied.

To ensure child safety, the front passenger airbag must be deactivated when, in exceptional cases, a rear-facing child seat must be installed.

To deactivate or reactivate the front passenger airbag: To deactivate the front passenger airbag, insert the key into the ON/OFF switch and turn it to the OFF position. The front passenger airbag OFF indicator () will illuminate and remain on until the airbag is reactivated.

To reactivate the front passenger airbag, insert the key into the ON/OFF switch and turn it to the ON position. The front passenger airbag OFF indicator turns off and the front passenger airbag ON indicator () illuminates for approximately 60 seconds.

WARNING The passenger front airbag ON/OFF switch can be operated with a key or a similar rigid tool. Always check the status of the passenger front airbag ON/OFF switch and the passenger front airbag ON/OFF indicator light.

NOTE

• When the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch is in the ON position, the airbag is active, so no child seat may be installed in the front passenger seat.
• When the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch is in the OFF position, the airbag is not active.

WARNING

• If the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch does not function properly, the airbag warning light ( ) in the instrument cluster will illuminate.

In addition, if the front passenger airbag OFF indicator () does not illuminate (the front passenger airbag ON indicator illuminates and then turns off after 60 seconds), the SRS control unit reactivates the front passenger airbag, so it will deploy in a frontal impact even if the ON/OFF switch is in the OFF position.

If this happens, have the passenger front airbag ON/OFF switch, the seat belt pretensioner system and the SRS airbag system checked as soon as possible by an authorized Kia dealer.

If the SRS airbag warning light flashes or does not illuminate when the ignition key is turned to ON, or illuminates while driving, have the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch, the seat belt pretensioner system, and the SRS airbag system checked as soon as possible by an authorized Kia dealer.

WARNING

• It is the driver's responsibility to set the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch to the correct position.
• Turn off the front passenger airbag only when the ignition switch is in the OFF position, so as not to cause malfunctions in the SRS control unit.

Otherwise, the driver and/or passenger front airbags and/or the side and curtain airbags may not deploy, or may deploy improperly, when needed.

Never install a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat without first deactivating the corresponding airbag. In the event of a collision, airbag deployment could seriously injure or kill the child seated in the child seat.

Even if the vehicle is equipped with a front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch, avoid installing a child seat on the front seat. Child seats must never be installed on the front seat.

Children who are too large for a child seat must always sit in the rear seats and fasten their three-point seat belts.

For children to have maximum protection in the event of a collision, they must sit in the rear seats and be properly restrained.

As soon as the child seat is removed from the front passenger seat, be sure to reactivate the airbag.