Driver and Passenger Front Airbags

Your vehicle is equipped with a supplemental restraint system (airbag) and lap/shoulder belts for the driver and front passenger seating positions.

The system is identified by the letters "AIRBAG" embossed on the airbag cover in the steering wheel and on the passenger-side trim panel above the glove box.

The SRS consists of airbags installed beneath 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 what the seat belt system alone provides in a frontal impact of sufficient severity.

WARNING

The driver's hands should be placed on the steering wheel at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions. Passengers should place their hands and palms on their laps.

WARNING

Always use seat belts and child restraint systems on every trip, every time, for everyone! Airbags deploy with considerable force and in the blink of an eye. Seat belts help keep occupants in the correct position to get the maximum benefit from the airbag. Even with airbags, improperly worn seat belts and unbelted occupants can be seriously injured when an airbag deploys. Always observe the seat belt, airbag, and occupant safety precautions contained in this manual. To reduce the likelihood of serious or fatal injury and to get the maximum benefit from the restraint system:

• Never place a child in a child seat or booster on the front seat.
• ABC - Always secure children in the rear seat. This is the safest place to carry children of any age.
• Front and side airbags can injure occupants who are improperly positioned in the front seats.
• Move your seat as far back from the front airbags as practical while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
• You and your passengers should never sit or lean unnecessarily close to the airbags. Improper positioning of drivers and passengers can result in serious injury when an airbag deploys.
• Never lean against the door or center console - always sit upright.
• Do not allow a passenger to ride in the front seat when the passenger front airbag off indicator light is illuminated, because the airbag will not deploy in a moderate or severe frontal collision.
• No objects should be placed over or near the airbag modules in the steering wheel, instrument panel, and passenger-side instrument panel above the glove box, because any such object may cause injury if the vehicle is in a collision severe enough to deploy the airbags.
• Do not tamper with or disconnect SRS wiring or other SRS components. This may result in injury from accidental airbag deployment or render the SRS inoperative.
• If the SRS airbag warning light remains illuminated while the vehicle is being driven, have the system inspected at a professional workshop. Kia recommends visiting an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.
• Airbags can be used only once. Have the system replaced at a professional workshop. Kia recommends visiting an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.
• The SRS is designed to deploy the front airbags only in collisions that are severe enough, and when the angle of impact is less than 30° from the vehicle's longitudinal centerline. In addition, the airbags will deploy only once. Seat belts must be worn at all times.
• Front airbags are not designed to deploy in side impacts, rear impacts, or rollover crashes. In addition, front airbags do not deploy in frontal collisions below the deployment threshold.
• A child restraint system must never be installed in the front seat. An infant or child may be seriously injured or killed by the airbag in the event of a crash.
• Children aged 12 years and under should always be properly restrained in the rear seat. Never allow children to ride in the front passenger seat. If a child over 12 years old must sit in the front seat, he or she must be properly restrained with the seat belt and the seat should be moved as far back as possible.
• For maximum safety protection in all types of crashes, all occupants, including the driver, must always wear seat belts, regardless of whether an airbag is also provided for their seating position, to minimize the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a crash. Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to the airbag while the vehicle is in motion.
• Sitting improperly or out of position may result in serious or fatal injury in a crash. All occupants must sit upright with the seatback in the upright position, centered on the seat cushion, with seat belts fastened, legs comfortably extended and feet on the floor, until the vehicle is parked and the ignition key is removed.
• The SRS airbag system must deploy very quickly to provide protection in a crash. If an occupant is out of position because the seat belt is not fastened, the airbag may forcefully strike the occupant, causing serious or fatal injury.

Front Passenger Airbag ON/OFF Switch

The front passenger airbag can be deactivated using the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch if a child restraint is installed in the front passenger seat or if the front passenger seat is not occupied by a person. To ensure your child's safety, the front passenger airbag must be deactivated when it is necessary to install a rear-facing child seat in the front passenger seat under exceptional circumstances.

To deactivate or reactivate the front airbag:

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

To activate the front passenger airbag, insert the key into the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch and turn it to the ON position.

The front passenger airbag OFF indicator will go out, and the front passenger airbag ON indicator () will illuminate for approximately 60 seconds.

WARNING

The front airbag ON/OFF switch can be turned using a similar small rigid tool. Always check the status of the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch and the front passenger airbag ON/OFF indicator.

NOTICE

• When the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch is set to the ON position, the front passenger airbag is activated, and a child or infant seat must not be installed in the front passenger seat.
• When the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch is set to the OFF position, the front passenger airbag is deactivated.

CAUTION

• If the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch does not operate properly, the airbag warning light ( ) on the instrument panel will illuminate. And the front passenger airbag OFF indicator ( ) will not illuminate (the front passenger airbag ON indicator illuminates and goes out after approximately 60 seconds). If the SRS control module reactivates the front passenger airbag, the front passenger airbag will deploy in a frontal impact even if the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch is set to the OFF position. In this case, have the system inspected by a professional workshop. Kia recommends visiting an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.
• If the SRS airbag warning light flashes or does not illuminate when the ignition key is turned to the ON position, or if it remains illuminated while the vehicle is in motion, have the system inspected by a professional workshop. Kia recommends visiting an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.

WARNING

• The driver is responsible for the correct position of the front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch.
• Deactivate the front passenger airbag only when the ignition switch is off, otherwise a malfunction may occur in the SRS control module. There may also be a risk that the driver and/or front passenger seat and/or side airbag and curtain airbag may not deploy or may not deploy properly during a collision.
• Never install a child seat in the front passenger seat unless the front passenger airbag has been deactivated. An infant or child may be seriously injured or killed by the airbag in the event of a crash.
• Even if your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger airbag ON/OFF switch, do not install a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. A child restraint system must never be placed in the front seat. Children who are too large for child restraint systems must always occupy the rear seat and use the lap/shoulder belts. Children are provided maximum safety in a crash when they are restrained with a proper restraint system in the rear seat.
• Once the child seat is no longer needed in the front passenger seat, reactivate the front passenger airbag.

WARNING

No attached objects

Do not place any objects (such as emergency triangle covers, mobile phone holders, cup holders, air fresheners or stickers) on the steering wheel, instrument panel, windshield, or front passenger's dashboard above the glove box, or near the airbag modules. Such objects could cause injury if the vehicle is involved in an accident severe enough to deploy the airbags. Do not place any objects over the airbag or between the airbag and yourself.