Kia Optima: Driver's and passenger's front air bag

Driver’s front air bag

Passenger’s front air bag

Your vehicle is equipped with an Advanced Supplemental Restraint (Air Bag) System and lap/shoulder belts at both the driver and passenger seating position.

The indications of the system's presence are the letters "AIR BAG" embossed on the air bag pad cover in the steering wheel and the passenger's side front panel pad above the glove box.

The SRS consists of air bags installed under the pad covers in the center of the steering wheel and the passenger's side front panel above the glove box.

The purpose of the SRS is to provide the vehicle's driver and/or the front passenger with additional protection than that offered by the seat belt system alone in case of a frontal impact of sufficient severity. The SRS uses sensors to gather information about the driver's seat position, the driver's and front passenger's seat belt usage and impact severity.

WARNING

If a seat track position sensor (if equipped) or an occupant detection system is not working properly, the SRS air bag warning light on the instrument panel will illuminate because the SRS air bag warning light is connected with the seat track position sensor and the occupant detection system. If the SRS air bag warning light does not illuminate when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, remains illuminated after approximately 6 seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, or if it illuminates while the vehicle is being driven, have an authorized Kia dealer inspect the advanced SRS air bag system as soon as possible.

The driver's seat track position sensor (if equipped), which is installed on the seat track, determine if the seat is fore or aft of a reference position. The seat belt buckle sensors determine if the driver and front passenger's seat belts are fastened.

These sensors provide the ability to control the SRS deployment based on how close the driver's seat is to the steering wheel, whether or not the seat belts are fastened, and how severe the impact is.

The advanced SRS offers the ability to control the air bag inflation with two levels. A first stage level is provided for moderate- severity impacts. A second stage level is provided for more severe impacts.

The passenger’s front air bag is designed to help reduce the injury of children sitting close to the instrument panel in low speed collisions. However, children are safer if they are restrainted in the rear seat.

According to the impact severity, seating position and seat belt usage, the SRSCM (SRS Control Module) controls the air bag inflation. Failure to properly wear seat belts can increase the risk or severity of injury in an accident.

Additionally, your vehicle is equipped with an occupant detection system in the front passenger's seat. The occupant detection system detects the presence of a passenger in the front passenger's seat and will turn off the front passenger's air bag under certain conditions. For more detail, see "Occupant detection system" in this section.

WARNING

• • Modification to the seat structure can adversely affect the seat track position sensor (if equipped) and cause the air bag to deploy at a different level than should be provided.
• • Do not place any objects underneath the front seats as they could damage the seat track position sensor or interfere with the occupant detection system.
• • Do not place any objects that may cause magnetic fields near the front seat. These may cause a malfunction of the seat track position sensor.

WARNING

Manufacturers are required by government regulations to provide a contact point concerning modifications to the vehicle for persons with disabilities, which modifications may affect the vehicle’s advanced air bag system. However, Kia does not endorse nor will it support any changes to any part or structure of the vehicle that could affect the advanced air bag system, including the occupant detection system.

Specifically, the front passenger seat, dashboard or door should not be replaced except by an authorized Kia dealer using original Kia parts designed for this vehicle and model. Any other such replacement or modification could adversely affect the operation of the occupant detection system and your advanced air bags. For the same reason, do not attach anything to the seat, dashboard or door, even temporarily. If the system is adversely affected, it could cause severe personal injuries or death in a collision.

✽ NOTICE

• Be sure to read information about the SRS on the labels provided on the sun visor.
• Advanced air bags are combined with pre-tensioner seat belts to help provide enhanced occupant protection in frontal crashes. Front air bags are not intended to deploy in collisions in which sufficient protection can be provided by the pre-tensioner seat belt alone.

WARNING

Always use seat belts and child restraints – every trip, every time, everyone! Air bags inflate with considerable force and in the blink of an eye. Seat belts help keep occupants in proper position to obtain maximum benefit from the air bag. Even with advanced air bags, improperly and unbelted occupants can be severely injured when the air bag inflates. Always follow the precautions about seat belts, air bags and occupant safety contained in this manual.

To reduce the chance of serious or fatal injuries and receive the maximum safety benefit from your restraint system:

• Never place a child in any child or booster seat in the front seat.
• ABC – Always Buckle Children in the back seat. It is the safest place for children of any age to ride.
• Front and side air bags can injure occupants improperly positioned in the front seats.
• Move your seat as far back as practical from the front air bags, while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
• You and your passengers should never sit or lean unnecessarily close to the air bags. Improperly positioned drivers and passengers can be severely injured by inflating air bags.
• Never lean against the door or center console – always sit in an upright position.
• Do not allow a passenger to ride in the front seat when the PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator is illuminated, because the air bag will not deploy in the event of a moderate or severe frontal crash.
• No objects should be placed over or near the air bag modules on the steering wheel, instrument panel, and the front passenger's panel above the glove box, because any such object could cause harm if the vehicle is in a crash severe enough to cause the air bags to deploy.
• Never place covers, blankets or aftermarket seat warmers on the passenger seat as these may interfere with the occupant detection system.
• Do not tamper with or disconnect SRS wiring or other components of the SRS system. Doing so could result in injury, due to accidental deployment of the air bags or by rendering the SRS inoperative.
• If the SRS air bag warning light remains illuminated while the vehicle is being driven, have an authorized Kia dealer inspect the air bag system as soon as possible.
• Air bags can only be used once – have an authorized Kia dealer replace the air bag immediately after deployment.
• The SRS is designed to deploy the front air bags only when an impact is sufficiently severe and when the impact angle is less than 30° from the forward longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Additionally, the air bags will only deploy once. Seat belts must be worn at all times.
• Front air bags are not intended to deploy in side-impact, rearimpact or rollover crashes. In addition, front air bags will not deploy in frontal crashes below the deployment threshold.
• Even though your vehicle is equipped with the occupant detection system, do not install a child restraint system in the front passenger seat position. A child restraint system must never be placed in the front seat.The infant or child could be severely injured or killed by an air bag deployment in case of an accident.
• Children age 12 and under must always be properly restrained in the rear seat. Never allow children to ride in the front passenger seat. If a child over 12 must be seated in the front seat, he or she must be properly belted 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 should always wear their seat belts whether or not an air bag is also provided at their seating position to minimize the risk of severe injury or death in the event of a crash. Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to the air bag while the vehicle is in motion.
• Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious or fatal injury in a crash. All occupants should sit upright with the seat back in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor until the vehicle is parked and the ignition key is removed.
• The SRS air bag system must deploy very rapidly to provide protection in a crash. If an occupant is out of position because of not wearing a seat belt, the air bag may forcefully contact the occupant causing serious or fatal injuries.

Rear impact

Side impact

Rollover