Kia Sportage: Adding equipment to or modifying your air bag-equipped vehicle. SRS care

Adding equipment to or modifying your air bag-equipped vehicle

Changes to the Kia Sportage frame, bumper system, front end, side body panels or ride height can affect how the air bag system operates. Before making modifications or adding equipment in these areas, consider their possible effect on the SRS.

SRS care

The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) requires virtually no routine maintenance, and there are no SRS components you can safely service yourself.

If the SRS air bag warning light does not illuminate during the initial check, or stays on continuously, have the system inspected by a professional workshop. Kia recommends contacting an authorised Kia dealer/service partner.

• Never let passengers ride in the cargo area or on a folded seatback. Everyone must sit upright, well back in a seat, with their seat belt fastened and feet on the floor.

• Do not allow passengers to leave their seats or change seats while the vehicle is moving. In a collision or emergency stop, an unrestrained passenger could be thrown against the vehicle interior, another occupant or out of the vehicle.

• Each seat belt is designed for one occupant. Sharing a belt can result in serious or fatal injuries in a collision.

• Do not use accessories with seat belts. Products intended to improve comfort or reposition a belt may reduce its protective effect and increase the risk of serious injury in a collision.

• Keep hard or sharp objects away from occupants and air bags. Holding such objects on your lap or in your mouth can cause injury if an air bag inflates.

• Keep occupants at a safe distance from air bag covers. Sit upright and well back in the seat, with the seat belt fastened and feet on the floor. Sitting too close to a cover may result in injury if the air bag deploys.

• Do not attach or place objects on or near air bag covers. Items on or beside the front or side air bag covers can interfere with proper air bag operation.

• Do not modify the front seats. Changes to the seats may interfere with SRS sensing components or side air bag operation.

• Do not place items beneath the front seats. Objects under the seats may interfere with SRS sensors or wiring harnesses.

• Never hold an infant or child on your lap. A child could be seriously injured or killed in a collision. Secure every infant and child in an appropriate child restraint or seat belt in a rear seat.

WARNING

• Modifying SRS components or wiring can impair system performance and cause injury. This includes attaching badges to air bag covers or altering the vehicle body structure.

• If air bag system components must be discarded or the vehicle scrapped, follow the required safety precautions. An authorised Kia dealer can provide the necessary information. Failure to follow these procedures may increase the risk of personal injury.

• Sitting improperly or out of position may leave an occupant too close to a deploying air bag, cause them to strike the vehicle interior or throw them from the vehicle, resulting in serious injury or death.

• Always sit upright with the seatback upright. Sit centred on the seat cushion, fasten the seat belt, keep your legs comfortably extended and place your feet on the floor.

Airbag non-inflation conditions

Air bags in the Kia Sportage deploy only when the collision meets the system's activation criteria. Depending on the type, direction and severity of an impact, they may not inflate in situations su...

Air bag warning labels

Figure 1. Air bag warning label, Type A Figure 2. Air bag warning label, Type B Air bag warning labels are...