Occupant Detection System (ODS)

Your vehicle is equipped with an ODS in the front passenger's seat.

ODL3023040

The ODS is designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated front passenger and determine if the passenger's front airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or not. Only the front passenger front airbag is controlled by the ODS.

Do not put anything in front of the passenger airbag "" indicator.

Main components of the ODS

  • A detection device is located within the front passenger seat cushion.

  • An electronic system determines whether the passenger airbag systems should be activated or deactivated.

  • An indicator light located on the overhead console which illuminates the words PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicates the front passenger airbag system is deactivated.

  • The overhead console airbag warning light is interconnected to the ODS.

If the front passenger seat is occupied by a person that the system determines to be of appropriate size, and is seated properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor), the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator will turn off and the front passenger's airbag will be able to inflate, if necessary, in frontal crashes.

You will find the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator on the overhead console. This system detects the conditions 1–4 in the following table and activates or deactivates the front passenger airbag based on these conditions.

Always be sure that you and all vehicle occupants are seated and restrained properly (sitting upright with the seat in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion, with the person's legs comfortably extended, feet on the floor, and wearing the seat belt properly) for the most effective protection by the airbag and the safety belt.

The ODS may not function properly if the passenger takes actions which can defeat the detection system. These include:

  • Failing to sit in an upright position.

  • Leaning against the door or center console.

  • Sitting towards the sides or the front of the seat.

  • Putting legs on the dashboard or resting them on other locations which reduce the passenger weight on the front seat.

  • Improperly wearing the seat belt.

  • Reclining the seatback.

Conditions and operation of the front passenger ODS

Condition detected by the occupant detection system

Indicator/Warning light

Devices

"PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light

SRS warning light

Front passenger airbag

1. Adult*1

Off

Off

Activated

2. Child Restraint System (CRS) with child under 12 months old*2* 3* 4

On

Off

Deactivated

3. Unoccupied

On

Off

Deactivated

4. Malfunction in the system

Off

On

Activated

1. The system determines a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as a child depending on his/her size or seated position.

2. Do not allow children under 13 to ride in the front passenger seat. When a larger child who has outgrown a CRS sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as an adult depending upon his/her size or seated position.

3. Never install a CRS on the front passenger seat.

4. The PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator may turn on or off when a child above 12 months to 12 years old (with or without a CRS) sits in the front passenger seat. This is a normal condition.

WARNING

  • Do not install a child restraint seat in the passenger seat when the seat is heavily soaked with any type of liquid.

  • Do not modify the ODS. This may damage the system and prevent its proper function in a collision.

NOTE

  • Do not use car seat cushions or aftermarket manufactured passenger seat heaters that cover the surface of the seat.

  • After cleaning the interior with steam or detergent, the seat should be thoroughly dried. Check for normal operation of the PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" and airbag warning lights.

  • Any service related to the passenger seat and the ODS must be done at an authorized Kia dealership.

  • After the passenger seat has been removed or installed for repair purposes, check for normal operation of the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" and airbag warning lights with a person seated or not seated in the passenger seat.

WARNING

When the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" symbol appears, the passenger airbag system will not operate. The passenger airbag system will operate when necessary if the symbol is not illuminated.

WARNING

Do not modify or replace the front passenger seat. Don't place anything on or attach anything such as a blanket, front seat cover or aftermarket seat heater to the front passenger seat. This can adversely affect the ODS.

WARNING

ODS

Riding in an improper position adversely affects the Occupant Detection System and may result in the deactivation of the front passenger airbag. It is important for the driver to instruct the passenger as to the proper sitting positions as contained in this manual.

  • Do not place a heavy load in the front passenger seatback pocket or on the front passenger seat.

    ONQ5021044

  • Do not place feet on the front passenger seatback.

    ONQ5021045

  • Never sit with hips shifted towards the front of the seat.

    ONQ5021047

  • Never excessively recline the front passenger seatback.

    ONQ5021049

  • Never place feet on the dashboard.

    ONQ5021046

  • Never lean on the door or center console.

    ONQ5021048

  • Never sit on one side of the front passenger seat.

  • Do not use car seat accessories such as thick blankets and cushions which cover up the car seat surface.

  • Do not sit on the passenger seat wearing heavily padded clothes such as ski wear and hip protector.

    ONQ5021051

  • Do not place electronic devices such as laptops, DVD player, or conductive materials such as water bottles on the passenger seat.

  • Do not use electronic devices such as laptops and satellite radios which use inverter chargers.

    ONQ5021052

  • Wet passenger seat:

    Do not spill liquid in the passenger seat. Spilled liquid on the passenger seat may cause the airbag warning light to appear or malfunction. If any liquid is spilled, make sure the seat has been completely dried before driving with a passenger on that seat.

    ONQ5021052
Figure 1. Proper position
OMV023099

When an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, if the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator is on, change the ENGINE START/STOP button to the OFF position and have the passenger to sit properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor). Restart the vehicle and ensure the passenger remains in that position. This will allow the system to detect the person and to enable the passenger airbag.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator is still on, ask the passenger to move to the rear seat.

WARNING

PASSENGER AIR BAG "" light

Do not allow an adult passenger to ride in the front seat when the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator is illuminated, because the airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. The driver must instruct the passenger to reposition himself in the seat. Failure to properly position yourself may lead to airbag deactivation resulting in airbag non-deployment in a collision. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator remains illuminated after repositioned properly and the vehicle is restarted, have the passenger move to the rear seat because the passenger's front airbag will not deploy.

TIP

The PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator does not illuminate if the front passenger seat is occupied, the occupant detection sensor will then classify the front passenger after several more seconds. Also, if the ENGINE START/STOP button is turned to the ON position when about 3 minutes have elapsed since the vehicle is in OFF position.

  • Even though your vehicle is equipped with the ODS, never install a CRS in the front passenger's seat. A deploying airbag can forcefully strike a child resulting in serious injuries or death.

Any child under age 13 should ride in the rear seat. Children too large for child restraints should use the available lap/shoulder belts. No matter what type of collision, children of all ages generally speaking are safer when restrained in the rear seat.

If the ODS malfunctions, the SRS warning light on the instrument panel will illuminate because the passenger's front airbag is connected to the ODS. If there is a malfunction of the ODS the PASSENGER AIR BAG "" indicator will not illuminate and the passenger's front airbag will inflate in frontal impact crashes even if there is no occupant in the front passenger seat.