Warning lights

The warning lights indicate situations that require the driver to pay extra attention.

TIP

Warning lights

Make sure that all warning lights are OFF after starting the engine. If any light is still ON, it indicates a situation that needs immediate attention.

Service warning light

This warning light illuminates:

  • When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position, the service warning light illuminates for approximately 3 seconds, then turns off when all checks have been performed.

  • When there is a problem with the hybrid vehicle control system or hardware

If the warning light illuminates while you are driving or does not turn off after you start the vehicle, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Regenerative brake warning light

This warning light illuminates when regenerative braking does not operate or perform well. This issue causes the brake warning light (red) and regenerative brake warning light (yellow) to illuminate simultaneously.

If the regenerative brake warning light illuminates, drive safely and have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer. Operating the brake pedal might be more difficult than usual, and braking distance might increase.

Air bag warning light

This warning light appears:

  • When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position. The light illuminates for approximately 3–6 seconds and then disappears.

  • When there is an SRS malfunction. If this happens, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Seat belt warning light

This warning light informs the driver that the seat belt is not fastened.

For more details, refer to Seat belt warning.

Parking brake and brake fluid warning light

This warning light appears:

  • When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

    • The light appears for approximately 3 seconds.

    • The light remains on if the parking brake is applied.

  • When you apply the parking brake.

  • When the brake fluid level in the reservoir is low.

    • If the warning light appears when you release the parking brake, the brake fluid level in the reservoir is low.

If the brake fluid level in the reservoir is low, follow these steps:

  1. Drive carefully to the nearest safe location and stop your vehicle.

  2. With the engine stopped, check the brake fluid level immediately and add fluid as required (for more details, refer to Brake fluid). Then check all brake components for fluid leaks. Do not drive the vehicle if you find a leak in the brake system, the warning light remains on, or the brakes do not operate properly.

    Have your vehicle towed to and inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Dual-diagonal braking system

Your vehicle is equipped with dual-diagonal braking systems, which means you still have braking on 2 wheels even if one of the dual systems should fail.

With only 1 of the dual systems working, you need to press the pedal further and harder to stop the vehicle.

The vehicle will not stop in as short a distance with only a portion of the brake system working.

If the brakes fail while you are driving, shift to a lower gear for additional engine braking and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

WARNING

Parking brake and brake fluid warning light

Driving the vehicle with a warning light ON is dangerous. If the Parking brake and brake fluid warning light appears while the parking brake is released, it indicates that the brake fluid level is low.

Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) warning light

This warning light appears:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • If the ABS malfunctions, the normal braking system will still be operational.

    Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

EBD system warning light

These 2 warning lights appear at the same time when both the ABS and regular brake system are not working. In this case, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

WARNING

EBD system warning light

When both the ABS and Parking brake and brake fluid warning lights are on, the brake system will not work normally, and sudden braking may cause a dangerous or unexpected situation.

Avoid high speed driving and abrupt braking.

Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer as soon as possible.

Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) warning light warning light : (if equipped)

This warning light appears:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • When the EPB is malfunctioning. In this case, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

TIP

EPB warning light

The EPB warning light may appear when the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) indicator light comes on to indicate that the ESC is not working properly. This does not indicate an EPB malfunction.

Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) warning light

This warning light appears:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • When the MDPS is malfunctioning. In this case, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Charging system warning light

This warning light appears:

  • When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • When either the alternator or electrical charging system is malfunctioning.

If either the alternator or electrical charging system is malfunctioning, follow these steps.

  1. Drive carefully to the nearest safe location and stop your vehicle.

  2. Turn the engine off and check the alternator drive belt for looseness or breakage.

    In this case, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)

This warning light appears:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • Whenever there is a malfunction with the emission control system, engine, or vehicle powertrain. Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

NOTE

MIL

  • Driving with the MIL on may cause damage to the emission control systems, which could affect drivability and fuel economy.

  • If the enhanced engine protection system is activated due to a lack of engine oil, the engine will have limited power. If this continues, the MIL will appear.

TIP

If the oil pressure lowers due to insufficient engine oil or another cause, the engine oil pressure warning light will turn on, and an enhanced engine protection system that limits the engine’s power activates. The engine warning light will turn on if you continue driving.

NOTE

If the MIL appears, catalytic converter damage is possible, which could result in loss of engine power. In this case, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Engine oil pressure warning light

This warning light appears:

  • When you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position until the engine starts.

  • When the engine oil pressure is low.

  • Drive carefully to the nearest safe location and stop your vehicle.

  • Turn the engine off and check the engine oil level (for more details, refer to Changing the engine oil and filter). If the level is low, add oil as required.

  • If the warning light remains on after you add oil, or if oil is not available, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer. Continuing to drive with the warning light on may cause engine failure.

TIP

  • When engine oil pressure decreases due to insufficient engine oil or another cause, the engine oil pressure warning light will appear.

  • The enhanced engine protection system, which limits engine power, will activate. When the engine oil pressure is restored, the warning light and the enhanced engine protection system will turn off after you restart the engine.

NOTE

Engine overheating

Do not continue driving when the engine is overheated. Otherwise, the engine may be damaged.

NOTE

Engine damage

After the engine oil pressure warning light appears and stays on while the engine is running, serious engine damage may occur if you do not stop the engine immediately.

Exhaust system (GPF) warning light (Gasoline Engine)

This warning light appears:

  • When there is a malfunction with the Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) system.

  • When this warning light appears, it may turn off after you drive the vehicle.

    • Drive the vehicle for more than 30 minutes at a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) or faster.

    • Ensure that the following conditions are all met: safe road conditions, transmission 3rd gear or above, and engine speed of 1,500–4,000 rpm.

If this warning light blinks despite following the above procedure (at this time, the LCD warning message will display), have the GPF system inspected by an authorized Kia dealer

NOTE

Gasoline engine with GPF (if equipped)

If you continue to drive with the GPF warning light blinking for a long time, the GPF system can be damaged, and fuel consumption can worsen.

Low fuel level warning light

This warning light appears when the fuel tank is nearly empty. Add fuel as soon as possible.

If the fuel tank is nearly empty, add fuel as soon as possible.

NOTE

Low fuel level

Driving with the Low Fuel Level warning light on or with the fuel level below “E” can cause the engine to misfire and damage the catalytic converter.

Master warning light

This warning light appears in the following situations:

  • LED headlamp malfunction: (if equipped)

  • Lamp malfunction

  • High Beam Assist malfunction (if equipped)

To identify the details of the warning, look at the LCD display.

If the warning situation is solved, the master warning light will turn off.

Low tire pressure warning light

This warning light appears:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • When 1 or more of your tires are significantly underinflated. The LCD display shows the location of any underinflated tire.)

For more details, refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

This warning light remains on after blinking for approximately 60 seconds or repeats blinking on and off at intervals of approximately 3 seconds when the TPMS malfunctions. In this case, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

For more details, refer to Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

WARNING

Low tire pressure

  • Significantly low tire pressure makes the vehicle unstable and can contribute to loss of control and increased braking distances.

  • Continued driving on low pressure tires will cause the tires to overheat and fail.

WARNING

Safe stopping

  • The TPMS cannot alert you about severe and sudden tire damage caused by external factors.

  • If you notice any vehicle instability, immediately take your foot off the accelerator pedal, apply the brakes gradually with light force, and slowly move to a safe position off the road.

LED headlamp warning light

This warning light appears:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • When there is a malfunction with the LED headlamp.

Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

This warning light blinks:

  • When there is a malfunction with an LED headlamp related part.

Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

NOTE

LED headlamp warning light

Continuous driving with the LED Headlamp Warning Light on or blinking can reduce LED headlight (low beam) life.

Forward Safety warning light

This warning light appears:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • Yellow: When Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist Forward Safety is deselected or disabled, or when a malfunction is detected.

    If the yellow warning light remains on after the sensor has been uncovered or unblocked when you set Forward Safety, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

This warning light blinks red when the Forward Safety or Forward Cross-Traffic Safety function is operating.

For more details, refer to Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA) (Sensor Fusion).

Emergency steering warning light : (if equipped)

This warning light appears:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • Yellow: When Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist Forward/Side Safety is deselected or disabled, or when a malfunction is detected.

    If the warning light remains on after the sensor has been uncovered or unblocked when Forward/Side Safety is on, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

This warning light blinks red when the Forward/Side Safety function is operating.

For more details, refer to Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA) (Sensor Fusion).

Icy road warning light : (if equipped)

This warning light appears when the temperature on the outside temperature gauge is below approximately 40°F (4°C) to warn the driver that the road may be icy. The outside temperature gauge blinks before the Icy Road Warning appears and the warning chime sounds once.

Washer fluid warning light

This warning light appears when the washer fluid level in the reservoir is nearly empty. In this case, you should refill the washer fluid.

Door ajar warning light

This warning light appears when a door is not closed securely.

Liftgate open warning light

This warning light appears when the liftgate is not closed securely.

Forward Attention Warning light : (if equipped)

This warning light illuminates:

  • For approximately 3 seconds when you press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the ON position.

  • When Forward Attention Warning is disabled or a malfunction is detected. If the warning light remains on after the in-cabin camera has been uncovered or unblocked, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

This warning light blinks:

  • Forward Attention Warning warns the driver to keep eyes on the road.

For more details, refer to Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA) (Sensor Fusion).