Conditions and operation of the front passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS)


Condition detected by the occupant detection system	Indicator/Warning light Devices		Devices
Condition detected by the occupant detection system	PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF	SRS warning light	Front passenger air bag
1. Adult	Off	Off	Activated
2. Child Restraint System (CRS) with child under 12 months old	On	Off	Deactivated
3. Unoccupied	On	Off	Deactivated
4. Malfunction in the system	Off	On	Activated

The system judges 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 physique and posture.

Do not allow children 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 physique or sitting position.

Never install a CRS on the front passenger seat.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) 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.

WARNING

Do not use car seat cushions that cover up the surface of the seat and aftermarket manufactured passenger seat heaters.
After cleaning the car interior using steam or detergent, dry the seat properly. Afterward, check that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) and air bag warning lights operate normally.
Any service related to the passenger seat and the ODS must be done at an authorized Kia dealership.
After you remove or install the passenger seat for repair purposes, check the normal operation of the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) and air bag warning lights with a person seated or not seated in the passenger seat.
When the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) symbol appears, the passenger air bag system will not operate. The passenger air bag system will operate when necessary if the symbol does not appear.
Do not modify or replace the front passenger seat. Do not place or attach anything, such as a blanket, front seat cover, or aftermarket seat heater, to the front passenger seat. This can adversely affect the Occupant Detection System.

WARNING

Occupant Detection System

Riding in an improper position adversely affects the Occupant Detection System and may result in the deactivation of the front passenger airbag, potentially increasing the risk of injury in a crash. It is important for the driver to instruct the passenger as to the proper seating instructions as contained in this manual.


OLQ2A065096	Do not place a heavy load in the front passenger seatback pocket or on the front passenger seat.
OLQ2A065097	Do not place feet on the front passenger seatback.
OLQ2A065098	Never sit with hips shifted towards the front of the seat.
OLQ2A065083	Never excessively recline the front passenger seatback.
OLQ2A065099	Never place feet on the instrument panel.
OLQ2A065100	Never lean on the door or center console. Never sit on one side of the front passenger seat.
OLQ2A065101	Do not use car seat accessories such as thick blankets and cushions which cover up the car seat surface. Do not place electronic devices such as laptops, DVD players or heavy objects on the passenger seat. Wet passenger seat: Do not spill liquid in the passenger seat. Spilled liquid on the passenger seat may cause the air bag warning light to appear or malfunction. If any liquid is spilled, make sure the seat has been completely dried before driving the vehicle.


Figure 1. Proper position OLQ2A065102

When an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator is on, change the ENGINE START/STOP button to the OFF position and ask 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 ex tended and their feet on the floor). Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in that position. This will allow the system to detect the person and to enable the passenger air bag.

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

WARNING

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) light

Do not allow an adult 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 collision. Have the passenger reposition in the seat. Failure to properly position yourself may lead to air bag deactivation resulting in air bag non-deployment in a collision. If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator remains illuminated after repositioned properly and the vehicle is restarted, have the passenger move to the rear seat because the passenger’s front air bag will not deploy.

TIP

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator does not illuminate if the front passenger seat is occupied. The occupant detection sensor will classify the front passenger after a few more seconds. Also, if you turn the ENGINE START/STOP button to the ON position after approximately 3 minutes have passed since the vehicle was in the OFF position, the system will activate.

Even though your vehicle has the Occupant Detection System, never install a Child Restraint System in the front passenger’s seat. A deploying air bag 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 crash, children of all ages generally speaking are safer when restrained in the rear seat.

If the ODS does not function properly, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) air bag warning light on the instrument panel will appear because the passenger’s front air bag is connected with the ODS. If the ODS malfunctions, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator will not appear. In this case, the passenger’s front airbag will inflate in frontal impact crashes even if there is no occupant in the front passenger seat.