Kia Sorento: Occupant Detection System (ODS)

Your vehicle is equipped with an occupant detection system in the front passenger's seat.

The occupant detection system is designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated front passenger and determine if the passenger's front air bag should be enabled (may inflate) or not. Only the front passenger front air bag is controlled by the Occupant Classification System.

WARNING

Do not put anything in front of the passenger air bag indicator.

Main components of the occupant detection system

• A detection device located within the front passenger seat cushion.
• An electronic system which determines whether the passenger air bag systems should be activated or deactivated.
• A indicator light located on the instrument panel which illuminates the words PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicating the front passenger air bag system is deactivated.
• The instrument panel air bag warning light is interconnected with the occupant detection system.

If the front passenger seat is occupied by a person that the system determines to be of appropriate size, and he/she sits 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 “OFF” indicator will turn off and the front passenger's air bag will be able to inflate, if necessary, in frontal crashes.

You will find the PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator on the center facia panel. This system detects the conditions 1~4 in the following table and activates or deactivates the front passenger air bag 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 safety belt properly) for the most effective protection by the air bag and the safety belt.

 The ODS (Occupant Detection System) may not function properly if the passenger takes actions which can defeat the detection system.

These include:

(1) Failing to sit in an upright position.

(2) Leaning against the door or center console.

(3) Sitting towards the sides or the front of the seat.

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

(5) Improperly wearing the safety belt.

(6) Reclining the seat back.

Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant detection system

*1 :

The ODS system uses a field to evaluate a person's size to determine whether the air bag should deploy. It is possible for a child to be detected and activate the ODS, thus allowing the air bag to deploy.To maximize safety, do not allow children to ride in the front passenger seat.

*2 :

Never install a child restraint system on the front passenger seat.

WARNING

Riding in an improper position or placing weight on the front passenger's seat when it is unoccupied by a passenger adversely affects the Occupant Detection System (ODS). Your ODS is designed to resist electronic waves, but do not place an electronic device (ex. laptop computer, after market DMB/navigation/ satellite audio, video game machine, MP3, etc.) on or near the seat cushion since it may defeat the proper functioning of the ODS or turn on the air bag warning light.

Never put a heavy load or an active electronic device on the front passenger seat or seatback pocket.

Never place feet on the front passenger seatback.

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

Never excessively recline the front passenger seatback.

Never place feet on the dashboard.

Never lean on the door or center console. Never sit on one side of the front passenger seat.

When an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, if the PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator is on, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position and ask the passenger to sit properly (sitting 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). Restart the engine 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

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 crash. If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator remains illuminated after the adult passenger repositions themselves properly and the vehicle is restarted, have the passenger move to the rear seat because the passenger's front air bag will not deploy. The "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator will not change according to the occupants posture after the vehicle has been running for 30 seconds. Front seat passengers must stay properly seated to avoid serious injury from a deploying air bag.

✽ NOTICE

The PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator illuminates for about 4 seconds after the ignition switch is turned to the ON position or after the engine is started. If the front passenger seat is occupied, the occupant detection sensor will then classify the front passenger after several more seconds.

WARNING

Do not put a heavy load or an active electronic device (ex. laptop computer, after market DMB/navigation/satellite audio, video game machine, MP3, etc.) in the front passenger seatback pocket or on the front passenger seat. Do not hang onto the front passenger seat. Do not hang any items such as seatback table on the front passenger seatback. Do not place feet on the front passenger seatback. Do not place any items under the front passenger seat. Any of these could interfere with proper sensor operation or turn on the air bag warning light.

WARNING

• Even though your vehicle is equipped with 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 age 12 and under 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 are safer when restrained in the rear seat.
• If the PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator is illuminated when the front passenger's seat is occupied by an adult and he/she sits 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), have that person sit in the rear seat.
• If the front passenger seat is occupied by a child who is not in a CRS, the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator may or may not be on and the passenger air bag may or may not deploy in a collision. Have the child move to a rear seat to increase their safety.
• Do not modify or replace the front passenger seat. Don't place anything on or attach anything such as a blanket or seat heater to the front passenger seat.This can adversely affect the occupant detection system.
• Do not place sharp objects on the front passenger seat. These may damage the occupant detection system, if they puncture the seat cushion.
• Do not use accessory seat covers on the front seats.
• Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear, as opposed to the front seat. It is recommended that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
• Air bags can only be used once – have an authorized Kia dealer replace the air bag immediately after deployment.
• The occupant detection system may not work properly if water, coffee or any other liquid including rain gets on the seat. Keep the front seat dry at all times.
• Do not place an electronic device (ex. laptop computer, after market DMB/navigation/ satellite audio, video game machine, MP3, etc.) on the front passenger seat. Its electronic field may cause the ODS to switch to the "on" condition and thus turn on the air bag warning light or allow the passenger airbag to deploy needlessly in a collision, increasing your repair costs.

WARNING

If the occupant detection system is not working properly, the SRS air bag warning light on the instrument panel will illuminate because the passenger's front air bag is connected with the occupant detection system. If there is a malfunction of the occupant detection system, the PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator will not illuminate and the passenger's front air bag will inflate in frontal impact crashes even if there is no occupant in the front passenger's seat. 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 occupant detection system and the SRS air bag system as soon as possible.