Kia Sportage 2023 Owner's Manual page 68

Safety features of your vehicle
passenger's seat belt usage and impact
severity.
The seat belt buckle sensor determines
if the front passenger's seat belt is fas-
tened.
These sensors provide the ability to con-
trol the SRS deployment based on
whether or not the seat belts are fas-
tened, and how severe the impact is.
The advanced SRS offers the ability to
control the air bag inflation with two lev-
els. A first stage level is provided for
moderate-severity impacts. A second
stage level is provided for more severe
impacts.
According to the impact severity and
seat belt usage, the SRS Control Module
(SRSCM) controls the air bag inflation.
Failure to properly wear seat belts can
increase the risk or severity of injury in
an accident.
Additionally, your vehicle is equipped
with an Occupant Detection System
(ODS) in the front passenger's seat. The
ODS detects the presence of a passen-
ger in the front passenger's seat and will
turn off the front passenger's air bag
under certain conditions. For more
detail, see "Occupant Detection System
(ODS)" on page 3-36.
WARNING
Modification to the seat structure can
cause the air bag to deploy at a different
level than should be provided.
Manufacturers are required by govern-
ment regulations to provide a contact
point concerning modifications to the
vehicle for persons with disabilities,
which modifications may affect the vehi-
cle's advanced air bag system. That con-
tact is Kia's toll-free Customer
Assistance center at 1-800-333-4Kia.
3 42
Air bag - advanced Supplemental Restraint System
However, Kia does not endorse nor will it
support any changes to any part or
structure of the vehicle that could affect
the advanced air bag system, including
the ODS.
WARNING
Replacement/modifications
The front passenger seat, dashboard or
door should not be replaced except by
an authorized Kia dealer using original
Kia parts designed for this vehicle and
model. Any other such replacement or
modification could adversely affect the
operation of the Occupant Detection
System and your advanced air bags.
Advanced air bags are combined with
pre-tensioner seat belts to help provide
enhanced occupant protection in frontal
crashes. Front air bags are not intended
to deploy in collisions in which sufficient
protection can be provided by the seat
belt.
NOTICE
Air bags can only be used once – have
an authorized Kia dealer replace the air
bag immediately after deployment.
Front air bags are not intended to
deploy in side-impact, rear-impact or
rollover crashes. However, when frontal
deployment threshold is satisfied at
side-impact, front air bags may deploy.
In addition, front air bags will not deploy
in frontal crashes below the deployment
threshold.
WARNING
SRS Wiring
Do not tamper with or disconnect SRS
wiring or other components of the SRS
system. Doing so could result in injury,