Page 57 of 238

3-47
(Continued)
Always wear your safety belt. It can help
keep you away from the air bags during
heavy braking just before a collision.
Air bags are designed to inflate only in
severe frontal collisions and will generally
not provide protection in side or rear
impacts, rollovers or less severe frontal colli-
sions. They will also not provide protection
from later impacts in a multi-impact colli-
sion.
If your vehicle has been subjected to flood
conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/standing
water on the floor of the vehicle, etc.) or if
your vehicle has become flood damaged in
any way, do not attempt to start the vehicle
or put the key in the ignition before discon-
necting the battery. This may cause air bag
deployment, which could result in serious
personal injury or death. Have the vehicle
towed to an authorized Kia dealer for
inspection and necessary repairs.
Air Bag System ComponentsThe main components of your vehicle’s SRS are:
One air bag in the steering wheel for the driver, and
another in the dashboard for the front passenger.
A diagnostic system that continually monitors sys-
tem operation.
An indicator light to warn you of a possible problem
with the system.
Emergency power backup in case your car’s electri-
cal system is disconnected in a crash.
1B3102002E
Driver’s side
air bag
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 47
Page 58 of 238

To indicate that your vehicle is equipped with air bags,
the air bag covers on the steering wheel and on the
dashboard are marked with “SRS AIR BAG.”Knowing Your Vehicle3-48How the Air Bag System (SRS) Works
The driver’s air bag is stored in the center of the steer-
ing wheel. The passenger side air bag is stored in the
front instrument panel above the glove box.
If you ever have a severe frontal collision, your air
bags will instantly inflate to help protect you from seri-
ous physical injury.
There is no single vehicle speed at which the air bags
will inflate. Generally, air bags are designed to inflate
in severe frontal collisions. The air bag Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) reacts to the severity of a colli-
sion and its direction. These two factors determine
whether the sensors send out an electronic deployment
or inflation signal. Whether the air bags will inflate
depends on a number of factors including vehicle
speed, angle of impact and the density and stiffness of
the vehicles or objects that your vehicle hits in the col-
lision.
1B3102002E
Passenger’s side
air bag
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 48
Page 59 of 238

3-49
The air bags will completely inflate and deflate in
less than 1/10 of one second. The speed of inflation
and deflation protects the driver’s ability to operate the
vehicle. This is important in crashes where a vehicle
continues to move after an impact and the driver still
has some control of the vehicle’s steering, braking,
throttle and/or transmission systems.
It is virtually impossible for you to see the air bags
inflate during an accident. It is much more likely that
you will simply see the deflated air bags hanging out
of their storage compartments after the collision.
In order to help provide protection in a severe colli-
sion, the air bags must inflate rapidly. However, that
speed also causes the air bags to expand with a great
deal of force. The speed of this inflation has been
determined by the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (CMVSS) to reduce the likelihood of serious
or life-threatening injuries and is thus a mandatory part
of air bag design.Thus, air bag inflation could also cause injuries which
normally can include facial abrasions, bruises and bro-
ken bones. However, there are even circumstances
under which contact with the steering wheel air bag
can cause fatal injuries, especially if the occupant is
positioned excessively close to the steering wheel.
1S2104009
Steering wheel
air bag
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 49
Page 60 of 238

Knowing Your Vehicle3-50YOU MUST ALWAYS SIT AS FAR BACK FROM
THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG AS POSSI-
BLE, WHILE STILL MAINTAINING A COM-
FORTABLE SEATING POSITION FOR GOOD
VEHICLE CONTROL, IN ORDER TO REDUCE
THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN A COLLI-
SION.
WARNING - Air Bag Injuries
Sit as far back from the steering wheel as
possible without interfering with your con-
trol of the vehicle. Positioning yourself too
close to the steering wheel can result in seri-
ous or even fatal injuries if the air bag
deploys.
Never place objects over the air bag storage
compartments or between the air bags and
yourself. Due to the speed and force of the
air bag inflation, such objects could hit your
body at high speed and cause severe bodily
injury and even death.
Noise and SmokeWhen the air bags inflate, they make a loud noise and
they leave smoke and powder in the air inside of the
vehicle. This is normal and is a result of the ignition of
the air bag inflator.
After the air bags inflate, you may feel substantial dis-
comfort in breathing due both to the contact by your
chest with both the safety belt and the air bag, as well
as from breathing the smoke and powder. We strongly urge you to open your doors and/or windows
as promptly as possible after impact in order to reduce
discomfort and prevent prolonged exposure to the smoke
and powder.
WARNING - Hot Metal Parts
When the air bags deploy, the air bag inflators
in the steering wheel and/or in the dashboard
are very hot. To prevent injury, do not touch the
air bag storage area’s internal components
immediately after an air bag has inflated.
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 50
Page 61 of 238

3-51 The Importance of The Passenger Being
Properly Seated
The front seat passenger’s air bag is much larger than
the driver’s air bag and inflates with considerably more
force. It can seriously hurt or kill a passenger who is
not in the proper position and wearing the safety belt
properly. The front passenger should always move
their seat as far back as practical and sit well back in
the seat. It is essential that the front passenger always
wears his/her safety belt, even when travelling in a
parking lot or along a driveway into a garage.
1B3102002E
The reason for this is that in most frontal impacts there
is substantial pre-impact braking which tends to throw
the occupants forward. If the right front passenger is
not using their safety belt, they will be directly in front
of or even touching the air bag storage compartment
when inflation occurs. In that situation, death or severe
injury is possible.
Because of the air bag, you must NEVER INSTALL A
CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN THE FRONT
PASSENGER SEAT. There is a very significant risk of
serious or fatal injuries to a child in a child restraint if
the right front passenger air bag inflates.
WARNING -Right Front Seat
Pre-impact braking could throw an unbelted
passenger toward or onto the air bag storage
compartment. Upon impact in a collision, the
air bag would rapidly inflate and possibly
serverly injure or kill that occupant who failed
to wear their safety belt.
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 51
Page 62 of 238

Knowing Your Vehicle3-52 Air Bag Warning LightThe purpose of the air bag warning light in your instru-
ment panel is to alert you of a potential problem with
your Air Bag – Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).
WARNING - Front Passengers
NEVER use a child restraint in the front
seat. There is a very significant risk of seri-
ous or fatal injuries to a child in a child
restraint if the right front passenger air bag
inflates.
In the front seat, a rear-facing child restraint
would be positioned too close to where the
air bags are stored and in the event an air
bag deploys, the air bag would impact the
rear-facing child restraint and cause serious
injuries or death.
Failure to observe the instructions provided
with the child restraint system could
increase the risk and/or severity of injury in
an accident.
Have the system checked if:
The light does not illuminate when you turn the
ignition ON.
The light stays ON after the engine starts.
The light comes ON or flashes while you are dri-
ving.
A-BAG-W
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 52
Page 63 of 238

3-53 Supplemental Restraint System Service
Your Supplemental Restraint System is virtually main-
tenance-free. There are no parts which you can service.
You must have the system serviced under the following
circumstances:
If an air bag ever inflates, the air bag must be
replaced. Do not try to remove or discard the air bag
by yourself. This must be done by an authorized Kia
dealer.
If the air bag warning indicator light alerts you of a
problem, have the air bag system checked as soon as
possible. Otherwise, your air bag might not inflate
when you need it.
WARNING -SRS Modifications
Do not modify your steering wheel or any
other part of the Supplemental Restraint
System. Modification could make the system
ineffective.
Do not work on the system’s components or
wiring. This could cause the air bags to
inflate inadvertently, possibly seriously
injuring someone. Working on the system
could also disable the system so that the air
bags did not deploy in a collision.
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 53
Page 64 of 238

Knowing Your Vehicle3-54Air Bag Warning Label (sunvisor - front side)
To remind you of the dangers of the air bag, air bag
warning labels which are now required by the
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS)
are adhered to the driver’s and passenger’s sunvisors
and attached to the glove box.
Note that even though these government warnings
emphasize the risk to children, please be aware of the
risk to adults, as described in previous pages.
Children 12 and under can be killed by the air bag.
The BACK SEAT is the SAFEST place for children.
NEVER put a rear-facing child seat in the front.
Sit as far back as possible from the air bag.ALWAYS use SEAT BELTS and CHILD RESTRAINTS.
AS2B03037
Rear Hatch (For 5 Door Hatchback) The rear hatch can be locked and unlocked with the
key.
You can also unlock the latch with the automatic
door lock system(if equipped) but couldn't open the
rear hatch.
Once the rear hatch has been unlocked, lifting the
rear hatch handle may open it.
To make certain that you close the rear hatch door
before driving your vehicle. Possible damage may
occur to the rear hatch lift cylinders and attaching
hardware if the rear hatch door is not closed prior to
driving.
1B3104003B
handleUnlock Lock
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 54