2006 KIA Sorento airbag

Airbag inflation condition
Front airbag
Front airbags (driver’s and front pas-
senger’s airbags) are designed to
inflate when the impact is delivered to
front collision sensors depending on
the intensity, speed or angles of
impact of the front collision - general-
ly from an area a little to the left to a
little to the right of straight ahead.
KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE3-58
WARNING
 Do not hit or allow any objects
to impact the locations where
airbag or sensors are installed.
This may cause unexpected
airbag deployment, which
could result in serious per-
sonal injury or death.
 If the installation location or
angle of the sensors is altered
in any way, the airbags may
deploy when they should not
or they may not deploy when
they should, causing severe
injury or death.
Therefore, do not try to per-
form maintenance on or
around the airbag sensors.
Have the vehicle checked and
repaired by the authorized Kia
dealer.
(Continued)
(Continued)
 Problems may arise if the sen-
sor installation angles are
changed due to the deforma-
tion of front bumper, body or
B pillar where side collision
sensors are installed. Have
the vehicle checked and
repaired by the authorized Kia
dealer.
 Your vehicle has been
designed to absorb impact
and deploy the airbag(s) in
certain collisions. Installing
aftermarket bumper guards or
replacing a bumper with non-
genuine parts may adversely
affect your vehicles collision
and airbag deployment per-
formance.
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Curtain airbag
Curtain airbags are designed to
inflate when the impact is delivered to
side collision sensors depending on
the strength, speed or angles of
impact of side impact collision or
rollover by the side impact.Although the front airbags (driver’s
and front passenger’s airbags) are
designed to inflate only in frontal col-
lision, it may inflate in any collision if
front impact sensors are delivered
with certain impact.
Curtain airbags are designed to
inflate only in side impact collision, it
may inflate in any collision if side
impact sensors are delivered with
certain impact.
In other words, they may inflate in
accidents such as slant collision or
impact, collision or impact where the
front portion of the vehicle goes
under a vehicle with a higher ground
clearance (bus or truck), collision with
a utility pole or rollover. Therefore,
drive safely at all times.
If the vehicle chassis is impacted by
bumps or objects on unimproved
roads or sidewalks, airbags may
deploy. Drive carefully on unimproved
roads or on surfaces not designed for
vehicle traffic.
To protect occupants, front airbags or
pre-tensioner safety belts may deploy
in certain side impact collisions.Airbag non-inflation conditions
In collisions, the vehicle safety belts
are sufficient to protect the vehicle
occupants and the airbags may not
deploy. In some cases, deploying
airbags in low-speed collisions can
cause a secondary impact to the
occupants (light abrasions, cuts,
burns, etc.), or loss of vehicle con-
trol.
KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE
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Airbags may not inflate in rear colli-
sions, because occupants are
moved backward by the force of the
impact. In this case, the airbags do
not provide proper protection.Front airbags may not inflate in side
impact collision, because occu-
pants move to the direction of the
collision, and thus front airbag
deployment does not provide prop-
er protection.
However, curtain airbags may
inflate depending on the intensity,
vehicle speed and angles of
impact.In a slant impact or collision, The
force delivered will be relatively
weaker than that of frontal or side
collision. So, the airbags may not
inflate.KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE3-60
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At the moment of an accident, driv-
ers brake heavily with reflex. In
such heavy braking, the front por-
tion of the vehicle is lowered by the
force of the braking and the vehicle
can go under a vehicle with a high-
er ground clearance. Airbags may
not inflate in this situation because
impacts may not be delivered or
may be delivered with less intensi-
ty.Airbags may not inflate in rollover
accidents because airbag deploy-
ment would not provide proper pro-
tection to the occupants.
However, curtain airbags may
inflate when the vehicle is rolled
over by a side impact collision.Airbags may not inflate if the vehi-
cle collides with objects such as
utility poles or trees, where the
point of impact is concentrated to
one area and the full force of the
impact is not delivered to the sen-
sors.
KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE
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How does the airbag system
operate
Airbag only operates when the igni-
tion switch is turned to ON or
START position.
Airbags inflate instantly in the event
of serious frontal or side collision in
order to help protect the occupants
from serious physical injury.
There is no single speed at which
the airbags will inflate.
Generally, airbags are designed to
inflate by the severity of a collision
and its direction. These two factors
determine whether the sensors
send out an electronic deploy-
ment/inflation signal.
Airbag deployment depends on a
number of factors including vehicle
speed, angles of impact and the
density and stiffness of the vehicles
or objects which your vehicle hits in
the collision. Though, factors are
not limited to those mentioned
above.The front airbags will completely
inflate and deflate in an instant.
It is virtually impossible for you to
see the airbags inflate during an
accident. It is much more likely that
you will simply see the deflated
airbags hanging out of their storage
compartments after the collision.
In order to help provide protection in
a severe collision, the airbags must
inflate rapidly. The speed of airbag
inflation has been determined by the
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (CMVSS) to reduce the
likelihood of serious or life-threaten-
ing injuries and is thus a mandatory
part of the airbag design.
However, airbag inflation can also
cause injuries which normally can
include facial abrasions, bruises
and broken bones, because that
speed also causes the airbags to
expand with a great deal force.
 There are even circumstances
under which contact with the
steering wheel airbag can cause
fatal injuries, especially if the
occupant is positioned exces-
sively close to the steering
wheel.KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE3-62
WARNING
 Driver should sit as far back
(at least 10 inches (250 mm)
away) from the steering wheel
airbag as possible to reduce
the risk of injury or death in a
collision. The front passenger
should always move their seat
as far back as possible and sit
back in their seat.
 Airbag inflates instantly in an
event of collision, passengers
may be injured by the airbag
expansion force if they are not
in proper position.
 Airbag inflation may cause
injuries which normally
include facial or bodily abra-
sions, injuries by the broken
glasses or burns by the explo-
sives.
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Noise and smoke
When the airbags 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 airbag inflator.
After the airbag inflates, you may feel
substantial discomfort in breathing
due to the contact of your chest to
both the safety belt and the airbag, as
well as from breathing the smoke and
powder.We strongly urge you to
open your doors and/or windows
as soon as possible after impact in
order to reduce discomfort and
prevent prolonged exposure to the
smoke and powder.
Though smoke and powder are non-
toxic, it may cause irritation to the
skin (eyes, nose and throat etc). If
this is the case, wash and rinse with
the cold water immediately and con-
sult the doctor if the symptom per-
sists.Installing a child restraint on a
front passenger seat is forbidden.
Never place a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger seat.
If the airbag deploys, it would impact
the rear-facing child restraint, caus-
ing serious or fatal injury.
In addition, do not place front-facing
child restraint in the front passenger
seat either. If the front passenger
airbag inflates, it would cause serious
or fatal injuries to the improperly posi-
tioned or improperly restrained child.
KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE
3-63
WARNING
When the airbags deploy, the
airbag related parts in steering
wheel and/or instrument panel
and/or in both sides of the roof
rails above the front and rear
doors are very hot. To prevent
injury, do not touch the airbag
storage areas internal compo-
nents immediately after an
airbag has inflated.
ADAIRBAG
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Airbag warning light
The purpose of airbag warning light
in your instrument panel is to alert
you of a potential problem with your
airbag - Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS).
When the ignition switch is turned
ON, the indicator light should blink or
illuminate for approximately 6 sec-
onds, then go off.
Have the system checked if:
The light does not turn on briefly
when you turn the ignition ON.
The light stays on after the engine
starts.
The light comes on while the vehi-
cle is in motion.Airbag (Supplemental Restraint
System) service
Your Supplemental Restraint System
is virtually maintenance-free. There
are no parts which you can service.
You must have the system serviced
under the following circumstances:
If an airbag ever inflates, the airbag
must be replaced. Do not try to
remove or discard the airbag by
yourself. This must be done by an
authorized Kia dealer.
If the airbag warning indicator light
alerts you to a problem, have the
airbag system checked as soon as
possible. Otherwise, your airbag
system may be ineffective.
KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE3-64
A-BAG-W
WARNING
 Never put child restraint in the
front passenger seat. If the
front passenger airbag
inflates, it would cause seri-
ous or fatal injuries.
 When children are seated in
the rear outboard seats in
which curtain airbags are
equipped, be sure to put the
child restraint system as far
away from the door side as
possible, and secure the child
restraint system to be locked
in position.
Inflation of curtain airbag
could cause serious injury or
death due to the expansion
impact.
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When repairing or scrapping the
vehicles
Repairing steering wheel, instru-
ment panel, center console or
roofs, or installing car audio around
center console or painting front
metal sheet could disable the
airbag system. Have them checked
by an authorized Kia dealer.
When leaving the vehicle at an
authorized Kia dealer, inform that
the vehicle is equipped with airbag
system, and leave the owner’s
manual in the vehicle.
Since airbag system contains
explosive chemical substances,
contact an authorized Kia dealer
when scrapping the vehicle.
KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE
3-65
CAUTION
Do not modify any part of the
Supplemental Restraint System.
Excessive modification could
make the airbag system ineffec-
tive.
WARNING
 Do not modify your steering
wheel, seat or any other part
of the Supplemental Restraint
System. Modification could
make the system inoperable.
 Do not work on the system’s
components or wiring. This
could cause the airbags to
inflate inadvertently, possibly
seriously injuring someone.
Working on the system could
also disable the system so
that the airbags would not
deploy in a collision.
 Any work on the SRS system,
such as removing, installing,
repairing, or any work on the
steering wheel must be per-
formed by a qualified Kia
technician. Improper handling
of the airbag system may
result in serious personal
injury.
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