2021 KIA NIRO PHEV Owners Manual

Driving your vehicle
38 5
System warning
When the conversion from Auto Hold
to EPB is not working properly a
warning will sound and a message
will appear.
System warning
If the EPB is applied while Auto Hold
is activated because of ESC
(Electronic Stability Control) signal, a
warning will sound and a message
will appear.
CAUTION
Engage the brake pedal when
the above message appears for
the Auto Hold and EPB may not
activate.
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539
Driving your vehicle
EPB malfunction indicator
(if equipped)
This warning light illuminates if the
ignition switch or ENGINE START/
STOP button is changed to the ON
position and goes off in approximately
3 seconds if the system is operation
normally.
If the EPB malfunction indicator
remains on, comes on while driving,
or does not come on when the igni-
tion switch or ENGINE START/STOP
button is changed to the ON position,
this indicates that the EPB may have
malfunctioned.If this occurs, have your vehicle
checked by an authorized Kia dealer
as soon as possible.
The EPB malfunction indicator may
illuminate when the ESC indicator
comes on to indicate that the ESC is
not working properly, but it does not
indicate a malfunction of the EPB.
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CAUTION
The EPB warning light may
illuminate if the EPB switch
operates abnormally. Shut the
engine off and turn it on again
after a few minutes. The warn-
ing light will go off and the
EPB switch will operate nor-
mally. However, if the EPB
warning light is still on, have
the system checked by an
authorized Kia dealer.
If the parking brake warning
light does not illuminate or
blinks even though the EPB
switch was pulled up, the EPB
is not applied.
(Continued)
(Continued)
If the parking brake warning
light blinks when the EPB
warning light is on, press the
switch, then pull it up. Once
more press it back to its origi-
nal position and pull it back
up. If the EPB warning does
not go off, have the system
checked by an authorized Kia
dealer.

Driving your vehicle
40 5
Emergency braking
If there is a problem with the brake
pedal while driving, emergency brak-
ing is possible by pulling up and
holding the EPB switch. Braking is
possible only while you are holding
the EPB switch.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
During emergency braking by the
EPB, the parking brake warning
light will illuminate to indicate that
the system is operating.
When the EPB (Electronic Parking
Brake) does not release
If the EPB does not release normal-
ly, take your vehicle to an authorized
Kia dealer by loading the vehicle on
a flatbed tow truck and have the sys-
tem checked.
WARNING
Do not operate the parking
brake while the vehicle is mov-
ing except in an emergency sit-
uation.
CAUTION
If you continuously notice a
noise or burning smell when the
EPB is used for emergency brak-
ing, have your vehicle checked
by an authorized Kia dealer.

541
Driving your vehicle
AUTO HOLD (if equipped)
The Auto Hold maintains the vehicle
in a standstill even though the brake
pedal is not depressed after the driv-
er brings the vehicle to a complete
stop by depressing the brake pedal.
Set up
1. With the driver's door, engine
hood closed, fasten the driver's
seat belt or depress the brake
pedal and then press the Auto
Hold button. The white AUTO
HOLD indicator will come on and
the system will be in the standby
position.2. When you stop the vehicle com-
pletely by depressing the brake
pedal, the AUTO HOLD indicator
changes from white to green.
3. The vehicle will remain stationary
even if you release the brake pedal.
4. If EPB is applied, Auto Hold will be
released.
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Driving your vehicle
42 5
Leaving
If you press the accelerator pedal
with the shift lever in D (Drive) or
manual mode, the Auto Hold will be
released automatically and the vehi-
cle will start to move. The indicator
changes from green to white.Cancel
To cancel the Auto Hold operation,
press the Auto Hold switch. The
AUTO HOLD indicator will go out.
To cancel the Auto Hold operation
when the vehicle is at a standstill,
press the Auto Hold switch while
depressing the brake pedal.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
• The Auto Hold does not operate
when:
- The driver's door is opened
- The engine hood is opened
- The shift lever is in P (Park) or R
(Reverse)
- The EPB is applied
• For your safety, the Auto Hold
automatically switches to EPB in
such cases:
- The driver's door is opened
- The engine hood is opened
- The vehicle is in a standstill for
more than 10 minutes
- The vehicle is standing on a steep
slope
- The vehicle moved several times
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WARNING
When driving off from Auto
Hold by depressing the acceler-
ator pedal, always check the
surrounding area near your
vehicle.
Slowly depress the accelerator
pedal for a smooth launch.

543
Driving your vehicle
(Continued)
In these cases, the brake warning
light comes on, the AUTO HOLD
indicator changes from green to
white, and a warning sounds and a
message will appear to inform you
that EPB has been automatically
engaged. Before driving off again,
press foot brake pedal, check the
surrounding area near your vehi-
cle and release parking brake
manually with the EPB switch.
• If the AUTO HOLD indicator
lights up yellow, the Auto Hold is
not working properly. Take your
vehicle to an authorized Kia deal-
er and have the system checked.
• While operating Auto Hold, you
may hear mechanical noise.
However, it is normal operation
noise.Warning messages
Parking brake automatically
engaged
When the EPB is applied from Auto
Hold, a warning will sound and a
message will appear.
WARNING
Press the accelerator pedal
slowly when you start the
vehicle.
For your safety, cancel the
Auto Hold when you drive
downhill or back up or park
the vehicle.
CAUTION
If there is a malfunction with the
driver’s door, engine hood open
detection system, the Auto Hold
may not work properly.
Take your vehicle to an author-
ized Kia dealer and have the sys-
tem checked.
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Driving your vehicle
44 5
AUTO HOLD turning Off!
Press brake pedal
When the conversion from Auto Hold
to EPB is not working properly a
warning will sound and a message
will appear.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
When this message is displayed, the
Auto Hold and EPB may not oper-
ate. For your safety, depress the
brake pedal.
Press brake pedal to deactivate
AUTO HOLD
If you did not apply the brake pedal
when you release the Auto Hold by
pressing the [AUTO HOLD] switch, a
warning will sound and a message
will appear.
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545
Driving your vehicle
AUTO HOLD conditions not met.
Close door and hood
When you press the [AUTO HOLD]
switch, if the driver’s door, engine
hood are not closed, a warning will
sound and a message will appear on
the LCD display. At this moment,
press the [AUTO HOLD] button after
closing the driver’s door and hood.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS (or ESC) will not prevent acci-
dents due to improper or dangerous
driving maneuvers. Even though
vehicle control is improved during
emergency braking, always maintain
a safe distance between you and
objects ahead. Vehicle speeds
should always be reduced during
extreme road conditions. The vehicle
should be driven at reduced speeds
in the following circumstances:
When driving on rough, gravel or
snow-covered roads
When driving with tire chains
installed
When driving on roads where the
road surface is pitted or has differ-
ent surface heights.
Driving in these conditions increases
the stopping distance for your vehicle.The ABS continuously senses the
speed of the wheels. If the wheels
are going to lock, the ABS system
repeatedly modulates the hydraulic
brake pressure to the wheels.
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the
wheels, you may hear a “tik-tik’’
sound from the brakes, or feel a cor-
responding sensation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and it means
your ABS is active.
In order to obtain the maximum benefit
from your ABS in an emergency situa-
tion, do not attempt to modulate your
brake pressure and do not try to pump
your brakes. Press your brake pedal as
hard as possible to allow the ABS to
control the force being delivered to the
brakes.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
A click sound may be heard in the
engine compartment when the vehi-
cle begins to move after the engine is
started. These conditions are normal
and indicate that the anti-lock brake
system is functioning properly.
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