Kia Sorento: Additional safety precautions. Adding equipment to or modifying your air bag-equipped vehicle

Additional safety precautions

• Never allow passengers to ride in the cargo area or on top of a folded-down back seat. All occupants must sit upright, positioned fully back in their respective seats with lap/shoulder seat belts securely fastened and both feet flat on the vehicle floor.

• Passengers should not move out of or change seats while the vehicle is moving. A passenger who remains unbelted during a sudden collision or emergency braking maneuver can be violently hurled against interior cabin structures, collide with other occupants, or be ejected entirely from the vehicle.

• Each seat belt restrains only one occupant. Attempting to buckle multiple people into a single seat belt assembly dramatically reduces protection and can result in severe or fatal injuries during a crash.

• Do not use any aftermarket accessories on seat belts. Devices marketed to improve comfort or alter seat belt positioning can interfere with proper load distribution, reduce the engineered protection of the belt, and elevate injury risks during an impact.

• Passengers should not place hard or sharp objects between themselves and the air bags. Carrying rigid containers, tools, or sharp objects on your lap or holding them while the vehicle is in motion can lead to catastrophic puncture injuries if an airbag deploys.

• Keep occupants away from the air bag covers. All passengers must maintain an upright posture with their backs supported by the seat cushion. Sitting too close to deploying airbag covers exposes occupants to severe impact forces and potential injury when the cushions inflate.

• Do not attach or place objects on or near the air bag covers. Sticking decals, mounting phone holders, or resting items on or near the steering wheel, dashboard, or seat-mounted airbag covers can obstruct inflation paths and cause dangerous projectile hazards.

• Do not modify the front seats. Unauthorized alterations to the front seat frames, mechanisms, or upholstery can interfere with the operation of internal occupant sensors, wiring harnesses, and side airbag deployment modules.

• Do not place items under the front seats. Storing loose luggage, bottles, or gear underneath the front passenger or driver seats can crush critical SRS wiring harnesses and obstruct electronic sensing components.

• Never hold an infant or child on your lap. The immense deceleration force of a crash will instantly wrench the child from your arms, resulting in severe or fatal trauma. Always secure infants and children in approved child safety seats installed correctly in the rear rows of your Kia Sorento.

WARNING

• Sitting improperly or slouching out of position places occupants dangerously close to deploying airbags, increasing the risk of striking hard interior cabin structures or being ejected during severe accidents.

• Always maintain a proper seating posture by keeping the seatback upright, centering your body on the seat cushion, fastening your seat belt snugly, extending your legs comfortably, and keeping both feet flat on the floor.

Adding equipment to or modifying your air bag-equipped vehicle

Modifying your Kia Sorento by altering its structural frame, aftermarket bumper systems, front-end sheet metal, side body panels, or suspension ride height can fundamentally alter vehicle deceleration profiles and negatively impact the precision timing and operation of your airbag system.

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Air bag warning labels

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