Kia Sorento: Emergency liftgate safety release

If your Kia Sorento loses electrical power or encounters an emergency situation, occupants inside the luggage area can disengage the tailgate lock manually from within the interior by following these steps:

1. Insert a narrow, flat tool (such as the mechanical emergency key blade detached from your smart key fob) into the designated access slot on the lower interior liftgate trim panel.
2. Slide the internal release lever sideways in the direction of the stamped arrow to disengage the mechanical door catch.
3. Push the tailgate panel outward away from the body structure to create an exit opening.

   WARNING

   • For household and occupant safety, ensure all regular drivers and family members are fully trained on:

     • the physical location of the manual emergency release slot inside the Kia Sorento rear cargo space;

     • the mechanical operation required to unlatch and open the tailgate manually if trapped inside the vehicle.

   • Passengers and pets must never ride inside the luggage area under any circumstances. The rear cargo compartment lacks seat belts, structural occupant protection, or airbag coverage, making it extremely dangerous during a collision.

   • Reserve the interior manual safety latch strictly for genuine emergency situations. Use extreme caution if operating the mechanical release while the vehicle is in motion.