Kia Picanto: Air bag—supplemental restraint system / Driver's and passenger's front air bags. Side air bag : (if equipped)

Driver's and passenger's front air bags

Figure 1. Driver’s front air bag

Figure 2. Driver’s knee air bag (if equipped)

Figure 3. Passenger’s front air bag (if equipped)

The words AIR BAG identify the relevant air bag covers. These markings are moulded into the steering wheel air bag pad cover and, where the corresponding equipment is fitted, the driver’s knee bolster cover below the steering wheel and the front passenger’s instrument panel cover above the glove box.

The front air bag modules are housed in the centre of the steering wheel, in the knee bolster beneath the steering column where equipped, and in the passenger-side instrument panel above the glove box where equipped. When the SRS control module (SRSCM) detects a sufficiently severe frontal impact, it automatically triggers deployment of the front air bags.

As the air bags expand, the pressure separates the tear seams moulded into their pad covers. The covers then open further, allowing the air bags to emerge from their storage compartments and inflate fully.

A fully inflated front air bag works together with a correctly worn seat belt to slow the driver’s or front passenger’s forward movement. By helping control this movement during the collision, the restraint system reduces the risk of injury to the head and chest.

Immediately after reaching full inflation, the air bag begins to deflate. This rapid deflation helps restore the driver’s forward view and allows access to the steering wheel and other vehicle controls after deployment.

NOTE

Read and follow the WARNING, CAUTION and NOTE information in the Air bag Precautions section. Those instructions explain the seating, handling and servicing precautions that apply to the air bag system.

Side air bag : (if equipped)

Where this equipment is fitted, your Kia Picanto has a side air bag in each front seat, providing additional protection for the driver and front passenger.

The side air bags supplement the protection provided by the seat belts. They work alongside the belts during qualifying collisions and do not replace the need for every occupant to remain properly restrained.

The air bags fitted to your vehicle may differ from those shown in the illustrations. Refer to the equipment installed in your particular vehicle when identifying the available restraint features.

Side air bags are designed to deploy in certain side-impact collisions, depending on the severity of the crash. They are not intended to inflate in every side impact, so the occurrence of a side collision alone does not necessarily mean that deployment will take place.

NOTE

Read and follow the WARNING, CAUTION and NOTE information in the Air bag Precautions section. These instructions explain the safety requirements that apply to the air bag system and its occupants.