Kia Soul (2020 year). Owner's manual - part 5

Safety features of your vehicle

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䳜 Never lean on the door or center 

console.

䳜 Never sit on one side of the front 

passenger seat.

䳜 Do not use car seat accessories 

such as thick blankets and cush-
ions which cover up the car seat 
surface.

䳜 Do not sit on the passenger seat 

wearing heavily padded clothes 
such as ski wear and hip protec-
tor.

䳜 Do not place electronic devices 

such as laptops, DVD player, or 
conductive materials such as 

water bottles on the passenger 
seat.

䳜 Do not use electronic devices such 

as laptops and satellite radios 
which use inverter chargers.

䳜 Wet Passenger Seat

Do not spill liquid in the passenger 
seat. Spilled liquid on the passen-
ger seat may cause the air bag 
warning light to illuminate or mal-
function. If any liquid is spilled, 
make sure the seat has been 
completely dried before driving 
the vehicle.

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Proper position

When an adult is seated in the front 
passenger seat, if the PASSENGER 
AIR BAG "

" indicator is on, 

change the ignition switch to the 
OFF position and ask the passenger 
to sit properly (sitting upright with 
the seatback in an upright position, 
centered on the seat cushion with 
their seat belt on, legs comfortably 
extended and their feet on the 
floor). Restart the vehicle and have 
the person remain in that position. 
This will allow the system to detect 
the person and to enable the pas-
senger air bag.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG "

" 

indicator is still on, ask the passen-
ger to move to the rear seat.

WARNING

PASSENGER AIR BAG  "

" light

Do not allow an adult passenger to 
ride in the front seat when the PAS-
SENGER AIR BAG "

" indicator 

is illuminated, because the air bag 
will not deploy in the event of a 
crash. The driver must instruct the 
passenger to reposition himself in 
the seat. Failure to properly position 
yourself may lead to air bag deacti-
vation resulting in air bag non-
deployment in a collision. If the PAS-
SENGER AIR BAG "

" indicator 

remains illuminated after the pas-
senger repositions themselves 
properly and the car is restarted, it 
is recommended that passenger 
move to the rear seat because the 
passenger's front air bag will not 
deploy.

NOTICE

The PASSENGER AIR BAG "

" 

indicator illuminates for about 4 
seconds after the ignition switch is 
turned to the ON position after the 
vehicle is started. If the front pas-
senger seat is occupied, the occu-
pant detection sensor will then 
classify the front passenger after 
several more seconds.

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䳜 Even though your vehicle is 

equipped with the occupant 
detection system, never install a 
child restraint system in the front 
passenger's seat. A deploying air 
bag can forcefully strike a child 
resulting in serious injuries or 
death.

Any child age 12 and under should 
ride in the rear seat. Children too 
large for child restraints should use 
the available lap/shoulder belts. No 
matter what type of crash, children 
of all ages are safer when 
restrained in the rear seat.

If the occupant detection system is 
not working properly, the SRS air 
bag warning light on the instrument 
panel will illuminate because the 
passenger's front air bag is con-
nected with the occupant detection 
system. If there is a malfunction of 
the occupant detection system, the 
PASSENGER AIR BAG "

" indi-

cator will not illuminate and the 
passenger's front air bag will inflate 
in frontal impact crashes even if 
there is no occupant in the front 
passenger's seat.

Driver's and passenger's front air 
bag

Your vehicle is equipped with an 
Advanced Supplemental Restraint 
(Air Bag) System and lap/shoulder 

belts at both the driver and passen-
ger seating position.

Driver's front air bag

Passenger's front air bag

The indication of the system's pres-
ence are the letters "AIR BAG" 
located on the air bag pad cover on 
the steering wheel and the passen-
ger's side front panel pad above the 
glove box.

The SRS consists of air bags 
installed under the pad covers in the 
center of the steering wheel and the 
passenger's side front panel above 
the glove box.

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The purpose of the SRS is to provide 
the vehicle's driver and/or the front 
passenger with additional protec-
tion than that offered by the seat 
belt system alone in case of a fron-
tal impact of sufficient severity. The 
SRS uses sensors to gather infor-
mation about the driver's and front 
passenger's seat belt usage and 
impact severity.

The seat belt buckle sensor deter-
mines if the front passenger's seat 
belt is fastened.

These sensors provide the ability to 
control the SRS deployment based 
on whether or not the seat belts are 
fastened, and how severe the 
impact is.

The advanced SRS offers the ability 
to control the air bag inflation with 
two levels. A first stage level is pro-
vided for moderate-severity 
impacts. A second stage level is pro-
vided for more severe impacts.

The passenger's front air bag is 
designed to help reduce the injury of 
children sitting close to the instru-
ment panel in low speed collisions. 
However, children are safer if they 
are restrained in the rear seat.

According to the impact severity 
and seat belt usage, the SRSCM 
(SRS Control Module) controls the 
air bag inflation. Failure to properly 

wear seat belts can increase the risk 
or severity of injury in an accident.

Additionally, your vehicle is equipped 
with an occupant detection system 
in the front passenger's seat. The 
occupant detection system detects 
the presence of a passenger in the 
front passenger's seat and will turn 
off the front passenger's air bag 
under certain conditions. For more 
detail, see "Occupant Detection Sys-
tem (ODS)" on page 3-46.

WARNING

Modification to the seat structure 
can cause the air bag to deploy at a 
different level than should be pro-
vided.

Manufacturers are required by gov-
ernment regulations to provide a 
contact point concerning modifica-
tions to the vehicle for persons with 
disabilities, which modifications may 
affect the vehicle's advanced air bag 
system. That contact is Kia's toll-
free Customer Experience Depart-
ment at 1-877-KIA-AUTO (1-877-
542-2886). However, Kia does not 
endorse nor will it support any 
changes to any part or structure of 
the vehicle that could affect the 
advanced air bag system, including 
the occupant detection system.

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WARNING

Replacement/modifications
The front passenger seat, dash-
board or door should not be replaced 
except by an authorized Kia dealer 
using original Kia parts designed for 
this vehicle and model. Any other 
such replacement or modification 
could adversely affect the operation 
of the occupant detection system 
and your advanced air bags.

Advanced air bags are combined 
with pre-tensioner seat belts to 
help provide enhanced occupant 
protection in frontal crashes. Front 
air bags are not intended to deploy 
in collisions in which sufficient pro-
tection can be provided by the seat 
belt.

NOTICE

Air bags can only be used once 䳍 
have an authorized Kia dealer 
replace the air bag immediately 
after deployment.

Front air bags are not intended to 
deploy in side-impact, rear-impact 
or rollover crashes. However, when 
frontal deployment threshold is sat-
isfied at side-impact, front air bags 
may deploy. In addition, front air 
bags will not deploy in frontal 
crashes below the deployment 
threshold.

WARNING

SRS Wiring
Do not tamper with or disconnect 
SRS wiring or other components of 
the SRS system. Doing so could 
result in injury, due to accidental 
deployment of the air bags or by 
rendering the SRS inoperative.

WARNING

No attaching objects
No objects (such as crash pad cover, 
cellular phone holder, cup holder, 
perfume or stickers) should be 
placed over or near the air bag mod-
ules on the steering wheel, instru-
ment panel, windshield glass, and 
the front passenger's panel above 
the glove box. Such objects could 
cause harm if the vehicle is in a 
crash severe enough to cause the 
air bags to deploy.
Do not place any objects over the air 
bag or between the air bag and 
yourself.
Additionally, never place or insert 
any object into any small opening 
near side airbag labels attached to 
the vehicle seats.
When the air bag deploys, the object 
may affect the deployment and 
result in unexpected accident or 
bodily harm.

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Side air bag

Your vehicle is equipped with a side 
air bag in each front seat.

* The actual air bags in the vehicle 

may differ from the illustration.

The purpose of the air bag is to pro-
vide the vehicle's driver and/or the 
front passenger with additional pro-
tection than that offered by the 
seat belt alone.
䳜 The side air bags are designed to 

deploy during certain side-impact 
collisions, depending on the crash 
severity of impact.

䳜 The side air bags may deploy on 

the side of the impact or on both 
sides.

䳜 The side and/or curtain air bags 

on both sides of the vehicle will 
deploy if a rollover or possible 
rollover is detected.

䳜 The side air bags are not designed 

to deploy in all side impact or roll-
over situations.

WARNING

Unexpected deployment
Avoid impact to the side impact air-
bag sensor when the ignition switch 
is ON to prevent unexpected deploy-
ment of the side air bag.

䳜 The side air bag is supplemental 

to the driver's and the passen-
ger's seat belt systems and is not 
a substitute for them. Therefore 
your seat belts must be worn at 
all times while the vehicle is in 
operation.

䳜 For best protection from the side 

air bag system and to avoid being 
injured by the deploying side air 
bag, both front seat occupants 
should sit in an upright position 
with the seat belt properly fas-
tened. The driver's hands should 
be placed on the steering wheel at 
the 9:00 and 3:00 positions. The 
passenger's arms and hands 
should be placed on their laps.

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WARNING

Deployment
Do not install any accessories 
including seat covers, on the side or 
near the side air bag as this may 
affect the deployment of the side 
air bags.

䳜 If seat or seat cover is damaged, 

have the vehicle checked and 
repaired by an authorized Kia 
dealer. Inform the dealer that 
your vehicle is equipped with side 
air bags and an occupant detec-
tion system.

WARNING

Flying objects
Do not place any objects (an 
umbrella, bag, etc.) between the 
front door and the front seat. Such 
objects may become dangerous 
projectiles if the side airbag inflates.

WARNING

No attaching objects
䳜 Do not place any objects over the 

air bag or between the air bag and 
yourself. Also, do not attach any 
objects around the area the air 
bag inflates such as the door, side 
door glass, front and rear pillar.

䳜 Do not put any objects between 

the side airbag label and seat 
cushion. It could cause harm if the 

vehicle is in a crash severe enough 
to cause the air bags to deploy.

䳜 Never place or insert any object 

into any small opening near side 
airbag labels attached to the vehi-
cle seats. When the air bag 
deploys, the object may affect 
the deployment and result in 
unexpected accident or bodily 
harm.

䳜 Do not install any accessories on 

the side or near the side air bags.

Curtain air bag

Curtain air bags are located along 
both sides of the roof rails above 
the front and rear doors.

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* The actual air bags in the vehicle 

may differ from the illustration.

They are designed to help protect 
occupants in certain side impacts 
and to help prevent them from 
ejecting out of the vehicle as a result 
of a rollover, especially when the 
seatbelts are also in use.
䳜 The curtain air bags are designed 

to deploy during certain side 
impact collisions, depending on 
the severity of impact. However, 
when side deployment threshold 
is satisfied at front-impact, side 
air bags may deploy.

䳜 The curtain air bags may deploy 

on the side of the impact or on 
both sides.

䳜 Also, the curtain air bags on both 

sides of the vehicle will deploy in 
certain rollover situations.

䳜 The curtain air bags are not 

designed to deploy in all side 
impact or rollover situations.

Do not allow the passengers to lean 
their heads or bodies against the 
doors, put their arms on the doors, 
stretch their arms out of the win-
dow or place objects between the 
doors and passengers when they 
are seated on seats equipped with 
side impact and/or curtain air bags.

NOTICE

Never try to open or repair any 
components of the side and curtain 
air bag system. This should only be 
done by an authorized Kia dealer.

WARNING

No attaching objects
䳜 Do not place any objects over the 

air bag. Also, do not attach any 
objects around the area the air 
bag inflates such as the door, side 
door glass, front and rear pillar, 
roof side rail.

䳜 Do not hang hard, breakable, or 

heavy objects on the coat hooks 
for safety reasons.

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Air bag collision sensors

The air bag collision sensors are located in the following positions

* The actual shape and position of sensors may differ from the illustration.
1. SRS control module / Rollover sensor
2. Front impact sensor
3. Side impact sensor
4. Side pressure sensor

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WARNING

Air bag sensors
䳜 Do not hit or allow any objects to 

impact the locations where air 
bags or sensors are installed.
This may cause unexpected air 
bag deployment, which could 
result in serious personal injury or 
death.

䳜 If the installation location or angle 

of the sensors is altered in any 
way, the air bags may deploy 
when they should not or they 
may not deploy when they 
should.
Therefore, do not try to perform 
maintenance on or around the air 
bag sensors. Have the vehicle 
checked and repaired by an 
authorized Kia dealer.

Problems may arise if the sensor 
installation angles are changed due 
to the deformation of the front 
bumper, front end module, body or 
front doors where side collision sen-
sors are installed. Have the vehicle 
checked and repaired by an autho-
rized Kia dealer.

Installing bumper guards (or side 
step or running board) or replacing a 
bumper (or front door module) with 
non-genuine parts may adversely 
affect your vehicle's collision and air 
bag deployment performance.

Why didn't my air bag go off in a 
collision? (Inflation and non-infla-
tion conditions of the air bag)

There are many types of accidents 
in which the air bag would not be 
expected to provide additional pro-
tection.

These include rear impacts, second 
or third collisions in multiple impact 
accidents, as well as low speed 
impacts.

Air bag inflation conditions

Front air bags

Front air bags are designed to 
inflate in a frontal collision depend-
ing on the severity of impact of the 
front collision.

Side and/or curtain air bags

Side and/or curtain air bags are 
designed to inflate when an impact 
is detected by side collision sensors 
depending on the severity of impact 
resulting from a side impact colli-
sion.
Also, the side and curtain air bags 
are designed to inflate when a roll-
over is detected by a rollover sensor.
Although the front air bags (driver's 
and front passenger's air bags) are 
primarily designed to inflate in fron-
tal collisions, they may inflate in 
other types of collisions if the front 
impact sensors detect a sufficient 
frontal force in another type of 
impact.

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Similarly, although side and curtain 
air bags are designed to inflate in 
certain side impact collisions, they 
may inflate in other types of colli-
sions where a side force is detected 
by the sensors. For instance, side air 
bag and/or curtain air bags may 
inflate if rollover sensors indicate 
the possibility of a rollover occurring 
(even if none actually occurs) or in 
other situations, including when the 
vehicle is tilted while being towed.
Even if side and/or curtain air bags 
do not provide impact protection in 
a rollover, they will deploy to pre-
vent ejection of occupants, espe-
cially those who are restrained with 
seat belts.
If the vehicle chassis is impacted by 
bumps or objects on unimproved 
roads, the air bags may deploy. 
Drive carefully on unimproved roads 
or on surfaces not designed for 
vehicle traffic to prevent unintended 
air bag deployment.

Air bag non-inflation conditions

䳜 In certain low-speed collisions the 

air bags may not deploy. The air 
bags are designed not to deploy in 
such cases because they may not 
provide benefits beyond the pro-
tection of the seat belts in such 
collisions.

䳜 Air bags are not designed to 

inflate in rear collisions, because 
occupants are moved backward 
by the force of the impact. In this 
case, inflated air bags would not 

be able to provide any additional 
benefit.

䳜 Front air bags may not inflate in 

side impact collisions, because 
occupants move to the direction 
of the collision, and thus in side 
impacts, frontal air bag deploy-
ment would not provide additional 
occupant protection.

䳜 In an angled collision, the force of 

impact may direct the occupants 
in a direction where the air bags 
would not be able to provide any 
additional benefit, and thus the 
sensors may not deploy any air 
bags.

䳜 Just before impact, drivers often 

brake heavily. Such heavy braking 
lowers the front portion of the 
vehicle causing it to "ride" under a 
vehicle with a higher ground 
clearance. Air bags may not 
inflate in this "under-ride" situa-
tion because deceleration forces 
that are detected by sensors may 
be significantly reduced by such 
"under-ride" collisions.

䳜 Front air bags may not inflate in 

all rollover accidents when the 
SRSCM indicates that the front air 
bag deployment would not pro-
vide additional occupant protec-
tion.

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䳜 Air bags may not inflate if the 

vehicle 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.

Supplemental Restraint System 
(SRS) Care

The SRS is virtually maintenance-
free and so there are no parts you 
can safely service by yourself.

If the SRS air bag warning light does 
not illuminate, or continuously 
remains on, have your vehicle 
immediately inspected by an autho-
rized Kia dealer.

Any work on the SRS system, such 
as removing, installing, repairing, or 
any work on the steering wheel, the 
front passenger's panel, front seats 
and roof rails must be performed by 
an authorized Kia dealer. Improper 
handling of the SRS system may 
result in serious personal injury.

For cleaning the air bag pad covers, 
use only a soft, dry cloth or one 
which has been moistened with 
plain water. Solvents or cleaners 
could adversely affect the air bag 
covers and proper deployment of 
the system.

If components of the air bag system 
must be discarded, or if the vehicle 
must be scrapped, certain safety 
precautions must be observed. An 
authorized Kia dealer knows these 
precautions and can give you the 
necessary information. Failure to 
follow these precautions and proce-
dures could increase the risk of per-
sonal injury.

WARNING

Tampering with SRS
Do not tamper with or disconnect 
SRS wiring, or other components of 
the SRS system. Doing so could 
result in the accidental inflation of 
the air bags or by render the SRS 
inoperative.

WARNING

Towing Vehicle
Always have the ignition off when 
your vehicle is being towed. The side 
air bags may inflate if the vehicle is 
tilted such as when being towed 
because of the rollover sensors in 
the vehicle.

Adding equipment to or modifying 
your air bag-equipped vehicle

If you modify your vehicle by chang-
ing your vehicle's frame, bumper 
system, front end or side sheet 
metal or ride height, this may affect 

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the operation of your vehicle's air 
bag system.

Air bag warning label

Air bag warning labels, some 
required by the Canada Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standards (CMVSS), are 
attached to the sun visor to alert 
the driver and passengers of poten-
tial risks of the air bag system. 

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Features of your vehicle

Features of your vehicle

Keys ............................................................................................ 4-6
Smart key................................................................................... 4-7
䳜 This device complies with Industry Canada licence-

exempt RSS standard(s). ....................................................4-10

Remote keyless entry............................................................4-10
䳜 This device complies with Industry Canada licence-

exempt RSS standard(s). ....................................................4-12

䳜 Battery replacement ...........................................................4-12
䳜 Immobilizer system .............................................................4-13
䳜 This device complies with Industry Canada licence-

exempt RSS standard(s). ....................................................4-14

䳜 Limp home (override) procedure .......................................4-15
Theft-alarm system ..............................................................4-16
䳜 Armed stage..........................................................................4-16
䳜 Theft-alarm stage ...............................................................4-17
䳜 Disarmed stage.....................................................................4-17
Door locks.................................................................................4-18
Liftgate.....................................................................................4-22
䳜 Opening the liftgate.............................................................4-22
䳜 Closing the liftgate...............................................................4-23
䳜 Opening the liftgate in emergency ...................................4-23
Windows ...................................................................................4-25
䳜 Window opening and closing ..............................................4-26
䳜 Power window lock switch..................................................4-29
Hood ..........................................................................................4-30
䳜 Opening the hood .................................................................4-30
䳜 Hood open warning ..............................................................4-30

4

Features of your vehicle

䳜 Closing the hood ...................................................................4-31
Fuel filler lid..............................................................................4-32
䳜 Opening the fuel filler lid .....................................................4-32
䳜 Closing the fuel filler lid .......................................................4-32
Sunroof .....................................................................................4-35
䳜 Sliding the sunroof ...............................................................4-36
䳜 Tilting the sunroof................................................................4-37
䳜 Sunshade................................................................................4-38
䳜 Resetting the sunroof .........................................................4-38
䳜 Sunroof open warning .........................................................4-39
Steering wheel.........................................................................4-39
䳜 Electronic power steering ...................................................4-39
䳜 Tilt & telescopic steering wheel .........................................4-40
䳜 Adjusting steering wheel angle and height......................4-41
䳜 Heated steering wheel ........................................................4-41
䳜 Horn ........................................................................................4-42
Mirrors ......................................................................................4-43
䳜 Inside rearview mirror .........................................................4-43
䳜 Outside rearview mirror ......................................................4-45
Instrument cluster..................................................................4-48
䳜 Instrument cluster control..................................................4-49
䳜 Gauges....................................................................................4-49
䳜 Transmission shift indicator ...............................................4-52
LCD display...............................................................................4-53
䳜 LCD Display Control ..............................................................4-53
䳜 LCD Display Modes ...............................................................4-54
LCD displays .............................................................................4-62
䳜 Trip information (Trip computer).......................................4-62
䳜 Service Mode .........................................................................4-65

4

Features of your vehicle

䳜 Driving info display...............................................................4-66
䳜 LCD display messages .........................................................4-66
Warning and indicator lights.................................................4-71
䳜 Warning lights .......................................................................4-71
䳜 Indicator lights ......................................................................4-77
Head-Up Display (HUD)..........................................................4-81
Parking distance warning-reverse.......................................4-83
Parking distance warning ......................................................4-86
Rear view monitor ..................................................................4-91
Lighting.....................................................................................4-92
䳜 Battery saver function ........................................................4-92
䳜 Headlight escort function ...................................................4-92
䳜 Daytime running light..........................................................4-92
䳜 Lighting control.....................................................................4-93
䳜 Operating high beam ...........................................................4-94
䳜 Operating turn signals and lane change signals .............4-95
䳜 Operating front fog light.....................................................4-95
䳜 High Beam Assist..................................................................4-96
Wipers and washers ...............................................................4-99
䳜 Operating windshield washer...........................................4-101
䳜 Operating rear window wiper and washer switch........4-102
䳜 Heated washer nozzle .......................................................4-102
Interior lights .........................................................................4-103
䳜 Automatic turn off function.............................................4-103
䳜 Room lamp ..........................................................................4-103
䳜 Map lamp .............................................................................4-104
䳜 Liftgate room lamp ............................................................4-105
䳜 Vanity mirror lamp.............................................................4-105