Kia Telluride (LQ2, 2027-2026) Owner's Manual / Seating and safety restraints / Air bag - advanced supplemental restraint system / Occupant Detection System (ODS) / Conditions and operation of the front passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS)

Kia Telluride: Occupant Detection System (ODS) / Conditions and operation of the front passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS)

Occupant Detection System Operational States
Condition detected by the occupant detection system	Indicator/Warning light Devices		Devices
Condition detected by the occupant detection system	PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF	SRS warning light	Front passenger air bag
1. Adult	Off	Off	Activated
2. Child Restraint System (CRS) with child under 12 months old	On	Off	Deactivated
3. Unoccupied	On	Off	Deactivated
4. Malfunction in the system	Off	On	Activated

The sophisticated Occupant Detection System (ODS) in your Kia Telluride is engineered to classify the occupant in the front passenger seat. Generally, the system identifies an adult-sized person as an adult. However, for smaller adults, the system's classification can occasionally shift to "child" depending on specific physical characteristics, body weight, and seating posture.

For maximum safety, we strongly advise against allowing children to ride in the front passenger seat. Note that for larger children who have outgrown a dedicated Child Restraint System (CRS), the ODS may classify them as an adult based on their height, weight, and how they are positioned in the Kia Telluride seat.

Never install a child restraint system (CRS) on the front passenger seat of your Kia Telluride.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator may cycle on or off when a child between 12 months and 12 years old—whether they are using a CRS or sitting directly on the seat—occupies the front position. This behavior is standard and indicates the system is actively monitoring the seat's status.

WARNING

Do not install a child restraint seat if the Kia Telluride passenger seat is heavily soaked with liquids. Moisture can penetrate the seat cushion and interfere with the sensors.

Never attempt to modify the ODS. Any unauthorized tampering may damage the system, potentially rendering it ineffective during a collision.

WARNING

Do not use aftermarket car seat cushions that cover the seat surface, nor should you use third-party aftermarket seat heaters, as these can obscure the sensor's ability to accurately detect the occupant.

After performing interior cleaning with steam or chemical detergents, ensure the seat is completely dried. Always verify that both the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) icon and the primary airbag warning light are functioning as expected.

Any maintenance or repairs involving the front passenger seat or the Occupant Detection System must be performed exclusively at an authorized Kia dealership.

Whenever the passenger seat is removed or reinstalled for any reason, confirm that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) and the SRS warning lights operate normally, both with an occupant seated and when the seat is empty.

When the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) symbol is illuminated, the frontal airbag system will not deploy. The system is designed to operate normally when this symbol is extinguished.

Avoid any modifications to the seat. Refrain from attaching heavy items, seat covers, or aftermarket heaters, as these can adversely affect the precision of the ODS and the safety performance of your Kia Telluride.

WARNING

Occupant Detection System

Adopting an improper seating posture directly compromises the ODS and may lead to the unintended deactivation of the front passenger airbag, thereby increasing the risk of serious injury in a crash. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that all passengers adhere to the correct seating protocols outlined in this manual to ensure the Kia Telluride safety systems operate as intended.

Occupant Safety Guidelines
	Do not place a heavy load in the front passenger seatback pocket or directly on the Kia Telluride front passenger seat cushion.
	Do not place your feet on the front passenger seatback, as this can confuse the detection sensors.
	Never sit with your hips shifted toward the front edge of the seat; always sit fully back against the seatback.
	Never excessively recline the front passenger seatback during travel.
	Never place your feet on the instrument panel or dashboard area.
	Never lean against the door or center console for extended periods. Never sit on only one side of the front passenger seat.
	Do not use car seat accessories, such as thick blankets or pads, which cover up the surface of the car seat. Do not place heavy electronic devices like laptops, DVD players, or heavy objects directly on the passenger seat. Wet passenger seat: Avoid spilling liquids. Liquid ingress in the passenger seat may trigger the airbag warning light or lead to a system malfunction. If a spill occurs, ensure the seat is thoroughly dried before operating the Kia Telluride.

Correct Seating Position
Figure 1. Proper position

When an adult is properly seated in the front passenger seat, if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator remains on, switch the ENGINE START/STOP button to the OFF position. Ask the passenger to assume a correct, upright sitting posture—centered on the cushion with their back against the seatback, seat belt fastened, and feet placed flat on the floor. Restart the Kia Telluride and ensure the passenger remains in this optimal position. This procedure allows the system to accurately classify the occupant and enable the passenger airbag.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator continues to illuminate after correction, have the passenger move to the rear seat for their safety.

WARNING

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) light

Do not allow an adult passenger to occupy the front seat if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator is active, as the airbag will fail to deploy in a collision. Ensure the passenger is seated properly to correct this. If the indicator remains lit after proper repositioning and a vehicle restart, the passenger must move to the rear seat, as the frontal airbag will not be active.

TIP

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator may not illuminate immediately upon the passenger seating themselves. The sensor requires a few seconds to classify the occupant. Additionally, if the ENGINE START/STOP button is turned to the ON position after the vehicle has been in the OFF state for more than 3 minutes, the system will initiate a new classification cycle.

Even though your Kia Telluride features an advanced Occupant Detection System, you must never install a Child Restraint System in the front passenger seat. The force of a deploying airbag can result in severe injury or even death to a child.

Children under the age of 13 should always be seated in the rear of the vehicle. Children who have grown too large for child restraints should be secured using the vehicle's standard lap/shoulder belts. Regardless of the type of impact, children of all ages are significantly safer when properly restrained in the rear seats.

Should the ODS fail to function as designed, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag warning light will illuminate on the instrument panel, as the front passenger airbag's operation is integrated with the ODS. If a system malfunction occurs, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ( ) indicator will not appear. In this specific scenario, the front passenger airbag may deploy in a frontal collision, even if the seat is entirely unoccupied.

Main components of the Occupant Detection System (ODS)

A passenger detection sensor is built into the front passenger seat cushion. An electronic control unit evaluates occupant information and determines whether the front passenger air bag should be activated or deactivated...

Driver’s and passenger’s front air bag

Your Kia Telluride is equipped with an advanced Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) that works together with the lap/shoulder seat belts for both the driver and front passenger...

Other information:

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