Kia Forte (2024 year). Manual in english

Introduction

Fuel requirements

Introduction

Fuel requirements

Your new vehicle is designed to use only
unleaded fuel having a pump octane
number ((R+M)/2) of 87 (Research
Octane Number 91) or higher. (Do not
use methanol blended fuels.)

Your new vehicle is designed to obtain
maximum performance with UNLEADED
FUEL, as well as minimize exhaust emis

sions and spark plug fouling.

Never add any fuel system cleaning
agents to the fuel tank other than what
has been specified. (Consult an autho

rized Kia dealer for details.)
• Tighten the cap until it clicks one time,

otherwise the Check Engine

light will illuminate.

W ARNING

Refueling
• Do not "top off" after the nozzle auto

matically shuts off. Attempts to force
more fuel into the tank can cause fuel
overflow onto you and the ground
causing a risk of fire.

• Always check that the fuel cap is

installed securely to prevent fuel spill

age, especially in the event of an acci

dent.

Gasoline containing alcohol and
methanol

Gasohol, a mixture of gasoline and etha

nol (also known as grain alcohol), and
gasoline or gasohol containing methanol
(also known as wood alcohol) are being
marketed along with or instead of leaded
or unleaded gasoline.

Pursuant to Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) regulations, ethanol may
be used in your vehicle.

Do not use gasohol containing more
than 15% ethanol, and do not use gaso

line or gasohol containing any methanol.
Ethanol provides less energy than gaso

line and it attracts water, likely to reduce
your fuel efficiency and could lower your
MPG as a result..

Methanol may cause drivability prob

lems and damage to the fuel system,
engine control system and emission
control system.

Discontinue using gasohol if drivability
problems occur.

Vehicle damage or drivability problems
may not be covered by the warranty if
they result from the use of:

1. Gasoline or gasohol containing meth

anol.

2. Leaded fuel or leaded gasohol.
3. Gasohol containing more than 15%

ethanol.

"E85" fuel is an alternative fuel com

prised of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
and is manufactured exclusively for use
in Flexible Fuel Vehicles. "E85" is not
compatible with your vehicle. Use of
"E85" may result in poor engine perfor

mance and damage to your engine and
fuel system. Do not use fuel with an eth

anol content exceeding 15%.

Introduction

Fuel requirements

NOTICE

Your New Vehicle Limited Warranty
does not cover damage to the fuel sys

tem, or any performance problems
caused by the use of "E85" fuel.

NOTICE

Never use any fuel containing methanol.
Discontinue use of any methanol con

taining product which may cause driv

ability problems.

Other fuels

Using fuels that contain Silicone (Si),
MMT (Manganese, Mn), Ferrocene (Fe),
and Other metallic additives, may cause
vehicle and engine damage or cause
misfiring, poor acceleration, engine stall

ing, catalyst melting, clogging, abnormal
corrosion, life cycle reduction, etc.

The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
may illuminate.

NOTICE

Damage to the fuel system or perfor

mance problem caused using these
fuels may not be covered by the war

ranty.

Gasoline containing MMT

Some gasoline contains harmful manga

nese- based fuel additives such as MMT
(Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tri

carbonyl). Kia does not recommend the

use of gasoline containing MMT. This

type of fuel can reduce vehicle perfor

mance and affect your emission control
system. MIL on the instrument cluster
may come on.

Do not use methanol

Fuels containing methanol (wood alco

hol) should not be used in your vehicle.
This type of fuel can reduce vehicle per

formance and damage components of
the fuel system, engine control system
and emission control system.

Fuel Additives

Kia recommends that you use good
quality gasolines treated with detergent
additives such as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline, which help prevent deposit
formation in the engine. These gasolines
will help the engine run cleaner and
enhance performance of the emission
control system.

For more information on TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline, please go to the
website (www.toptiergas.com) If youdo
not use TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
regularly, and have problems starting or
the engine does not run smoothly, addi

tives that you can buy separately may
be added to the gasoline.

If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not
available, one bottle of additive should
be added to the fuel tank every 6,000
miles (10,000 km) (Turbo Model) or at
every engine oil change. Additives are
available from your authorized Kia

Introduction

Vehicle modifications

dealer along with information on how to
use them. Do not mix other additives.

Operation in foreign countries

If you are going to drive your vehicle in
another country, be sure to:
• Observe all regulations regarding reg

istration and insurance.

• Determine that acceptable fuel is

available.

Vehicle modifications

This vehicle should not be modified.

Modification could affect its perfor

mance, safety or durability and may vio

late governmental safety and emissions
regulations.

NOTICE

Damage or performance problems
resulting from any modification may not
be covered under the warranty.

CAUTION

If you use an unauthorized electronic
device, it may cause the vehicle to oper

ate abnormally, wire damage, battery
discharge and fire.

Introduction

Vehicle break-in process

By following a few simple precautions
for the first 600 miles (1,000 km) you
may increase performance, economy
and life of your vehicle.
• Do not race the engine.
• While driving, keep your engine speed

(rpm, or revolutions per minute)
between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm.

• Do not maintain a single speed for

long periods of time, either fast or slow.
Varying engine speed is needed to
properly break-in the engine.

• Avoid hard stops, except in emergen

cies, to allow the brakes to seat prop

erly.

• Don't tow a trailer during the first

1,200 miles (2,000 km) of operation.

• Fuel economy and engine perfor

mance may vary depending on your
break-in process and stabilize after
4,000 miles (6,000 km). Engines may
consume more oil during the break-in
period.

Vehicle data collection and
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with an
event data recorder (EDR). The
main purpose of an EDR is to
record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an
air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will
assist in understand

ing how a

vehicle's systems performed.
The EDR is designed to record
data related to vehicle dynamics
and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 sec

onds or less. The EDR in this
vehicle is designed to record
such data as:

•

How various systems in your
vehicle were operating;

•

Whether or not the driver
and passenger safety belts
were buckled/fastened;

•

How far (if at all) the driver
was depressing the accelera

tor and/or brake pedal; and,

•

How fast the vehicle was
traveling.

These data can help provide a
better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes
and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR
data are recorded by your
vehicle only if a non-trivial crash
situation occurs; no data are
recorded by the EDR under

Introduction

Vehicle data collection and Event Data Recorders

normal driving conditions and
no personal data (e.g., name,
gender, age, and crash loca

tion) are recorded. However,
other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the
EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data
routinely acquired during a
crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an
EDR, special equipment is
required, and access to the
vehicle or the EDR is needed. In
addition to the vehicle manu

facturer, other parties, such as
law enforcement, that have the
special equipment, can read the
information if they have access
to the vehicle or the EDR.

Your vehicle at a glance

*The actual shape of your Kia may differ from the illustration.

1. Hood

4-37

2. Head lamp (Features of your vehicle)

4-80

Head lamp (Maintenance)

8-59

3. Wheel and tire

8-33, 9-6

4. Outside rear view mirror

4-50

5. Sunroof

4-41

6. Front windshield wiper blades (Features of your vehicle)

4-86

Front windshield wiper blades (Maintenance)

8-28

7. Windows

4-32

8. Front fog lamp

4-83, 8-59

9. Front view camera

6-4

Exterior overview

Your vehicle at a glance

Exterior overview

Front view

OBDM011001

Your vehicle at a glance

Exterior overview

10.Front radar

6-64

Rear view

*The actual shape of your Kia may differ from the illustration.

1. Door locks

4-18

2. Fuel filler door

4-39

3. Rear combination lamp (Maintenance)

8-60

4. High mounted stop lamp (Maintenance)

8-60

5. Trunk

4-27

6. Antenna

4-122

7. Wide-rear view camera

6-92

8. Rear ultrasonic sensors

6-111

9. Rear turn signal lamp (Maintenance)

8-60

10.Back Up lamp (Maintenance)

8-60

OBDM011002

Your vehicle at a glance

Interior overview

*The actual shape of your Kia may differ from the illustration.

1. Inside door handle

4-19

2. Outside rearview mirror control switch

4-51

3. Central door lock/unlock switch

4-20

4. Power window switch

4-32

5. Power window lock button

4-35

6. Steering wheel

4-45

7. Tilt and telescopic steering control lever

4-46

8. Blind-Spot Safety button

6-43

9. Hood release lever

4-37

10.Fuel filler door release lever

4-39

11.Trunk release lever

4-27

12.Seat

3-5

13.ESC OFF button

5-40

OBDM011003

Your vehicle at a glance

Instrument panel overview

6-52

7-3

4-95, 4-100

*The actual shape of your Kia may differ from the illustration.

1. Instrument cluster

4-52

2. Horn

4-47

Driver’s front air bag

3-45

4. Light control/Turn signals

4-81

5. Wiper/Washer

4-86

6. Ignition switch or ENGINE START/STOP button

5-6, 5-9

7. Steering wheel audio control

Refer to "Car Infotainment System Quick Reference Guide".

8. Driving Assist button
9. Hazard warning flasher

10.Infotainment System

Refer to "Car Infotainment System Quick Reference Guide".

11.Climate control system

OBDM011004

Your vehicle at a glance

Instrument panel overview

12.Shift lever

5-14, 5-17, 5-24

13.Passenger’s front air bag

3-45

14.Power outlet

4-118

15.Glove box

4-113

16.Seat warmer

4-115

Air ventilation seat

4-116

17.Heated steering wheel button

4-47

18.Center console storage

4-112

19.USB charger

4-117

20.Drive mode button

5-45

21.Parking/View button

6-92

22.Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) switch

5-33

23.Auto Hold On/Off button

5-36

24.Wireless smart phone charging system

4-119

25.USB port

4-122

Your vehicle at a glance

Engine compartment

(Gasoline) 2.0 MPI

(Gasoline) 1.6 T-
GDi

*The actual engine compartment in your Kia may differ from the illustration.

Engine coolant reservoir

Engine oil filler cap

Brake / clutch fluid reservoir

Air cleaner

Fuse box

Negative battery terminal

Positive battery terminal

Engine oil dipstick

Radiator cap

10.

Windshield washer fluid reservoir

8-20

8-18

8-23

8-26

8-49

8-31

8-18

8-20

8-24

OBD078101L

OBD078135L

Safety features of your vehicle

Important safety precautions ...................................................... 3-3

Seats ................................................................................................ 3-5

•

Driver’s seat ........................................................................................................
3-5

•

Front

passenger’s seat ..................................................................................

3-5

•

Rear seat ..............................................................................................................
3-5

•

Feature of Seat Leather.................................................................................
3-7

•

Front seat adjustment - manual................................................................ 3-
8

•

Front seat adjustment - power (if equipped, for

driver’s seat).... 3-9

僅

Headrest ( for front seat) ............................................................................. 3-10

•

Removal/Reinstallation.................................................................................3-12

•

Seatback pocket ............................................................................................. 3-
13

•

Rear seat adjustment ................................................................................... 3-
13

Seat belts ...................................................................................... 3-16

•

Seat belt restraint system........................................................................... 3-
16

•

Seat belt - Driver's 3-point system with emergency locking retractor

.............................................................................................................. 3-18

•

Adjusting the height of shoulder belt.................................................... 3-19

僅

Seat belts - Front passenger and rear seat 3-point system

with combination locking retractor........................................................ 3-20

•

Pre-tensioner seat belt ................................................................................ 3-
22

•

Seat belt precautions....................................................................................3-
24

•

Care of seat belts ........................................................................................... 3-
25

Child Restraint System (CRS).....................................................3-26

•

Children Always in the Rear ......................................................................3-
26

•

Selecting a Child Restraint System (CRS) ........................................... 3-
27

•

Installing a Child Restraint System (CRS)............................................3-
28

Safety features of your vehicle

•

Driver's and passenger's front air bag .................................................3-45

僅

Side air bag.......................................................................................................3-

•

Curtain air bag ................................................................................................3-
48

•

SRS Care
............................................................................................................3-54

•

Adding equipment to or modifying your air bag-equipped

vehicle..................................................................................................................3-55

•

Air bag warning label ...................................................................................3-
55

Safety features of your vehicle

Important safety precautions

Safety features of your
vehicle

For the safety of the driver and vehicle
passengers, you should become familiar
with the vehicle's safety features.

Important safety precautions

You

will find many safety precautions and
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.

The safety precautions in this section are
among the most important.

Always wear your seat belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all
types of accidents. Air bags are
designed to supplement seat belts, not
replace them. So even though your vehi

cle is equipped with air bags, ALWAYS
make sure you and your passengers
always wear their seat belts, and wear
them properly.

Restrain all children

All children age 13 and under should ride
in your vehicle properly restrained in a
rear seat, not the front seat. Infants and
small children should be restrained in an
appropriate child restraint. Larger chil

dren should use a booster seat with the
lap/shoulder belt until they can use the
seat belt properly without a booster seat.
Please refer to your State or Federal
laws for child seating requirements in the
operation of a motor vehicle.

Air bag hazards

While air bags can save lives, they can
also cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them, or
who are not properly restrained. Infants,
young children, and shorter adults are at
the greatest risk of being injured by an
inflating air bag. Follow all instructions
and warnings in this manual.

Driver distraction

Driver distraction presents a serious and
potentially deadly danger, especially for
inexperienced drivers. Safety should be
the first concern when behind the wheel
and drivers need to be aware of the wide
array of potential distractions, such as
drowsiness, reaching for objects, eating,
personal grooming, other passengers,
and using cellular phones.

Drivers can become distracted when
they take their eyes and attention off the
road or their hands off the wheel to focus
on activities other than driving. To reduce
your risk of distraction or getting into an
accident:
• ALWAYS set up your mobile devices

(i.e., MP3 players, phones, navigation
units, etc.) when your vehicle is
parked or safely stopped.

• ONLY use your mobile device when

allowed by laws and when conditions
permit safe use. NEVER text or email
while driving. Most states have laws
prohibiting drivers from texting. Some
states and cities also prohibit drivers
from using handheld phones.

• NEVER let the use of a mobile device

distract you from driving. You have a
responsibility to your passengers and
others on the road to always drive
safely, with your hands on the wheel

Safety features of your vehicle

Important safety precautions

as well as your eyes and attention on
the road.

Control your speed

Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the
higher the speed, the greater the risk,
but serious injuries can also occur at
lower speeds. Never drive faster than is
safe for current driving conditions,
regardless of the maximum speed
posted.

Keep your vehicle in safe condi

tion

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical
failure can be extremely hazardous. To
reduce the possibility of such problems,
check your tire pressures and conditions
frequently, and perform all regularly
scheduled maintenance.

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

Driver’s seat

Forward and backward

Seatback angle

Seat cushion height

Seat cushion tilt

Lumbar support *

Headrest

Front

passenger’s seat

Forward and backward

Seatback angle

Headrest

10.

Seat cushion height

Rear seat

11.

Armrest*

12.

Headrest

*: if equipped

OBDM031001

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

W ARNING

Loose objects
Loose objects in the driver's foot area
could interfere with the operation of the
foot pedals, possibly causing an acci

dent. Do not place anything under the
front seats.

W ARNING

Uprighting a seat
Do not press the release lever on a man

ual seatback without holding and con

trolling the seatback. The seatback will
spring upright, possibly impacting you or
other passengers.

W ARNING

Driver responsibility for passengers

The driver must advise passengers to
keep seatbacks in upright positions
whenever the vehicle is in motion. If a
seat is reclined during an accident, the
restraint system's ability to restrain the
passenger will be greatly reduced.

W ARNING

Seat cushion
Occupants should never sit on aftermar

ket seat cushions or sitting cushions. The
passenger Occupant Detection System
(ODS) may not operate properly, or the
passenger's hips may slide under the lap
portion of the seat belt during an acci

dent or a sudden stop.

W ARNING

Driver's seat
• Never attempt to adjust the seat while

the vehicle is moving. This could result
in loss of control of your vehicle.

• Do not allow anything to interfere with

the normal position of the seatback.
For example, storing items against the
seatback could result in serious or
fatal injury in a sudden stop or colli

sion.

• Sit as far back as possible from the

steering wheel while still maintaining
comfortable control of the your vehi

cle. A distance of at least 10 in (25 cm)
from your chest to the steering wheel
is recommended. Failure to do so can
result in air bag inflation injuries to the
driver.

W ARNING

Rear seatbacks
Always lock the rear seatback before
driving. Failure to do so could result in
passengers or objects being thrown for

ward, injuring occupants.

W ARNING

Seat adjustment
• Do not adjust the seat while wearing

seat belts. Moving the seat forward

ODEEV058002NR

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

will cause strong pressure on the
abdomen.

• Do not place your hand near the seat

bottom or seat track while adjusting
the seat. Your hand could get caught
in the seat mechanism.

W ARNING

Luggage and cargo
Do not stack or pile luggage or cargo
higher than the seatback in the cargo
area. In an accident the cargo could
strike and injure a passenger. If objects
are large, heavy or must be piled, they
must be secured in the cargo area.

W ARNING

Cargo area
Do not allow passengers to ride in the
cargo area under any circumstance. The
cargo area is solely for the purpose of
transporting luggage or cargo.

W ARNING

Small objects
Use extreme caution when picking up
small objects trapped under the seats or
between the seat and the center con

sole. Your hands might be cut or injured
by the sharp edges of the seats mecha

nism.

CAUTION

Precautions with seat covers
Use caution when working on seat cov

ers. A short circuit or disconnection may
occur, which could cause an abnormal
noise or damage the ventilation system.

W ARNING

Seat short circuit risk
Be aware of wires or air vents when
placing a seat cover or covering the seat
with plastic cover. A short circuit may
occur, which could lead to fire.

Feature of Seat Leather (if
equipped)

• Your car seats are upholstered with a

combination of artificial and genuine
leather. The genuine leather is made
from the outer skin of an animal, which
undergoes a special process to be
available for use. Since it is a natu

ral

substance, each part differs in
thickness or density. Also, wrinkles
could appear depending on the tem

perature and humidity.

• The seat cover is made of stretchable

material to improve.

• The parts contacting the body are

curved and the side supporting area is
high which provides driving comfort
and stability.

CAUTION

• Belts with metallic accessories, zip

pers or keys inside the back pocket
may damage the seat fabric.

• Make sure not to wet the seat. It may

change the nature of leather.

• Jeans or clothes which could bleach

may contaminate the surface of the
seat covering fabric.

NOTICE

Wrinkles or abrasions may appear natu

rally from usage. It is not a defect. Wrin

kles or abrasions are not covered by
warranty.

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

Front seat adjustment - manual

Forward and backward

To move the seat forward or backward:
1. Pull the seat slide adjustment lever up

and hold it.

2. Slide the seat to the position you

desire.

3. Release the lever and make sure the

seat is locked in place.

Adjust the seat before driving, and make
sure the seat is locked securely by trying
to move forward and backward without
using the lever. If the seat moves, it is not
locked properly.

W ARNING

Unexpected seat movement
After adjusting a manual seat, always
check that it is locked by shifting your
weight to the front and back. Sudden or
unexpected movement of the driver's
seat could cause you to lose control of
the vehicle.

Seatback angle

To recline the seatback:
1. Lean forward slightly and lift the seat

back recline lever.

2. Carefully lean back on the seat and

adjust the seatback of the seat to the
desired position.

3. Release the lever and make sure the

seatback is locked in place. (The lever
MUST return to its original position for
the seatback to lock.)

W ARNING

Reclining seatback
Sitting in a reclined position when the
vehicle is in motion can be dangerous.
Even when buckled up, the protections
of the restraint system (seat belts and/or
air bags) are greatly reduced by reclin

ing the seatback.

Seat belts must be snug against hips
and chest to work properly. When the
seatback is reclined, the shoulder belt
cannot do its job because it will not be
snug against your chest. In an accident,
you could be thrown into the seat belt or
slide under the seat belt, causing neck or
other injuries.

The more the seatback is reclined, the
greater chance your hips will slide under

OBD031002

OBD031003

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

the lap belt or your neck will strike the
shoulder belt.

Seat height

To change the height of the seat, push
the lever up or down.
• To lower the seat cushion, push the

lever down several times.

• To raise the seat cushion, pull the

lever up several times.

Front seat adjustment - power (if
equipped, for

driver’s seat)

The

front driver’s seat can be adjusted

by using the control switches located on
the outside of the seat cushion. Before
driving, adjust the seat to the proper
position so you can easily control the
steering wheel, pedals and switches on
the instrument panel.

W ARNING

Unattended children
Ever leave children unattended in a vehi

cle. Children might operate features of
the vehicle that could injure them.

CAUTION

Power seating adjustments
• The power seating controls function

by a motor. Repeated operation may
cause damage to electrical equip

ment.

• Do not operate two or more power seat

control switches at the same time.
Doing so may damage the power
seat motor or electrical compo

nents.

• When in operation, the power seat

consumes a large amount of electrical
power. To prevent unnecessary
charging system drain,

don’t adjust

the power seat longer than necessary
while the engine is not running.

Forward and backward

1. Push the control switch forward or

backward to move the seat to the
desired position.

2. Release the switch once the seat

reaches the desired position.

OBD031061

OBD031005

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

Seatback angle

1. Push the control switch forward or

backward to move the seatback to the
desired angle.

2. Release the switch once the seat

reaches the desired position.

Seat cushion tilt and height

1. Pull the front portion (1) of the control

switch up to raise or press down to
lower the front part of the seat cush

ion.

2. Pull the rear portion (2) of the control

switch up to raise or press down to
lower the back part of the seat cush

ion.

3. Release the switch once the seat

reaches the desired position.

Lumbar support (if equipped)

The lumbar support can be adjusted by
pressing the lumbar support switch on
the side of the seat.

1. Press the front portion (1) of the switch

to increase support, or the rear portion
(2) of the switch, to decrease support.

2. Release the switch once it reaches the

desired position.

Headrest (for front seat)

The driver's and front passenger's seats
are equipped with a headrest for safety
and comfort.

The headrest not only provides comfort
for the driver and front passenger, but
also helps protect the head and neck in
the event of a collision.

OBD031006

OBD031007

OBD031008

OBD031212L

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

For maximum effectiveness in case of
an accident, the headrest should be
adjusted so the middle of the headrest is
at the same height of the center of grav

ity of an occupant's head. Generally, the
center of gravity of most people's heads
is of the top of their eyes.

Adjust the headrest as close to your
head as possible. The use of a cushion
that holds the body away from the seat

back is not recommended.

W ARNING

• Do not operate the vehicle with the

headrests removed. Severe injury to
the occupants may occur in the event
of an accident. Headrests can provide
protection against neck injuries when
properly adjusted.

• Do not adjust the headrest position of

the

driver’s seat while the vehicle is in

motion.

CAUTION

Excessive pulling or pushing may dam

age the headrest.

Adjusting the height up and
down

1. Pull it up to the desired position (1).
2. To lower the headrest, push and hold

the release button (2) on the headrest
support.

3. Lower the headrest to the desired

position (3).

CAUTION

If you move the seatback forward with
the headrest and seat cushion raised,
the headrest may contact the sun visor
or other parts of the vehicle.

OBD031010

ODEEV058008NR

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

Removal/Reinstallation

Type A

Type B

To remove the headrest:
1. Recline the seatback (2) with the

recline lever or switch (1).

2. Raise headrest to the maximum

height.

3. Press the headrest release button (3)

while pulling the headrest up (4).

W ARNING

Removing headrest
NEVER allow anyone to ride in a seat
with the headrest removed.Headrests
can provide critical neck and head sup

port in an accident.

Type A

Type B

To reinstall the headrest:
1. Put the headrest poles (2) into the

holes while pressing the release but

ton or switch (1).

2. Recline the seatback (4) with the

recline lever or switch (3).

3. Adjust the headrest to the appropriate

height.

W ARNING

Headrest reinstallation
To reduce the risk of injury to the head
or neck, always make sure the headrest
is locked into position and adjusted
properly after reinstalling.

OBD031012

OBD031011

OBD031014

OBD031013

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

Seatback pocket (if equipped)

The seatback pocket is located on the
back of the front occupants seatbacks.

W ARNING

Seatback pockets
Do not put heavy or sharp objects in the
seatback pockets. In an accident they
could come loose from the pocket and
injure occupants.

Rear seat adjustment

Headrest (if equipped)

The rear seat is equipped with headrests
for the occupant's safety and comfort.

The headrest not only provides comfort,
but also helps to protect the head and
neck in the event of a collision.

W ARNING

• For maximum effectiveness in case of

an accident, the headrest should be
adjusted so the middle of the head

rest is at the same height of the center
of gravity of an occupant's head. Gen

erally, the center of gravity of most
people's heads is the height of the top
of their eyes. Also adjust the headrest
as close to your head as possible. The
use of a cushion that holds the body
away from the seatback is not recom

mended.

• Do not operate the vehicle with the

headrests removed. Severe injury to
an occupant may occur in the event of
an accident. Headrests can provide
protection against severe neck inju

ries when properly adjusted.

Adjusting the height up and
down (if equipped)

• To raise the headrest, pull it up to the

desired position (1).

• To lower the headrest, push and hold

the release button (2) on the headrest
support and lower the headrest to the
desired position (3).

OBD031015

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OBD031016

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

Removal and installation (if
equipped)

• To remove the headrest, raise it to the

maximum height and then press the
release button (1) while pulling upward
(2).

• To reinstall the headrest, put the

headrest poles (A) into the holes while
pressing the release button (1). Adjust
it to the appropriate height and
ensure that it locks in position.

Armrest (if equipped)

To use the armrest, pull it forward from
the seatback.

Folding the rear seat (if
equipped)

The rear seatbacks may be folded to
facilitate carrying long items or to
increase the luggage capacity of the
vehicle.

NOTICE

Folded Seatback
Do not sit on folded down seatbacks.
The purpose of the fold down rear seat

backs is to allow you to carry longer
objects that could not otherwise be
accommodated.
• Never allow a passenger to sit on top

of the folded down seatback while the
car is moving. This is an improper
seating position since the seat has
important crash protection features
and seat belts are not available in this
seat configuration.

• To reduce the risk of injury caused by

sliding cargo within the passenger
compartment of the vehicle, objects
carried on the folded down seatback
should not extend higher than the top
of the front seats.

W ARNING

Objects
Objects carried on the folded down seat

back should not extend higher than the
top of the front seatbacks. This could
allow cargo to slide forward and cause
injury or damage during sudden stops.

To fold down the rear seatback

1. Set the front seatback to the upright

position and if necessary, slide the
front seat forward.

2. Lower the rear headrests to the lowest

position.

OBD031017

OBD031018

Safety features of your vehicle

Seats

3. Pull on the seatback folding lever

located in the trunk. If you pull both
seatback folding levers, all rear seat

backs will be folded.

4. To use the rear seat, lift and push the

seatback backward firmly until it clicks
into place. Make sure the seat

back is

locked in place.

5. Return the rear seat belt to the proper

position.

CAUTION

Be careful when loading cargo through
the rear passenger seats to prevent
damage to the vehicle interior.

W ARNING

Unless the

driver’s position is properly

set according to the

driver’s size, do not

fold the rear seat. It may increase body
injuries in a sudden stop or collision.

W ARNING

Uprighting a seat
When you return the seatback to its
upright position, hold the seatback and
return it slowly. If the seatback is
returned without holding it, the back of
the seat could spring forward resulting
in injury caused by being struck by the
seatback.

W ARNING

When you return the rear seatback to its
upright position after being folded down:

Be careful not to damage the seat belt
webbing or buckle. Do not allow the seat
belt webbing or buckle to get caught or
pinched in the rear seat. Ensure that the
seatback is completely locked into its
upright position by pushing on the top of
the seatback. In an accident or sudden
stop, the seat could fold down and allow
cargo to enter the passenger compart

ment, which could result in serious injury
or death.

CAUTION

Damaging rear seat belt buckles
When you fold the rear seatback, insert
the buckle between the rear seatback
and cushion to prevent the buckle from
being damaged by the rear seatback.

CAUTION

Rear seat belts
When returning the rear seatbacks to the
upright position, remember to return

OBDM031068L

OBD031195

Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

the rear shoulder belts to their proper
positions.

W ARNING

Cargo
Cargo should always be secured to pre

vent it from being thrown about the
vehicle in a collision and causing injury
to occupants. Do not place objects in the
rear seats since they cannot be properly
secured and may hit the front seat occu

pants in a collision.

W ARNING

Cargo loading
Make sure the engine is off, the trans

mission is in P (Park), and the parking
brake is securely applied whenever load

ing or unloading cargo. Failure to take
these steps could result in vehicle move

ment if the shift lever is inadvertently
moved to another position.

Seat belts

Seat belts are designed to bear upon the
bony structure of the body and should be
worn low across the front of the pel

vis,

chest and shoulders.

Seat belt restraint system

For maximum restraint system protec

tion, seat belts must always be used
whenever the vehicle is moving.
• A properly positioned shoulder belt

should be positioned midway over your
shoulder, across your collarbone.

• Never allow children to ride in the front

passenger seat. See "Child Restraint
System (CRS)" on page 3-26 for
further discussion.

W ARNING

Twisted seat belt
Make sure your seat belt is not twisted
when worn. A twisted seat belt may not
properly protect you in an accident and
could cut into your body.

W ARNING

Shoulder Belt
Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm or behind your back. An improperly
positioned shoulder belt cannot protect
the occupant in an accident.

W ARNING

Damaged seat belt
Any damage to webbing or hardware
may cause to serious injury or death in
an accident. The entire seat belt assem

bly should be replaced by an authorized
Kia dealer if the seatbelt webbing or
hardware is damaged.

Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

Seat belts are designed to bear upon the
bony structure of the body and should be
worn low across the front of the pel

vis,

chest and shoulders, as applicable;
wearing the lap section of the belt across
the abdominal area must be avoided.

Seat belts should be adjusted as firmly
as possible, consistent with comfort, to
provide the most protection.

A slack belt will greatly reduce protec

tion.

Care should be taken to avoid contami

nation of the webbing with polishes, oils
and chemicals, and particularly battery
acid. Using mild soap and water. The
belt should be replaced if webbing
becomes frayed, contaminated or dam

aged.
• No modifications or additions should

be made by the user which could
either prevent the seat belt adjusting
devices from operating to remove
slack.

• When you fasten the seat belt, be

careful not to latch the seat belt in
buckles of other seats. It is very dan

gerous and you may not be properly
protected.

• When fastening the seat belt, make

sure that the seat belt does not pass
over objects that are hard or can
break easily.

W ARNING

Do not fasten and unfasten the seat belt
repeatedly while driving. This could
cause loss of control, and an accident
causing death, serious injury, or prop

erty damage.

W ARNING

Seat belt buckle
Do not allow foreign material (gum,
crumbs, coins, liquids, etc.) to obstruct
the seat belt buckle orifice. This may
prevent the seat belt from fastening
securely.

Driver's seat belt warning

As a reminder, the seat belt warning light
and chime will illuminate for
approximately 6 seconds each time you
turn the ignition switch or the ENGINE
START/STOP button is in ON. If a driver
continue not to fasten or unfastens the
seat belt and drives below 12 mph
(20km/h), the warning light will stay illu

minated. If driving over 12 mph (20km/h)
the seat belt warning chime will sound for
approximately 100 seconds and the
corresponding warning light will blink.If a
driver unfastens the seat belt while
driving below 12 mph (20km/h), the
warning light will stay illuminated.

NOTICE

• Even if the front passenger seat is

unoccupied, the seat belt warning
light will illuminate for 6 seconds.

• The front passenger's seat belt warn

ing may operate when luggage is
placed on the front passenger seat.

1GQA2083

Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

Front passenger's seat belt warn

ing

The front

passenger’s seat belt warning

lights will illuminate for approximately 6
seconds each time you turn the ignition
switch or the ENGINE START/STOP
but

ton in ON regardless of belt

fastening.

If the front passenger continue not to
fasten or unfastens the seat belt and
drives below 12 mph (20km/h), the
warning light will stay illuminated.

If the front passenger continue not to
fasten the seat belt when being drive
over 12 mph (20km/h), the seat belt
warning chime will sound for approxi

mately 100 seconds and the corre

sponding warning light will blink.

If the front passenger unfastens the seat
belt while driving below 12 mph (20km/ h),
the warning light will stay illuminated.

If the front passenger unfastens the seat
belt while driving over 12 mph (20km/h),
the seat belt warning chime will sound for
approximately 100 seconds and the
corresponding warning light will blink.

NOTICE

• Even if the front passenger seat is not

occupied, the seat belt warning light
will illuminate for 6 seconds.

• The front passenger's seat belt warn

ing may operate when luggage is
placed on the front passenger seat.

Seat belt - Driver's 3-point system
with emergency locking retractor

The following explains how to fasten and
adjust the driver's seat belt.

Fastening your seat belt:

• Pull it out of the retractor and insert

the metal tab (1) into the buckle (2).

There will be an audible "click" when the
tab locks into the buckle.

OBDM031020

ODEEV058025NR

Safety features of your vehicle

Seat belts

W ARNING

You should place the lap belt portion as
low as possible and snugly across your
hips. If the lap belt is located too high on
your waist, it may increase the chance of
injury in the event of a collision.

The arm closest to the seat belt buckle
should be over the belt while the other
arm should be under the belt as shown
in the illustration. Never wear the seat
belt under the arm closest to the door.

The seat belt automatically adjusts to the
proper length only after the lap belt
portion is adjusted manually so that it fits
snugly around your hips. If you lean
forward in a slow, easy motion, the belt
will extend and let you move around. If
there is a sudden stop or impact, how

ever, the belt will lock into position. It will
also lock if you try to lean forward too
quickly.

NOTICE

If you are not able to pull out the seat
belt from the retractor, firmly pull the belt
out and release it. You should then be
able to pull the belt out smoothly.

Releasing the seat belt:

• Press the release button (1) in the

locking buckle.

When it is released, the belt should auto

matically draw back into the retractor.

If this does not happen, check the belt to
be sure it is not twisted and try again.

Adjusting the height of shoulder
belt

You can adjust the height of the shoul

der belt anchor to one of 4 positions for
maximum comfort and safety.

The height of the adjusting seat belt
should not be too close to your neck.
The shoulder portion should be adjusted
so that it lies across your chest and mid

way over your shoulder.

ODEEV058026NR

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Kia Forte (2024 year). Manual in english - page 1