Kia Sportage: Seat belts - Front passenger and rear seat 3-point system with combination locking retractor

The following explains how to fasten the passenger's and rear seat belts.

Fastening your seat belt:

Combination retractor type seat belts are installed in the rear seat positions to help accommodate the installation of Child Restraint System. Although a combination retractor is also installed in the front passenger seat position, it is strongly recommended that children always be seated in the rear seat. NEVER place any infant restraint system in the front seat of the vehicle.

This type of seat belt combines the features of both an emergency locking retractor seat belt and an automatic locking retractor seat belts

• Pull it out of the retractor and insert the metal tab into the buckle. There will be an audible "click" when the tab locks into the buckle. When not securing a child restraint, the seat belt operates in the same way as the driver's seat belt (emergency locking retractor type).

It automatically adjusts to the proper length only after the lap belt portion of the seat belt is adjusted manually so that it fits snugly around your hips.

When the seat belt is fully extended from the retractor to allow the installation of a Child Restraint System, the seat belt operation changes to allow the belt to retract, but not to extend (automatic locking retractor type). Refer to "Securing a child restraint with a lap/shoulder belt"

NOTICE

Although the combination retractor provides the same level of protection for seated passengers in either emergency or automatic locking modes, have the seated passengers use the emergency locking feature for improved convenience.

The automatic locking function is intended to facilitate child restraint installation. To convert from the automatic locking feature to the emergency locking operation mode, allow the unbuckled seat belt to fully retract.

CAUTION

Do NOT fold down the left portion of the rear seatback when the rear center seat belt is buckled. ALWAYS UNBUCKLE the rear center seat belt before folding down the left portion of the rear seatback. If the rear center seat belt is buckled when the left portion of the rear seatback is folded down, distortion and damage to the top portion of the seatback and seat belt garnish may result, causing the seatback to lock into the folded down position.

The seat belt should be locked into the buckle on each seat cushion to be properly fastened.

1. Rear right seat belt fastening buckle
2. Rear center seat belt fastening buckle
3. Rear left seat belt fastening buckle

WARNING

Prior to fastening the rear seat belts, ensure the latch matches the seat belt buckle. Forcefully fastening the left or right seat belt to the center buckle can result in an improper fastening scenario that will not protect you in an accident.

When using the rear center seat belt, the buckle with the "CENTER" mark must be used.

Stowing the rear seat belt

The rear seat belt buckles can be stowed in the pocket between the rear seatback and cushion when not in use.

1. Route the seat belt webbing through the rear seat belt guides. It will help keep the belts from being trapped behind or under the seats.
2. After inserting the seat belt, tighten the belt webbing by pulling it up.

CAUTION

When pulling out to wear the seat belt, the tongue should be slowly pulled out of the seat belt guide so that the seat belt guide does not come off the trim.

Releasing the seat belt:

• The seat belt is released by pressing the release button (1) on the locking buckle.

  When it is released, the belt should automatically draw back into the retractor.

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

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