Kia Sportage: Folding the rear seat

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

WARNING

Folded Seatback

The purpose of the fold-down rear seatbacks 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 not a proper seating position since no seat belts are available for use. This could result in serious injury or death, for example, in case of an accident or sudden stop.

WARNING

When folding the seatback, be sure to hold the seatback or headrest with your hands.

CAUTION

When folding or unfolding a rear seat, make sure to lower the seat's headrest as much as possible and put the front seat's seatback in the upright position.

If there is any interference when folding or unfolding the seat, the interfered area of the seat may be damaged.

Folding 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.

WARNING

Objects

Objects carried on the folded down seatback should not extend higher than the top of the front seatbacks. Otherwise, cargo may slide forward and cause injury or damage during sudden stops.

3. When folding the seatback, insert the rear seat belt buckle in the pocket between the rear seatback and cushion.

   Make sure both seat belts do not interfere with stowed luggage and cargo. Then, the seat belt webbing should be placed in the webbing guide to prevent the seat belt from being damaged by loaded cargo, etc.

   If the seat belt is loose, it may cause damage or noise. In that case, return the seatback to the upright position and put the webbing out from the guide to realign it.

4. Pull on the seatback folding lever, then fold the seat toward the front of the vehicle. When you return the seatback to its upright position, always be sure it has locked into position by pushing on the top of the seatback.

Type A

Type B (if equipped)

Unfolding the rear seat

1. To use the rear seat, lift and pull the seatback backward while pulling on the seatback folding lever. Pull the seatback firmly until it clicks into place. Make sure the seatback is locked in place. When you return the seatback to its upright position, always be sure it has locked into position by pushing on the top of the seatback.
2. Return the rear seat belt to the proper position.
3. When the seatback is completely installed, check the seatback folding lever again.
4. If you want to tilt the rear seatback a bit more, while pulling on the seatback folding lever and push the top of the rear seatback towards the rear.

   Then release the lever and make sure that the rear seat is firmly locked.

WARNING

Uprighting 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.

WARNING

Rear seatback

To ensure maximum protection in the event of an accident or sudden stop, when returning the rear seat to the upright position:

• Be careful not to damage the seat belt webbing or buckle.
• Do not allow the seat belt webbing or buckle to become pinched or caught in the rear seat.
• Ensure the seatback is completely locked into its upright position by pushing on the top of the seatback.

  Failure to adhere to any of these instructions could result in serious injury or death in the event of a crash.

CAUTION

Damaging rear seat belt buckles

When you fold the rear seatback, insert the buckle between the rear seatback and cushion. Doing so can 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 the rear shoulder belts to their proper position.

WARNING

Unless the driver's position is properly set according to the driver's physical figure, do not fold the rear seat. It may increase bodily injuries in a sudden stop or collision.

CAUTION

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

WARNING

Cargo

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

Cargo loading

Make sure the engine is off, the transmission is in P (Park) and the parking brake is securely applied whenever loading or unloading cargo. Failure to take these steps may allow the vehicle to move if the shift lever is inadvertently moved to another position.

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