Kia Sportage: Smart Cruise Control malfunction and limitations

Smart Cruise Control malfunction

A: Check Smart Cruise Control System

When Smart Cruise Control is not working properly, a warning message will appear, and the ( ) warning light will appear on the cluster. Have Smart Cruise Control be inspected by a professional workshop. Have Smart Cruise Control inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.

Smart Cruise Control disabled

A: Smart Cruise Control disabled.

Radar blocked

When the front radar cover or sensor is covered with snow, rain, or foreign material, it can reduce the detecting performance and temporarily limit or disable Smart Cruise Control.

If this occurs, a warning message will appear on the cluster.

Smart Cruise Control will operate normally when snow, rain or foreign material is removed.

WARNING

Even though the warning message does not appear on the cluster, Smart Cruise Control may not properly operate.

CAUTION

Smart Cruise Control may not properly operate in an area (e.g. open terrain), where there is nothing to detect after turning ON the vehicle.

Limitations of Smart Cruise Control

Smart Cruise Control may not operate normally under the following circumstances:

• The detecting sensor or the surroundings are contaminated or damaged
• Washer fluid is continuously sprayed, or the wiper is on
• The camera lens is contaminated due to tinted, filmed or coated windshield, damaged glass, or stuck of foreign material (sticker, bug, etc.) on the glass
• Moisture is not removed or frozen on the windshield
• The field of view of the front view camera is obstructed by sun glare
• Street light or light f r om an oncoming vehicle is reflected on the wet road surface, such as a puddle on the road
• The temperature around the front view camera is high or low
• An object is placed on the dashboard
• The surroundings are very bright
• The surroundings are very dark, such as in a tunnel, etc.
• The brightness changes suddenly, for example when entering or exiting a tunnel
• The brightness outside is low, and the headlamps are not on or are not bright
• Driving in heavy rain or snow, or thick fog
• Driving through steam, smoke or shadow
• Only part of the vehicle is detected
• The vehicle in front has no tail lights, tail lights are located unusually, etc.
• The brightness outside is low, and the tail lamps of the vehicle in front are not on or are not bright
• The rear of the front vehicle is small or does not look normal (i.e. tilted, overturned, etc.)
• The front vehicle's ground clearance is low or high
• A vehicle suddenly cuts in front
• Your vehicle is being towed
• Driving through a tunnel or iron bridge
• Driving near areas containing metal substances, such as a construction zone, railroad, etc.
• A material is near that reflects very well on the front radar, such as a guardrail, nearby vehicle, etc.
• The bumper around the front radar is impacted, damaged or the front radar is out of position
• The temperature around the front radar is high or low
• Driving in large areas where there are few vehicles or structures (i.e. desert, meadow, suburb, etc.)
• The vehicle in front is made of material that does not reflect on the front radar
• Driving near a highway (or motorway) interchange or tollgate
• Driving on a slippery surface due to snow, water puddle, ice, etc.
• Driving on a curved road
• The vehicle in front is detected late
• The vehicle in front is suddenly blocked by a obstacle
• The vehicle in front suddenly changes lane or suddenly reduces speed
• The vehicle in front is bent out of shape
• The front vehicle's speed is fast or slow
• With a vehicle in front, your vehicle changes lane suddenly at low speed
• The vehicle in front is covered with snow
• Unstable driving
• You are on a roundabout and the vehicle in front is not detected
• You are continuously driving in a circle
• Driving in a parking lot
• Driving through a construction area, unpaved road, partial paved road, uneven road, speed bumps, etc.
• Driving on an incline road, curved road, etc.
• Driving through a roadside with trees or streetlights
• The adverse road conditions cause excessive vehicle vibrations while driving
• Your vehicle height is low or high due to heavy loads, abnormal tire pressure, etc.
• Driving through a narrow road where trees or grass are overgrown
• There is interference by electromagnetic waves, such as driving in an area with strong radio waves or electrical noise
• Driving on a curved road

On curved roads, Smart Cruise Control may not detect a vehicle in the same lane, and may accelerate to the set speed. Also, vehicle speed may rapidly decrease when the vehicle ahead is detected suddenly.

Select the appropriate set speed on curved roads and apply the brake pedal or accelerator pedal according to the road and driving conditions ahead.

Your vehicle speed can be reduced due to a vehicle in the adjacent lane.

Check to be sure that the road conditions permit safe operation of Smart Cruise Control and if necessary, depress the brake pedal to reduce your driving speed in order to maintain a safe distance.

• Driving on a sloped road

During uphill or downhill driving, Smart Cruise Control may not detect a moving vehicle in your lane, and cause your vehicle to accelerate to the set speed. Also, vehicle speed will rapidly decrease when the vehicle ahead is detected suddenly.

Select the appropriate set speed on sloped roads and apply the brake pedal or accelerator pedal according to the road and driving conditions ahead.

Changing lanes

1. Your vehicle
2. Lane changing vehicle

When a vehicle moves into your lane from an adjacent lane, it cannot be detected by the sensor until it is in the sensor's detection range. Smart Cruise Control may not immediately detect the vehicle when the vehicle changes lanes abruptly. Always pay attention to the road and driving conditions and drive safely. If necessary, depress the brake pedal to reduce your driving speed in order to maintain a safe distance.

• Detecting a vehicle

In the following cases, some vehicles in your lane cannot be detected by the sensor:

• Vehicles offset to one side
• Slow-moving vehicles or suddendecelerating vehicles
• Vehicles with higher ground clearance or vehicles carrying loads that stick out of the back of the vehicle
• Vehicles that has the front lifted due to heavy loads
•  Oncoming vehicles
• Stopped vehicles
• Vehicles with small rear profile, such as trailers
• Narrow vehicles, such as motorcycles or bicycles
• Special vehicles
• Animals and pedestrians
• Vehicle at a short distance (about 2m)
• When a vehicle in front of you merges out of the lane, Smart Cruise Control may not immediately detect the new vehicle that is now in front of you.

  Always pay attention to road and driving conditions while driving.

When a vehicle in front of you merges out of the lane, Smart Cruise Control may not immediately detect the new vehicle that is now in front of you.

Always pay attention to road and driving conditions while driving.

• Always look out for pedestrians when your vehicle is maintaining a distance with the vehicle ahead.

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