Kia Sportage: Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system

The Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) provides further enhancements to vehicle stability and steering responses under the following condition:

• when driving on a slippery road or
• when a change in the coefficient of friction between left and right wheels is detected.

WARNING

Tire/wheel size

When replacing tires and wheels, make sure they are the same size as the original tires and wheels installed. Driving with varying tire or wheel sizes may diminish any supplemental safety benefits of the VSM system.

VSM operation

When the VSM is operating properly, you can feel a slight pulsation in the vehicle and/or abnormal steering responses (Electric Power Steering (EPS)). This is only the effect of brake and EPS control and indicates nothing unusual.

The VSM does not operate when:

• Driving on a sloping road such as a gradient or incline
• Driving in reverse
• ESC OFF indicator light ( ) remains on the instrument cluster
• EPS indicator light remains on the instrument cluster

VSM operation off

If you press the ESC OFF button to turn off the ESC, the VSM will also cancel and the ESC OFF indicator light ( ) appears.

To turn on the VSM, press the button again. The ESC OFF indicator light goes out.

WARNING

Vehicle Stability Management

Drive carefully even though your vehicle has Vehicle Stability Management. It can only assist you in maintaining control of the vehicle under certain circumstances.

Malfunction indicator

The VSM can be deactivated even if you don't cancel the VSM operation by pressing the ESC OFF button. It indicates that a malfunction has been detected somewhere in the Electric Power Steering system or VSM system. If the ESC indicator light ( ) or EPS warning light remains on, take your vehicle and have the system checked by an authorized Kia dealer.

The VSM is not a substitute for safe driving practices but a supplementary function only. It is the responsibility of the driver to always check the speed and the distance to the vehicle ahead. Always hold the steering wheel firmly while driving.

Your vehicle is designed to activate according to the driver's intention, even with installed VSM. Always follow all the normal precautions for driving at safe speeds for the conditions - including driving in clement weather and on a slippery road.

WARNING

For maximum protection, always wear your seat belt. No system, no matter how advanced, can compensate for all driver error and/or driving conditions.

Always drive responsibly.

Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) system

The Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) is operated as a vehicle stability control system.

The TSA is designed to stabilize the vehicle and trailer when the trailer sways or oscillates. There are various factors that make the vehicle sway or oscillate.

Such incidents mostly happen at high speed, but, there is also a risk of swaying when the trailer is affected by crosswinds, buffeting or improper overloading.

Factors of swaying such as:

• High speed
• Strong crosswinds
• Improper overloading
• Sudden controlling of steering wheel
• Uneven road

The TSA continuously analyzes the vehicle and trailer instability. When the TSA detects some sway, the brakes are applied automatically to stabilize the vehicle. When the vehicle becomes stable, the TSA does not operate.

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