Kia Forte: Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA) (Camera + Radar type) / Limitation of the system

The FCA system is designed to monitor the vehicle ahead through radar signals and camera recognition to warn the driver that a collision is imminent, and if necessary, apply emergency braking. In certain situations, the radar sensor or the camera may not be able to detect the vehicle ahead. In these cases, the FCA system may not operate. The driver must pay careful attention in the following situations where the FCA operation may be limited:

Recognizing vehicles

- The radar or the camera is contaminated with foreign substances.
- It heavily rains or snows.
- There is electromagnetic interference
- Something in the path of travel deflects the radar waves
- The vehicle in front has a narrow body. (i.e. motorcycles and bicycles)
- The driver’s view is not clear due to backlight, reflected light, or darkness.
- The camera cannot contain the full image of the vehicle in front.
- The vehicle in front is a special vehicle, such as a heavily-loaded truck or a trailer.
- The outside brightness is greatly changed, such as entering/exiting a tunnel.
- The vehicle driving is unstable.
- The radar/camera sensor recognition is limited.
- The driver's field of view is not well illuminated (either too dark, too much reflection, or too much backlight that obscures the field of view)
- There is severe irregular reflection from the radar sensor
- The vehicle in front is driving erratically
- The vehicle is driven near areas containing metal substances such as a construction zone, railroad, etc.
- Backlight is reflected in the direction of the vehicle (including front light from the vehicle ahead)
- Moisture on the windshield is not completely removed or is frozen.
- The weather is misty.
- The vehicle in front does not turn ON the rear lights, does not have rear lights, has asymmetric rear lights, or has rear lights out of angle.

- Driving on a curve

The FCA performance may be limited while driving on a curve. The FCA may not recognize the vehicle in front even if in the same lane. It may produce the warning message and the warning alarm prematurely, or it may not produce the warning message or the warning alarm at all. When driving on a curve, exercise caution, maintain a safe braking distance, and if necessary, depress the brake pedal to reduce your driving speed in order to maintain a safe distance.

The FCA system may recognize a vehicle in an adjacent lane when driving on a curved road. In this situation, the system may apply the brake. Always pay attention to road and driving conditions while driving. If necessary, depress the brake pedal to reduce your driving speed in order to maintain a safe distance. Also, when necessary, you may depress the accelerator pedal to prevent the system from unnecessarily decelerating your vehicle. Always check the traffic conditions around the vehicle.

- Driving on a slope

The FCA performance may be limited while driving upward or downward on a slope, and may not recognize a vehicle in front in the same lane. It may produce the warning message and the warning alarm prematurely, or it may not produce the warning message and the warning alarm at all.

When the FCA suddenly recognizes the vehicle in front while passing over a slope, you may experience sharp deceleration.

Always keep your eyes forward while driving upward or downward on a slope, and, if necessary, depress the brake pedal.

- Changing lanes

When a vehicle changes lanes in front of you, the FCA system may not immediately detect the vehicle, especially if the vehicle changes lanes abruptly. In this situation, you must maintain a safe braking distance, and if necessary, depress the brake pedal to reduce your driving speed in order to maintain a safe distance.

When driving in stop-and-go traffic, and a stopped vehicle in front of you merges out of the lane, the FCA system may not immediately detect the new vehicle that is now in front of you. In this situation, you must maintain a safe braking distance, and if necessary, depress the brake pedal to reduce your driving speed in order to maintain a safe distance.

- Recognizing the vehicle

If the vehicle in front of you has cargo that extends rearward from the cab, or when the vehicle in front of you has higher ground clearance, additional special attention is required. The FCA system may not be able to recognize the cargo extending from the vehicle. In these instances, you must maintain a safe braking distance from the rearmost object, and if necessary, depress the brake pedal to reduce your driving