Kia Optima: Electronic stability control (ESC) / ESC OFF usage

Kia Optima DL3 2019-2024 Owner's Manual / Driving your vehicle / Brake system / Electronic stability control (ESC) / ESC OFF usage

When driving

ESC should be turned on for daily driving whenever possible.
To turn ESC off while driving, press the ESC OFF button while driving on a flat road surface.

WARNING - Operating ESC

Never press the ESC OFF button while ESC is operating (ESC indicator light blinks).

If ESC is turned off while ESC is operating, the vehicle may slip out of control.

✽ NOTICE

When operating the vehicle on a dynamometer, ensure that the ESC is turned off (ESC OFF light illuminated). If the ESC is left on, it may prevent the vehicle speed from increasing, and result in false diagnosis.
Turning the ESC off does not affect ABS or brake system operation.

Indicator light

When ignition switch is turned to ON, the indicator light illuminates, then goes off if the ESC system is operating normally. The ESC indicator light blinks whenever ESC is operating or illuminat ...

Vehicle stability management (VSM)

This system provides further enhancements to vehicle stability and steering responses when a vehicle is driving on a slippery road or a vehicle detects changes in coefficient of friction between r ...

Other information:

Kia Optima DL3 2019-2024 Owner's Manual: Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) system

The Lane Keeping Assist system is designed to detect the lane markers on the road with a front view camera at the front windshield, and assists the driver’s steering to help keep the vehicle in the lanes. When the system detects the vehicle straying from its lane, it alerts the driver wit ...

Kia Optima DL3 2019-2024 Owner's Manual: Indicator light

When ignition switch is turned to ON, the indicator light illuminates, then goes off if the ESC system is operating normally. The ESC indicator light blinks whenever ESC is operating or illuminates when ESC fails to operate. The ESC OFF indicator light comes on when the ESC is turned off wit ...