TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System which lets the driver know the air pressure of all four tires through the instrument cluster display. All models of Kia Sportage are equipped with it. A lot of users often tend to have a lot of trouble regarding the location of the TPMS reset button.
Where is TPMS reset button on a Kia Sportage?
For Kia Sportage 2008 model cars, the TPMS reset button is located under the steering wheel. For 2011 models, the glove box or under the steering wheel is where the TPMS button is located. Similarly, for 2014 models, the reset button can be found on the right side of the steering wheel. The fourth-generation (2015-2020) of Kia Sportage does not come with a reset button.
Typically, the TPMS reset button is located under the steering wheel but depending on the model of your car, it can be located anywhere from the glove box, the dash to the right of the steering wheel or under it.
This table shall illustrate and make it easier for you to find your Kia’s TPMS reset button.
| Model | Location |
| Kia Telluride | Use the left up/down button on the right side of the wheel. |
| Kia Rio | Check beneath the steering wheel. |
| Kia Optima | Either in the glove box or beneath the steering wheel |
| Kia Niro | On the dash. |
| Kia Forte | The right side of the steering wheel. |
| Kia Seltos | Located under the steering wheel or in the glove box |
| Kia Soul | The right side of the steering wheel. |
| Kia Telluride | The right side of the steering wheel. |
| Kia Stinger | Under the steering wheel. |
What’s the best way to find the TPMS button on Kia Sportage or any other car?
Different car models have different locations of the TPMS button but we can provide you with some basic tips which are equivalent to many, if not all models.
Almost 90% of the cars with direct TPMS have the reset button located under the steering wheel through which you can conveniently and easily re-calibrate the sensors.
Some newer cars have the reset button in their menus.
What if I cannot find the TPMS reset button on my Kia Sportage?
You’ll usually find the tire pressure monitor reset button beneath the vehicle’s steering wheel. Look around your steering wheel, under it, on the dash or in the glove box. You will find it.
Check your user’s manual if you’re having trouble locating it.
However, if your Kia Sportage model is of fourth-generation (2015-20), there is no TPMS reset button in those models and the warning light will disappear on its own after you fill your tires up.
How to recognise the TPMS indicator?
The TPMS indicator is the light on the dashboard that indicates that your tire pressure may be low and should be checked.
If you’re new to tyre pressure sensors, locating the TPMS indicator on your dashboard is straightforward. It’s a light in the shape of a horseshoe with an exclamation point in the middle.
How does the TPMS reset button work on my Kia Sportage car?
The sensor measures the pressure and temperature in the tyre and sends this information to the tyre pressure monitor ECU (Electronic Control Unit)/receiver, along with the TPMS’s unique ID.
If the ECU logs the TPMS ID, it is compared to the placard pressure, and if the pressure is too high, a warning light illuminates the dash-mounted display.
What is direct and indirect TPMS?
TPMS are of two types; direct and indirect TPMS.
The sensors of the direct TPMS are located on the tire’s valve or the rim. These sensors effectively collect information and send it to the car’s board computer. One disadvantage of the direct TPMS is that it’s very likely to malfunction pertaining to bad weather conditions.
The indirect TPMS has sensors placed on the car’s ABS brakes and/or the speed sensors on each wheel. These sensors measure the wheel rotation speed and identify changes as underinflated tires rotate much faster compared to regularly filled tires.
Direct TPMS is usually found in cars in the United States while indirect TPMS is found mostly in Europe.
Kia Sportage uses direct TPMS.
Can you reset TPMS yourself in Kia?
If your tires aren’t filled up, the TPMS light must be on. After filling them up, the pressure light should reset automatically by itself. If it still fails to do so, here’s how to reset tire pressure:
- Get on a highway and drive for about 10 minutes at a speed of 50 mph or higher. When you power on the vehicle again, the sensor should be reset.
- Turn the key to the “On” position while getting inside your vehicle, but don’t start it. Hold the TPMS reset button down until the tyre pressure light blinks three times, then release it.
- Start the vehicle after this, and the sensor should refresh within 15-20 minutes.
- Inflate the tyres to 3 PSI (pounds per square inch) above the recommended pressure, then deflate entirely. The TPMS sensor may be attached to the spare tyre as well, so make sure it’s deflated as well. Inflate the tyres to the recommended PSI after they’ve been deflated.
- Turn off the vehicle and carefully disconnect the positive battery cable with a wrench. Then, turn the car on and honk the horn for three seconds to discharge the charge still stored in the vehicle. Finally, reconnect the battery.
What’s the use of the TPMS Reset Button?
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems are devised to measure and monitor tire pressure in motor vehicles so that accidents can be prevented which are caused by incorrect tire pressure.
Additionally, optimal tire pressure ensures unnecessary tire wear and saves fuel too, so that’s a plus.
What are the legal provisions regarding the TPMS feature?
The THREAD (Transportation, Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation) Act requires that a system to warn the driver about underinflated tires to be included in vehicles sold in the U.S. As of September 1, 2007, that warning system, or tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), had to be placed in 100% of all passenger cars and light trucks (under 10,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight).
Automakers, and their suppliers, must also notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of all accidents involving alleged defects.