KIA Forte Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 294 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the KIA Forte across 15 model years. The 2014 model year has the most (63). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (25% of reports).
- 294air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 151mention a crash
- 108mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $510typical repair cost reported by owners
- 22%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 73 of 294 complaints (25%)
- Bags deploy: mentioned in 40 of 294 complaints (14%)
- Medical attention: mentioned in 18 of 294 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the KIA Forte at $510, and half of them between $210 and $1,050.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 164 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 294 complaints, 151 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 108 an injury.
KIA Forte air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | 7 | 27% | — |
| 2023 Forte | 5 | 8% | — |
| 2022 Forte | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2021 Forte | 7 | 10% | — |
| 2020 Forte | 5 | 6% | 55,000 |
| 2019 Forte | 6 | 4% | 2,300 |
| 2018 Forte | 16 | 12% | 40,500 |
| 2017 Forte | 18 | 6% | 29,000 |
| 2016 Forte | 13 | 10% | 50,000 |
| 2015 Forte | 23 | 9% | 50,238 |
| 2014 Forte | 63 | 14% | 83,000 |
| 2013 Forte | 16 | 8% | 100,000 |
| 2012 Forte | 37 | 13% | 74,500 |
| 2011 Forte | 35 | 23% | 63,000 |
| 2010 Forte | 41 | 19% | 78,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Air bags
Model years: 2017, 2018
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger; air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Model years: 2021
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Model years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Risk: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Fix: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
It keeps getting broken into by the KIA boys in attempt of theft. It's a group that targets KIAs because they're easy. I now have to make sure my steering wheel is locked up. I was recently hit by another driver, i had to go to the hospital but for some reason the airbag did not deploy. I need some…
Airbag warning light has came on had a mechanic run codes and it says all air bags unresponsive. Now my car is refusing to start. If continue to try it eventually starts. Major oil leak and consumption along with knocking. Along with my break lights not working occasionally along with my head…
Airbag light came on August 21, 2026. I tried several steps to troubleshoot with no resolution. I took it to the local Kia dealership for further inspection. I was terrified to drive the vehicle because of the airbag failure. I explained to the technician that I had read that there was an warranty…
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bags warning light illuminated and then went off. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light was again illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed…
This malfunction started in August of 2025 within 12 months of buying this new vehicle. A airbag sensor was replaced, then a national bbb case found the same malfunction only this time it includes the whole safty system failure. I gave the manufacturer a year and they have not corrected the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Fortes have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 294 owner complaints about air bags for the KIA Forte. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Forte air bags?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the KIA Forte?
Owners report a typical cost of $510 (half paid between $210 and $1,050), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the KIA Forte?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 73 of 294 complaints, followed by “bags deploy” (40).
Other KIA Forte problems
- Engine problems (1,130)
- Electrical System problems (325)
- Power Train problems (218)
- Exterior Lighting problems (178)
- Steering problems (166)
- Service Brakes problems (156)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (116)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (110)
See all KIA Forte problems.