MyCarTSB

2013 Kia Forte Airbags Problems

14 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

14
Complaints
1
Recalls
10
Crashes
Feb 2021Dec 2019
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Airbags Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #18V363000

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

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.

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.

Owner Complaints (14)

criticalAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: Jul 2025

Your 2013 Kia Forte was involved in a serious rollover crash at highway speeds. During the accident, the front passenger airbags failed to deploy and the seat belt did not restrain the passenger, resulting in severe injuries including multiple spinal fractures, head trauma, and lacerations. The vehicle was totaled and both passengers required emergency hospital care and ongoing treatment.

NHTSA #: 11672004
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: May 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte Ex. The contact stated when at a complete stop, the driver in front accelerated with the vehicle in reverse and crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The entire front vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning lights. The contact was stuck in the vehicle, the seat belt was not functional. The police were notified; however, there was no police report. The contact was not injured or had any medical treatments. The vehicle was driven to the home, then towed to the local auto body shop. There was no diagnosis of the failure with air bags or seat belts faulty. The contact believes the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number 18V363000 (Air Bags). The vehicle has been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000

NHTSA #: 11463187
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Feb 2021

I HAVE A 2013 KIA FORTE WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. I FOUND A RECALL ON 2011-2013 KIA FORTE FOR AIR BAG: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE WHERE IN AN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAG CONTROL MAY SHORT CIRCUIT PREVENTING THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS FROM DEPLOYING. I LOOKED UP MY VIN # TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT ON THE LIST. IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY A KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE DRIVER ANCHOR PRETENSIONER. MY QUESTION IS WHY MY FORTE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST? MY REQUEST IS TO HAVE MY VEHICLE PLACE ON THE LIST SO WE CAN HAVE THIS ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU, MARY DENISE BROWN

NHTSA #: 11394753
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Dec 2019

WIFE GOT KILLED IN IT WENT THRU A BRIDGE CLOSED

NHTSA #: 11286434
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Aug 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED TO OPERATE AS WELL. THE CONTACT MADE IMPACT WITH A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT HIT HER FACE AND CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER HOME. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH THREE ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO HER OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE MATTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA #: 11252113
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Filed: May 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V773000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED GENE MESSER KIA DEALER, LOCATED AT 6006 19TH ST, LUBBOCK, TX 79407, (806) 776-5600, AND IT WAS INFORMED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECTS.

NHTSA #: 11207483
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2019

I WAS LOOKING UP THE BLUE BOOK VALUE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR DEALING WITH THE BREAKS, SEATBELT, AND AIRBAG. I MADE A CALL TO KIA, GAVE THEM THE VIN NUMBER AND THEY SAID THE CAR HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS AND I DID NOT GET A CARFAX SHEET.

NHTSA #: 11193774
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Sep 2018

I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 40MPH, ON A TWO LANE STATE HIGHWAY, WHEN A VEHICLE VEERED INTO MY LANE GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS PUSHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE FRONT CORNER PANEL WAS DAMAGED UPON IMPACT, AND MY CAR TOTALED, BUT MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I TOOK THE FULL BRUNT OF THE BLOW, AND HAD NECK, BACK, AND KNEE PROBLEMS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. COLLISION REPORT INFORMATION: DATE 7/28/2018 TIME: 0442 NCIC NUMBER: 9655 OFFICER'S ID NUMBER: 19234

NHTSA #: 11129933
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Aug 2018

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA DATED JULY 27 REGARDING A RECALL ON AIRBAGS. ON JULY 28, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A DRUNK DRIVER, AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR IS TOTALED, AND I NO LONGER HAVE IT. THERE IS A POLICE AND COLLISION REPORT. - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA #: 11118949
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jul 2018

MY CAR DASH BOARD SHOWS IARBAG SIGN AND IT STAYS . I CALLED TO KIA TALKED TO THEM THEY SAID WE WILL CALL YOU AND NOBODY CALLED ME . I KNOW THAT MY CAR GOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL SC165 . PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY CAR BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE.

NHTSA #: 11114249
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: Jul 2018

I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN APRIL WHERE MY ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT CATCH ME CAUSING ME TO SMASH MY FACE INTO THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA #: 11105328
mediumAIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2017

CAR ACCIDENT ON 10/12/2017 @6:30AM AIR BAG DID NOT WORK (TOTALLY MY CAR

NHTSA #: 11034019
mediumAIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
CrashFiled: Aug 2017

AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK DURING AN ACCIDENT. CAR WAS TRAVELING 40 MHP ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT STRUCK ANOTHER CARE FROM BEHIND. FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES AND CONCUSSION FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER.

NHTSA #: 11018775
mediumAIR BAGS,SEATS
CrashFiled: Jul 2016

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS SITTING STILL WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A DULLY TRUCK THAT WAS TRAVELING GREATER THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS PUSHED APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BROKE. THE SEAT IS IN THE RECLINED POSITION. THE ADJUSTER TOTALED THE CAR DUE TO DAMAGE.

NHTSA #: 10889314

Other 2013 Kia Forte Issues