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Air bagsPart report

2012 Kia Forte Air bags Problems

Complaints
37about this part
Share
13%of 292 total for the year
Median mileage
74,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Kia Forte, 13% of the 292 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 74,500 miles. 15 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The engine light suddenly came on and engine was tapping stalling and I smelled burnt melted plastic smell. The oil light was intermittently coming on and off. The fuel was consumed quickly than normal. I had brakes remaing engaged when foot not pressing pedal and could feel contact to road. Engine has failed car was moving.”

NHTSA complaint #11406487, filed 2021-04, 120,000 miles

“My airbag light is on in the car. I took my car in to the dealer for on january 10 2019 for a recall 18v363 which they completed. On saturday feb 2, I was running errands. When I left one of the stores, the airbag light came on in my car and stay illuminated. It has been on and off (mostly on) intermittedly since then. The light never came on before the recall repair.”

NHTSA complaint #11176251, filed 2019-02, 114,000 miles

“Nov 7 2016 was stopped at a light on a main street with two car lengths between me and person in front, due to the heavy volume of traffic. I was hit in the rear, end by an SUV, then slammed into the car in front of me, and sent back again and slammed the car that initially hit me. My air bags did not deploy. Was seriously injured in crash with long term effects.”

NHTSA complaint #11110215, filed 2018-07, 29,000 miles

“I was involved in an accident where I was rear ended and then smashed into the vehicle in front of me. The air bags did not inflate and the seat belt did not lock in place. I was traveling on a highway. My vehicle was in motion at the time of the accident. There is an active recall on the Kia and it was part of the recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11150286, filed 2018-11, 116,000 miles

“When had my accident in on going traffic my air bags did not deploy,my brakes system went out, also my horn doesn't work, and my cv axle messes up and can't find another cv axle.”

NHTSA complaint #11307568, filed 2020-02, 70,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2024727%
202358%
202227%
2021710%
202056%
201964%
20181612%
2017186%
20161310%
2015239%
20146314%
2013168%
20123713%
20113523%
20104119%

Other parts of the 2012 Kia Forte

Engine
161 complaints
Brakes
52 complaints
Electrical system
32 complaints
Exterior lighting
23 complaints
Other or unknown
21 complaints
Vehicle speed control
14 complaints
Fuel system
11 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
11 complaints
Steering
9 complaints
Body and structure
9 complaints
Engine cooling
5 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia Forte

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology