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 milesRelated recalls
- 18V363000Jun 1, 2018Kia 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…Covers: Kia Forte 2010–2013, Forte Koup 2010–2013, Optima 2011–2013 +2 more
Related service bulletins
- 10090630Aug 23, 2013Pitstop: acu variant coding after parts supersession - kma has received reports of some 2011~13my optima and 2010~13my forte vehicles not accepting the variant code listed on…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 27% |
| 2023 | 5 | 8% |
| 2022 | 2 | 7% |
| 2021 | 7 | 10% |
| 2020 | 5 | 6% |
| 2019 | 6 | 4% |
| 2018 | 16 | 12% |
| 2017 | 18 | 6% |
| 2016 | 13 | 10% |
| 2015 | 23 | 9% |
| 2014 | 63 | 14% |
| 2013 | 16 | 8% |
| 2012 | 37 | 13% |
| 2011 | 35 | 23% |
| 2010 | 41 | 19% |
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Forte
161 complaintsBrakes
52 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsVisibility (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