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Air bagsPart report

2021 Kia Forte Air bags Problems

Complaints
7about this part
Share
10%of 69 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the air bags of the 2021 Kia Forte, 10% of the 69 complaints for this model year. 6 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

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

“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 assistance”

NHTSA complaint #11766285, filed 2026-09

“I got into an accident by being struck by lightning. I lost consciousness when I came to I was very confuse. I was in the side of a bridge with my foot on the brake looking at a river. My car was totally! My airbags didn’t even deploy. I’ve been paying the price for this with higher insurance rates with an accident on my record. No police report was filed or called because I was fine just confused. Even with it being an act of god, I’m paying for it”

NHTSA complaint #11455458, filed 2022-03

“On May 13, 2023, I was involved in a severe frontal collision on the passenger side while driving my 2021 Kia Forte. The impact caused significant damage, and my insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. Despite the severity of the crash, none of the airbags deployed. I experienced body pain for several days following the accident. Given the nature of the collision and the damage sustained, the airbags should have deployed to protect the occupants. This raises serious concerns about the reliability of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).”

NHTSA complaint #11713406, filed 2026-01

“I was in a head on accident at 45mph air bags did not deploy . was wearing my seatbelt and had a head injury due to hit the steering wheel with my head”

NHTSA complaint #11450155, filed 2022-02

“The contact owns a 2021 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at 20 MPH and attempting to complete a left turn. another driver failed to stop at a red light, as a result, the contact's mother was struck by the other vehicle on the passenger's side; however, the air bags did not deploy. In addition, the seat belt failed to retract. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop for body repair but was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to determine why the air bags did not deploy. …”

NHTSA complaint #11622287, filed 2024-10

Related recalls

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 2021 Kia Forte

Engine
22 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsForward collision avoidance
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2021 Kia Forte

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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