2010 Kia Forte Airbags Problems

On August 22nd 2025 my daughter was driving this vehicle and was in a car accident and her front air bags did not deploy. Her passenger side airbags deployed with no passenger but nothing in the front and it was a front collision. Upon receipt of the Paperwork from Copart we learned there was an active recall from 2018 for the front airbags possibly not deploying and resulting in injury during a collision, which is what happened. Her knee and ribs were injured from hitting the steering wheel. The car was declared a total loss from insurance.

NHTSA ID

11689708

Incident

Aug 22, 2025

the air bag light is on, the cruise control stop working around the same time, the light came on.

NHTSA ID

11681624

Incident

Jun 15, 2025

Air bag light turned on June 2025. Could not be reset. Had local shop read the code. Driver's side air bag, likely clock spring. Brought it to the dealership after a month wait for appointment. It was confirmed that it was the Clock Spring and replaced. This is not a wear part. Research shows a very common issue with other kia and hyundai makes and models of a similar age that were actively recalled.. Kia declined and will not reimburse due to not having a recall for my specific make, model, and year.

NHTSA ID

11679089

Incident

Jun 11, 2025

The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while stopped at the traffic light, a tractor-trailer crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that no air bags deployed in his vehicle. The contact stated that he sustained back pain. No medical attention was required. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was still drivable at the scene. Prior to the crash, the dealer was contacted on several occasions to schedule an appointment for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V363000 (Air Bags); however, the dealer would reschedule each appointment attempt. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,100.

NHTSA ID

11668959

Incident

Jan 8, 2023

Mileage

166,100 mi

Airbag light will not turn off after 6 seconds. Stays on even when driving. Cruise control turns on sporadically when trying to turn off, it will not respond stays on. Car will be inspected on 10/03/2023 by Earnhardt Peoria KIA Peoria Az.

NHTSA ID

11547120

Incident

Sep 24, 2023

The air bag is on for over 3 years and not included in the recall. This is a fearful safety issue. The serpentine belt has been replaced three times a year.

NHTSA ID

11494050

Incident

Nov 17, 2022

Engine and air bag

NHTSA ID

11441838

Incident

Nov 17, 2021

In June 2021 my air bag light came on. Called the dealership to have them check it out. Said they would get back with me to have it checked. 2-3 days later I was driving and hit a pothole air bags deployed while driving busted windshield driver and passenger side airbags deployed. Busted windshield and broke both seatbelts cannot pull out or be safe driving it Kia of America.

NHTSA ID

11440099

Incident

Jun 24, 2021

THE 2010 KIA WAS TRAVELING ON A RURAL STATE HIGHWAY WITH AT A SPEED THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. WHEN COMING OVER A HILL THE CAR LEAVES THE RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD WAY, THE DRIVER OVER CORRECTS SPINNING THE CAR, IT TRAVELS 180-200'FEET BACKWARDS, LEAVES THE ROAD WAY SND SIDE IMPACT A TREE. MY 14'YEAR OLD WAS WEARING A SAFETY DEVICE AT THE TIME SHE WAS ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WHICH IS WHERE THE IMPACT OCCURRED SHE WAS FOUND . SHE WAS PRONOUNED AT THE SCENE . SHE WAS FOUND STILL IN THE SAFETY DEVICE HER BOTTOM HALF WAS SOMEWHAT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNDER THE DASH AND HER TOP HALF STILL BUCKLED IN WAS FOUND OVER INTO THE DRIVER SEAT/FLOORBOARD. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL CONCERNING THE SEATBELTS ON THIS PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER THE CRASH IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION HOWEVER I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION ON WHETHER HER SEATBELT ACTUALLY LOCKED AS IT SHOULD HAVE AS I STATED SHE WAS STILL BUCKLED IN WHEN I FOUND HER THEY CUT THE SEATBELT OFF OF HER BUT I THINK THAT'S JUST A STANDARD PRACTICE I WILL BE RECEIVING CRASH REPORTS HOWEVER THOSE ARE NOT FINISHED YET.

NHTSA ID

11388774

Incident

Dec 24, 2020

Mileage

1 mi

MY 2010 KIA FORTE HAS 62,751 MILES ON IT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON CONSTANTLY WHEN I AM DRIVING. I WAS PARKED IN MY CARPORT AND STARTED THE CAR TO GO TO THE POST OFFICE TO PICK UP MY MAIL. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AS USUAL BUT THIS TIME IT STAYED ON (SOLID) AND REMAINS THAT WAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR AIR BAGS FOR 2010 KIA FORTES BUT MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING ALONE WITH LIMITED FUNDS AND HAVE NO CHOICE, I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND AM CONSTANTLY IN FEAR OF LOSING MY LIFE OR BEING SEVERELY INJURED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THAT ALONE IS A MAJOR DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF OTHER 2010 KIA FORTE'S WERE INCLUDED, WHY MINE WAS NOT. I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SO THE REPAIR CAN BE MADE BY THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT A CHARGE TO ME, WHICH WILL ALLOW ME TO QUIT LIVING IN FEAR AND BE ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY.

NHTSA ID

11366269

Incident

Oct 22, 2020

Mileage

62,751 mi

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON; THEREFORE, IT HAS ME CONCERNED IF I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

11307334

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

197,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA STORE RAINBOW CITY GADSDEN (950 W GRAND AVE, RAINBOW CITY, AL 35906, (256) 442-3232) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATED COST OF $400. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11290829

Incident

Sep 23, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

MY LOCAL KIA STORE DIAGNOSED MY CAR WITH HAVING A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING IN MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AIR BAG AND I WOULD LIKE A RECALL ON IT DUE TO THE FACT IF I WAS IN A WRECK IT WOULD KILL BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY TO KEEP ME SAFE.

NHTSA ID

11280384

Incident

Oct 26, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUFFINES KIA MCKINNEY (1201 N CENTRAL EXPY, MCKINNEY, TX 75070, (469) 525-4400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID

11220869

Incident

Jun 16, 2019

Mileage

113,000 mi

MY AIRBAG HAS BEEN ON FOR OVR A YR. TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO GET REPAIRED. THE LIGHT WAS OFF FOR 4 DAYS AND CANE BACK ON AND STAYS ON. BACK AGAIN. AND STILL HAD TO PAY ANOTHER DIAG. FEE. BUT THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. NOW MY CAR SOUNDS REALLY LOUD...KNOCKING THATS ANNOYING. EVERYTIME I START MY CAR AND DRIVE IT MAKES THAT NOISE. JUST FOUND OUT. ITS AN AIRBAG MODULE THAT WASNT COVERED IN THE RECALL. WHY CLDNT THEY FIND THAT AT 1ST. SMH. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA. GOING TO A DIFFERENT MFG...LIKE TOYOTA

NHTSA ID

11195762

Incident

Aug 20, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE COASTING INTO A PARKING SPOT MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED INTO A RETAINING WALL. KIA IS DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING WORD FROM MY BODY SHOP AS TO IF THE CAR WILL BE TOTALED OR NOT. IF IT IS FIXABLE I AM VERY FRIGHTENED TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT. I AM SEEING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

11152475

Incident

Nov 14, 2018

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER (BILLION AUTO- KIA SIOUX CITY, 3701 SINGING HILLS BLVD, SIOUX CITY, IA 51106, 712-560-7599) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11142748

Incident

Oct 25, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER (DENNIS EAKIN KIA, LOCATED AT 5200 EAST CENTRAL TEXAS EXPY, KILLEEN, TEXAS 76543, (254) 699-2909) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) ON JUNE 20, 2018. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11142259

Incident

Sep 5, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CORAL SPRINGS KIA (LOCATED AT 9330 W ATLANTIC BLVD, CORAL SPRINGS, FL 33071, (954) 603-7952) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11131135

Incident

Jun 15, 2018

THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 18V-363 AND MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: SC165) IN A TIMELY MANNER. NO INTERIM LETTER WAS SENT AFTER THE SAFETY RECALL WAS MAILED ON JULY 27, 2018. THE RECALL IS RELATED TO A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES.

NHTSA ID

11130760

Incident

Jul 27, 2018

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 90 DAYS NOW AND THEY WILL NOT TELL ME WHEN THERE IS GOING TO BE A FIX FOR MY CAR. I CALL KIA CUSTOMER SUPPORT 3 TIMES NOW AND THEY SAY THAT A MEMBER OF THERE UPPER MANAGEMENT WILL BE CALLING ME TO DISCUSS MY OPTIONS BUT NO ONE EVER CALLS I HAVE TOLD THEM L WANT MY CAR REPLACED .CAN YOU PLEASE GET THEM TO DO THERE JOB BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT HELPING ME AT ALL.THANKS OFFICER [XXX] DOC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11124151

Incident

Jun 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF DES MOINES (4475 MERLE HAY RD, DES MOINES, IA 50310, 515-270-0706) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11119858

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (NAPLETON RIVER OAKS KIA, 1951 RIVER OAKS, DR., CALUMET CITY, IL 60409, 888-711-0920) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,458. *TT UPDATED 10/2/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11118365

Incident

Aug 2, 2018

Mileage

109,458 mi

KIA AIRBAG RECALLGOOD DAY, MY VEHICLE (2010 KIA, FORTE) WHICH WAS TOTALED IN REAR-ENDED CAR ACCIDENT (WHILE WAITING AT STOP-LIGHT ON A CITY STREET) FROM A DISTRACTED DRIVER THAT TOOK PLACE ON 11/1/2011. MY NECK WAS SEVERELY INJURED, WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY IN MARCH, 2012. IN FACT, I OBTAINED SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY (SSDI) IN 2013 BASED ON THAT NECK INJURY. BY THE WAY, AFTER RECEIVING RETRO SSDI, I PURCHASED A 2012 KIA FORTE AND PRESENTLY WAITING FOR MY RECALL-NOTIFICATION FOR REPAIR/FIX. I'M WRITING IN REGARDS TO THE RECENT KIA AIRBAG RECALL. THE AIRBAG IN MY 2010 KIA FORTE DID NOT DEPOLY IN THE 2011 CAR ACCIDENT. PLEASE VIEW SUBMITTED PHOTOS IMAGES. THE PAST PHOTOS SUBMITTED SHOWED THE DRIVER'S WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AS I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AFTER BEING REAR-ENDED. IN MY OPINION, KIA CORPORATION SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR AIRBAG FAILURE IN MY PAST CAR ACCIDENT CASE. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, I RECEIVE SSDI DUE TO MY INJURY FROM THAT CAR ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID

11101606

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

12,000 mi

WAS IN ABOUT 40MPH FRONT END COLLISON WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET IN 03/2015 AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT WAS WORN. HIT MY HEAD ON STEERWHEEL SO HARD WAS KNOCKED OUT AND GLASSES WHERE HIT OFF MY FACE INTO THE BACKSEAT DUE TO AIRBAG FAILURE TO DEPLOYING. HAD A CONCUSSION, BLACK EYE, WHIPLASH, BRUSES, AND SPRAINS. AMBULANCE ON SCENE, WENT TO HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK CAR. ABOUT 55,000 MILES. POLICE REPORT, INSURANCE CLAIM, EMERGENCY ROOM, AND MORE DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE UP ON REQUEST.

NHTSA ID

11100646

Incident

Mar 13, 2015

Mileage

55,000 mi