RoadVitals

2013 Kia Forte Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Jul 8, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 195 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
12
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
13

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Kia Forte submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 8, 2025
Crash reported2 injuries reported

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that her daughter was occupying the front passenger's side seat while the wife of the contact's daughter was driving 65 MPH. The contact stated that another vehicle that was driving approximately 100 MPH crashed into the rear driver's side of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to roll over approximately 4-5 times. The vehicle landed on its driver's side against a tree. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact's daughter. The emergency units arrived at the scene, cut the vehicle, assisted both passengers out of the vehicle and transported the passengers to the hospital. The driver sustained bruises and whiplash and received assistance from a chiropractor. The contact's daughter sustained a break to the c6, fracture of the c7, t2 t3, t4 and t7, , sustained a broken left clavicle, large laceration on the right thigh, bulging of the C6, broken front teeth and a strain of the natural neck curve. Additionally, the contact's daughter was partially scalped and nearly died due to blood cloths in the lungs and legs caused by body trauma. The contact's daughter underwent surgeries on the scalp and neck and was currently undergoing physical therapy and pain management. The vehicle was towed and totaled. A police report was filed but the contact did not have the information available. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11672004
Incident
Feb 16, 2025
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 3, 2022
Crash reported

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 ID
11463187
Incident
Apr 28, 2016
Mileage
34,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Mar 3, 2021
Fire reported

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM CARFAX NOTIFYING ME OF A RECALL FOR MY CAR PERTAINING TO A POSSIBLE FIRE, I CALLED DEALERSHIP TO SET UP APPOINTMENT AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS 2 RECALLS FOR MY CAR BUT NEVER ONCE RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM KIA. MY APPOINTMENT WAS FOR THE COMING SATURDAY BUT ON WEDNESDAY AFTER I PARKED AND RAN INTO THE GROCERY STORE FOR LESS THAN 15MINS I CAME OUT TO A GENTLEMAN WHO ASKED IF THIS WAS MY CAR, WHEN I LOOKED AT IT I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE ALL THE WINDOWS WERE BLACK AND SMOKE WAS COMING I BELIEVE FROM EITHER THE HOOD OR WINDOW, HE SAID YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE. BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE WERE FIRE TRUCKS AND POLICE. MY ENTIRE INSIDE OF MY CAR BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND ALL ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD STEERING WHEEL RADIO EVERYTHING. MY CAR WAS DESTROYED, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY RIGHT AWAY AS THE POLICE ADVISED ME TOO AND LATER ON A FRIEND GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE WHERE I NOTIFIED THEM.

NHTSA ID
11398954
Incident
Feb 10, 2021
Airbags
Filed Feb 4, 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 ID
11394753
Incident
Dec 17, 2020
Mileage
120,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Dec 2, 2019
Crash reported1 death reported

WIFE GOT KILLED IN IT WENT THRU A BRIDGE CLOSED

NHTSA ID
11286434
Incident
Mar 21, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 28, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

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 ID
11252113
Incident
Aug 15, 2019
Mileage
63,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 14, 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 ID
11207483
Incident
Oct 17, 2018
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Apr 4, 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 ID
11193774
Incident
Mar 30, 2019
Mileage
132,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Jan 20, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ONTO ONE SIDE, I COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AND IT MADE A U-TURN ONTO THE SAME STREET I WAS DRIVING ON, HITTING THE CURB, ROLLING OVER. I WAS FOUND UPSIDE DOWN IN MY CAR UNCONSCIOUS FROM THE CRASH BECAUSE MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11171034
Incident
Jan 17, 2019
Mileage
108,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 17, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

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 ID
11129933
Incident
Jul 28, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 10, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

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 ID
11118949
Incident
Jul 28, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 28, 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 ID
11114249
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 3, 2018
Crash reported

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 ID
11105328
Incident
Apr 6, 2018
Mileage
128,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 17, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
11034019
Incident
Oct 12, 2017
Mileage
10 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 22, 2017
Crash reported4 injuries reported

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 ID
11018775
Incident
Aug 16, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jul 28, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

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 ID
10889314
Incident
Jul 17, 2016
Mileage
76,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .