RoadVitals

2015 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.
23
Latest Feb 10, 2026
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.
9%
of 258 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.
10
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7

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 2015 Kia Forte submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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

AirbagsBrakesEngine
Filed Feb 10, 2026

Plese can you fex may car

NHTSA ID
11717120
Incident
Feb 10, 2026
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 15, 2023

AIRBAG WARNING IS ON, BUTTONS/CONTROL OF THE WHEEL DONT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. MOTOR SHAKES A LOT. WE GOT THIS CAR 2-3 WEEKS AGO LIGHT WAS NOT ON WHEN WE GOT IT FROM THE DEALER. IM NOT AN EXPERT BUT I THINK THAT SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY... IM DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE

NHTSA ID
11527179
Incident
Jun 1, 2023
Mileage
100,601 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 19, 2021
1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that after accelerating from a red light the driver-side airbag suddenly deployed. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the passenger side tire had also flattened. During the incident, the driver sustained an injured right arm. The contact indicated that no collision or frontend damage had occurred to cause the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ID
11440991
Incident
Nov 17, 2021
Mileage
180,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 23, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact's daughter owned a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at 15 MPH, another vehicle going 40 MPH crashed into the passenger front side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated his daughter sustained whiplash and was taken to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.

NHTSA ID
11421985
Incident
Jun 22, 2021
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Dec 9, 2020

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON LIKE IF THE BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THEY HAVE NOT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT. THEY TELL ME IT'S LOW VOLTAGE IN AIRBAG SENSOR? VEHICLE WAS OFF TURNED ON AND THE LIGHT CAME AIRBAG DEPLOYED LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN OFF.

NHTSA ID
11378674
Incident
Oct 2, 2020
Mileage
82,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Nov 7, 2020

SOMETIME DURING THE SUMMER MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT IT. I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 2 YEARS. ALSO THERE IS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE TO WHERE CERTAIN BUTTONS ON MY STEERING WHEEL DONT WORK PROPERLY

NHTSA ID
11373596
Incident
Jul 1, 2020
Airbags
Filed Aug 19, 2020

AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT..

NHTSA ID
11350334
Incident
Aug 19, 2020
Mileage
67,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jul 26, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD A LITTLE TO FAST AND MY CAR STARTED TO SLIDE FROM SIDE TO SIDE I TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL BUT COULDN'T AND ENDED UP HITTING A METAL BRIDGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. MY WHOLE FRONT RIGHT IN IS DAMAGED AND THE SPEED I WAS GOING THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF!.

NHTSA ID
11341498
Incident
Jul 23, 2020
Airbags
Filed Oct 4, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS TRAVELING ON NORTH CARSON I WAS AT A CAUTION LIGHT TRYING TO TURN LEFT WHEN A TAHOE REAR ENDED ME. MY CAR TURNED OUT OF CONTROL AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID
11266130
Incident
Sep 30, 2019
Mileage
84,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 16, 2019

A FEW DAYS AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD TURNED ON. WHEN I USED MY OBD TO CHECK FOR THE PROBLEM, IT SAID THE DRIVER SIDE RESISTANT WAS TOO HIGH. I WENT IN TO GET THE CAR CHECKED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO CALL AND SEE IF WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE PARTS, IF NOT IT'LL BE OVER $600 PLUS $165 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR A PART OF A CAR I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, AND ESPECIALLY TOO EARLY FOR A CAR THAT IS SAID TO BE A NEW MODEL. OUR OTHER CARS FROM OTHER MAKES THAT WERE PURCHASED IN 2010 AND 2012 DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AS MUCH PROBLEMS AS I DID WITH MY 2015 KIA FORTE IN THE 3 YEARS I'VE HAD IT. ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THE CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY JERK WHETHER ON A HIGHWAY OR STREETS, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BUT IT HAS BECOME AN EVERYDAY THING, WHERE IT WOULD LAG/HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. SPEED DOES NOT MATTER. WHEN DRIVING OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR WOULD JERK, BUT ONCE THE DEALERSHIP DROVE THE CAR THEY SAID NOTHING HAPPENED AND DIDN'T TRY TO CHECK FOR THE PROBLEM. I INSTEAD WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CHECK IF I INFORMED THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AFTER THE THIRD VISIT. OVER THE YEARS I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET A LEAK FIXED MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE, MY PAINT WAS COMING OFF AND WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER IT BECAUSE IT WAS USED( STILL WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE) HAD TO CHANGED THE BREAKS, CHANGE THE TIRES, CHANGE THE HEADLIGHT AND BACKLIGHTS, CHANGE THE BATTERY, AND HAVE NOTICED THE LACK OF ACCELERATION MY CAR HAS COMPARED TO OTHER CARS. I'M TO RETURN MONDAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF WARRANTY COVERS THE AIRBAG LIGHTS, BUT NOT FEELING THAT IT WILL.

NHTSA ID
11255761
Incident
Sep 2, 2019
Airbags
Filed Jun 7, 2019

AIRBAG CONTROLLER FAILED IN JUNE 2017 12 MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASE.

NHTSA ID
11218445
Incident
Jun 21, 2017
Mileage
28,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesFuel system
Filed May 19, 2019

TAKATA INFLATORS? RECEIVE VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL NOTICE FROM KIA 1/16/18 TOOK CAR IN TO BE SERVICE FOR THE RECALL 2/3/18 TO KIA OF EAST HARTFORD, CT- DROVE CAR OFF THE LOT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. LOUD SOUND AND BLACK SMOKE FROM REAR END OF THE CAR, ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR STALLED. CALL SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD TO TURN CAR ON AND OFF, THAT THE COMPUTER HAD TO RESET. CAR CAME BACK ON BUT THE AIRBAG, LOW TIRE PRESSURE AND ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO KIA OF EAST HARTFORD SEVERAL TIMES WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG, INSTEAD THAT THE SENSOR WERE OFF. THEN EVENTUALLY TOOK THE CAR TO COLUMBIA KIA AND WAS TOLD THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE BUT NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, THE FUEL CANISTER WAS ALSO CRACKED BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE TPS MODULE WAS ALSO DAMAGE (WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY COLUMBIA KIA THAT ACTUALLY TOOK MY CLAIM SERIOUS). MADE A COMPLAINT TICKET WITH KIA MANUFACTURER REF#12976894 BUT HAS GOTTEN NO WHERE. IN ADDITION COMPLAINT WAS MADE 07/07/18 THAT WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A STOP AND THE GROUND SURFACE IS UNEVEN THE CAR WOULD JERK AND PROPEL FORWARD. WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THAT IS HOW THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WORK. COMPLAINED TO KIA REGARDING THE MULTIPLE TIMES OF NEAR MISSED ACCIDENTS DUE TO MECHANICAL BRAKING SYSTEM AND CAR STALLS. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR WITH ALL OF THE WARRANTY OFFERED, WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET KIA TO AGREE TO FIX THE TPS MODULE. ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR WAS NOTED BY KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE, NOT WEAR AND TEAR, BUT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAVING PROBLEM WITH FINDING ANYONE THAT WOULD EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE AIRBAG ISSUE DUE TO POSSIBLE LIABILITY CONCERNS AND ONGOING RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11208496
Incident
Feb 3, 2018
Mileage
75,461 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 23, 2019

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS BUMPED BY ANOTHER CAR WHILE SITTING STILL IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY CAR INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS THAT IT WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT AND KIA SAYS THAT IT WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11203181
Incident
Sep 12, 2017
Mileage
50,475 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 9, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS BROADSIDED BY A CAR THAT RAN A STOP SIGN AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET. THE COLLISION KNOCKED ME UP ONTO THE CURB AND INTO A SHORT BLOCK WALL. THE HIT WAS SO HARD THAT IT BENT THE FRAME OF MY CAR AT THE MID-LINE AND EVEN BENT THE ROOF OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT AS THE HIT WAS SO HARD AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO CUSHION THE BLOW.

NHTSA ID
11150441
Incident
Nov 6, 2018
Mileage
113,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 8, 2018
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SLOWLY DRIVING INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SIDE AND FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11150152
Incident
Apr 5, 2018
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 4, 2018

AIRBAG CONTROLLER DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY REPAIR WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS 3 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11145218
Incident
Jul 1, 2018
Airbags
Filed Jul 19, 2018

MY AIRBAG INDICATOR CAME ON SO I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO TAYLOR KIA IN TOLEDO. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LET ME KNOW THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE HAS FAILED AND MY AIRBAGS ARE NON-FUNCTIONING. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE ERROR FOR $875.00. I DIDN'T DO IT AT THE TIME AS I WAS GETTING OTHER WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE. I THEN LEARNED THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER KIA VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME TYPE OF FAILURE. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE (I ALSO OWN A 2012 THAT WILL BE UNDER THE RECALL). THE REP TOLD ME THAT MINE MAY SHOW UP, BUT I JUST NEEDED TO WAIT. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT I REPORT MINE BECAUSE THE ISSUE PROBABLY GOES BEYOND THE 2012.

NHTSA ID
11112472
Incident
Mar 11, 2018
Airbags
Filed Mar 23, 2018
Crash reported

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A SINGLE-CAR FRONT END COLLISION. THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL ON INTERSTATE 195 IN SWANSEA MA. THE CAR LEFT THE ROADWAY TO THE LEFT AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH) AND CRASHED INTO THE WOODED MEDIAN. THE CAR FRONT END WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CRUMPLED, BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS

NHTSA ID
11081133
Incident
Dec 25, 2017
Mileage
28,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 17, 2018

AIR BAG LIGHT OR INDICATOR CAME ON SOLID. NO OTHER ISSUES. TOOK INTO KIA ROCHESTER, MN AND THEY INDICATE A NEW PRIMARY AIRBAG MODULE IS REQUIRED. PART ON ORDER. VEHICLE HAS 30,500 MILES ON ODOMETER.

NHTSA ID
11079987
Incident
Mar 9, 2018
Mileage
30,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 17, 2018
Crash reported

OUR CAR WAS ROLLED END OVER END AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. MY SON WAS DRIVING SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND GOT INTO A GRAVEL AREA AND WENT DOWN A RAVINE AS THE CAR ENDED UP ROLLING END OVER END (NOSE DOWN REER END UP SO ON AND SO FORTH) THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. I CALLED KIA AND THEY WILL NOT EXPLAIN TO ME HOW IT WAS POSSIBLE AIRBAGS DIDNT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11079941
Incident
Jul 31, 2017
Mileage
20,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 17, 2016
Crash reported

ON 1/15/2016, I HIT A MASSIVE 10-POINT BUCK (DEER) HEAD ON. IT WAS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND I DROVE INTO IT DOING 65 MPH. THE FRONT OF MY CAR SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE; THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS PUSHED BACK AND THE HOOD WAS BENT BACK TO THE WINDSHIELD. YET, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE WORKED AS A PARAMEDIC/FF FOR OVER 15 YEARS, AND I HAVE WORKED HUNDREDS OF ACCIDENT SCENES. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW... THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED. WITH THE FRONT END DAMAGE THAT MY CAR SUSTAINED, THAT AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO KIA WITH NO RESPONSE, SO PERHAPS THE NHTSA CAN FORCE KIA TO FIX THIS. BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME FATALITIES IF THIS ISN'T FIXED.

NHTSA ID
10820680
Incident
Jan 15, 2016
Mileage
18,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 7, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ONCOMING LEFT TURN INTO MY LANE, CAUSING A COLLISION. I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON WITH HER FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? *JS

NHTSA ID
10808724
Incident
Dec 4, 2015
Mileage
24,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Jan 27, 2015
Crash reported1 death reported

DRIVER WAS IN MIDDLE LANE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAR BEGAN FLIPPING WHILE STILL IN THE ROADWAY, EVENTUALLY HIT A GUARD RAIL AND CONTINUED FLIPPING. DRIVER WAS EJECTED AND KILLED. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF .....UPDATED 12/23/15 *BF UPDATED 1/11/2015*JS UPDATED 9/17/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10679343
Incident
Dec 14, 2014
Mileage
1,760 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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .