2016 Kia Forte Airbags Problems

I am filing a formal complaint regarding serious safety and mechanical problems with my vehicle. The brakes do not function properly and I have to add brake fluid every few days, which indicates a possible leak or brake system failure. This creates an extremely dangerous driving condition. The vehicle also has electrical problems, including malfunctioning lights. The engine has lost power, making it unsafe to drive, especially in traffic or on highways. In addition, the airbag warning light is on, which means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, putting me at risk of serious injury or death. These problems have made the vehicle unreliable and unsafe to operate. I am requesting that these issues be inspected and repaired immediately at no cost to me, or that the vehicle be replaced or refunded under warranty or consumer protection laws. I am concerned for my safety and the safety of others, and I expect this matter to be handled urgently.

NHTSA ID

11710115

Incident

Nov 19, 2025

The contact owned a 2016 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while decelerating due to traffic, the vehicle was struck in the rear end and pushed approximately a few feet, causing the vehicle's front end to crash into the rear of the vehicle in front. No warning lights illuminated. No air bags deployed. The contact stated that due to the impact of the crash, she had fallen unconscious. A police report was filed. The contact sought medical attention for bruises and head damage. The vehicle was towed to the local tow lot, where it remains, and was declared a total loss by the insurance provider. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (Airbags) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11682452

Incident

Jun 2, 2018

The contact owned a 2016 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while her grandson was driving at an undisclosed speed, he was involved in a hit-and-run accident and after the impact, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact stated that all of the air bags failed to deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's grandson did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The insurance company towed the vehicle to one of their tow yards and at that time the vehicle was deemed totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA ID

11492108

Incident

Oct 31, 2022

Mileage

118,000 mi

My daughter was in a collision. A car hit her Kia forte on passenger front side and the front drive side caved in which bent the frame. The air bag didn’t deploy. Her head hit the review mirror and it broke from the windshield. The insurance adjuster mentioned that he would have thought the air bag would have deployed. I also thought so to. I googled the Kia Forte and found reporting of air bag deployment issues. Please investigate.

NHTSA ID

11443957

Incident

Dec 8, 2021

I was involved in a fatal accident involving my car that i struck a tree at 65mph and no airbags deployed

NHTSA ID

11441028

Incident

Jun 26, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE THE DRIVER AND STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TROUGH AN INTERSECTION A SECOND VEHICLE T- BONED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH NO AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LEFT HIP INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT STATED A 1 YEAR OLD WAS FASTENED IN CAR SEAT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY WHICH ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. INJURIES TO THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE LOCAL DEAL KIA OF CERRITOS (18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS CA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILUREM HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ID

11310562

Incident

Jan 30, 2020

Mileage

34,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. CAR RAN STOP SIGN AND HIT ME IN DRIVER DOOR. AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT. IN MOTION ON CITY STREET.

NHTSA ID

11256621

Incident

Sep 18, 2019

Mileage

59,881 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND T-BONED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE MEDIAN AND BOUNCED BACK TO THE CURB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO IMPOUND. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. *AS *TR CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS 4 HERNIATED DISCS TWO PINCHED NERVES AND 3 BRUISED SPINAL BONES FROM ACCIDENT.*JB

NHTSA ID

11218088

Incident

May 5, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

DRIVER RAN RED LIGHT AT HIGH SPEED AND T BONED ME AT INTERSECTION OF 83RD COTTAGE GROVE (CHICAGO). ACCIDENT RIPPED MY ENTIRE FRONT END OFF MY CAR AND SPINNER MY AN ENTIRE 360 DEGREES AND NOT ONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I ALSO HAVE 2 VIDEOS THAT CAN DETAIL THE RATE OF SPEED AT IMPACT FROM A NEIGHBORING ESTABLISHMENT.

NHTSA ID

11173477

Incident

Jan 30, 2019

Mileage

55,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, IN WHICH HER AIR BAGS ON HER FORTE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT THE BUMPER WAS SPLIT AND THE RIGHT SIDE UNDER BODY (FRAME) THAT MEETS THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS BENT! LUCKILY, MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED, AS THE IMPACT WAS MORE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IF SHE WOULD'VE HAD A PASSENGER TO BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED GREAT INJURY. MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH, WHEN SHE CAME UPON A 96 JEEP GRANDE CHEROKEE WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS, STOPPED FOR A TURNING VEHICLE. SHE APPLIED HER BRAKES BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME. HER KIA FORTE, THEN WENT UNDER THE JEEP GRANDE CHEROKEE CAUSING DAMAGES IN WHICH TOTALED HER CAR.

NHTSA ID

11093443

Incident

May 9, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE MATS ON THE FLOOR BEGAN TO SMOKE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED FREQUENTLY REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED SHE WAS TRAVELING. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD CONCERNS WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE TRANSFERRED GEARS ON ITS OWN. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. KIA OF GREENVILLE (2424 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,865.

NHTSA ID

11058265

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

2,865 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FAIRLY SERIOUS FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS AT THE RIGHT FRONT FRAME RAIL AND CORNER. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO PUSH A FULL SIZED CHEVROLET PICK UP SIDEWAYS APPROX. 6 FEET. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 35-40 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THE TRUCK PULLED OUT STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH IT BROADSIDE AT THE TRUCKS LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA.

NHTSA ID

11046922

Incident

Nov 8, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE TISSUE DAMAGE TO THE LEG, BACK, AND THIGHS ON BOTH SIDES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500.

NHTSA ID

10875650

Incident

Mar 24, 2016

Mileage

1,500 mi