2010 Kia Forte Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON; THEREFORE, IT HAS ME CONCERNED IF I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION.
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
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.
I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE MOST RECENT RECALL WITH THE AIR BAG FIXED. AFTER THE REPAIR OCCURRED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED DURING THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THE AIR BAG MODULE AND CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH MEANT THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE DEALER (KIA OF WEST CHESTER, 326 WESTTOWN RD, WEST CHESTER, PA 19382, (610) 429-3500) WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG RECALLS ISSUED, BUT THERE WERE TWO TSBS FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH DECENT ROADS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL MALFUNCTION AND DEPLOY WHILE I AM DRIVING AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON THIS REPAIR AS THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AGAIN, THE SYMBOL REMAINS LIT. 6/8/16. SITE WON'T ACCEPT DATE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE HEAD THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,616.
JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE BACK IN AUG 2009, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. SINCE THAT FIRST VISIT, I CONTINUED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 5 TIMES WITHIN THE YEAR. I WAS TOLD PARTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT RETURNING. WHEN I SENT A LETTER TO THE HEADQUARTERS, I WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD I WOULD JUST HAVE TO KEEP RETURNING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR TESTING AND REPAIRS, BUT I WASN'T GUARANTEED A LOANER DURING THE REPAIR. I FIGURED AT SOME POINT THEY WOULD JUST START CHARGING ME FOR EVERY VISIT, WITHOUT COMPLETELY FIXING THE PROBLEM. UP TO THAT POINT IT WASN'T COSTING ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, BUT IT WAS COSTING ME IN TIME AWAY FROM WORK, AND RENTAL FEES. SINCE I LIVED IN TEXAS AT THE TIME THE SAFETY INSPECTION DID NOT INCLUDE THE AIR BAG LIGHT. HOWEVER, I JUST MOVED TO VIRGINIA AND THEIRS DOES, SO NOW I HAVE A CAR I CAN'T REGISTER, HENCE CAN'T DRIVE. I MADE AN APPT WITH A LOCAL DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN RESOLVE THIS (PENDING). HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS, OR IF THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIX THIS SINCE OTHERS HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST. I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS SITE OR I WOULD HAVE FILED THIS COMPLAINT WAY BACK THEN. BUT FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, I SEE NOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WITH THE RECENT RECALL OF MALFUNCTIONING/DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS BY THOUSANDS OF MANUFACTURERS, I'M SURPRISED THIS MODEL IS NOT ON THE LIST. I THINK A REVIEW IS NECESSARY.
I WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN AN SUV HEADING NORTH MADE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO THE STREET I WAS ON IN FRONT OF ANOTHER SUV, THE SUV MAKING THE LEFT TURN WAS BROADSIDED BY THE OTHER SUV AND THEN THROWN INTO THE FRONT OF MY CAR, MY CAR WAS THEN THROWN INTO THE SUV BEHIND ME. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR DEPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I INJURED MY LEFT SHOULDER, MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BECAUSE THE FRONT RAILS WHERE NOT REPAIRABLE AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT I TORE THE ROTATOR CUFF IN MY LEFT SHOULDER AND REQUIRED SURGERY TO FIX IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A HIT THIS HARD THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY....UPDATED 03-11-15 *BF....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF UPDATED 9/26/2017*CN
I HAVE A 2010 KIA FORTE EX. I AM THE ONLY OWNER AS I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. ON 5/29/2015 I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY CRASH. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE LIGHT TO BE ON. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING: "YOU NEED TO BRING IT IN AND WE WILL HOOK IT UP TO OUR COMPUTER AND SEE WHAT CODE IT DISPLAYS TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.". THEN HE ASK THE MILEAGE. I TOLD HIM AND HE STATED IT WOULD COST ME "$110.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS.". I ASK WHAT WAS THERE A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OR THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT AND HE STATED #NOT ON THE YEAR YOUR CAR WAS MADE.". I AM NOT GOING TO PAY THEM OVER $100.00 FOR THIS. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURES ON MY CAR. I BELIEVE SHOULD BE FREE FOR THEM TO TEST A SAFETY FEATURE OF SUCH IMPORTANCE. NOT TO MENTION IT WOULD BE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. BUT THEY DO NOT THINK SO. I TOLD HIM I HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL KIA'S THAT HAVE HAD RECALLS FOR AIRBAG ISSUES AND HE SAID YES BUT NOT THE 2010'S. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED . I JUST BELIEVE IT IS ANOTHER WAY TO PUNISH THE WORKING CLASS OF SOCIETY. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NOT BE PAYING THEM TO DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A COURTESY. YOURS TRULY EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMER IN TEXAS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR*JB
THIS IS THE 2ND HEAD ON COLLISION I'VE HAD WITH THE KIA FORTE AND ON BOTH INCIDENTS MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CONCERNS ME. ALSO THE CAR JUMPS INTO SHIFT AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK. *TR
VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT. IT HAS COME ON REPEATEDLY OVER THE PAST YEAR. NO CODES HAVE EVER BEEN FOUND. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON SOLID AND WILL NOT GO OFF. KIA NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, THERE HAS BEEN COUNTLESS MODELS OF KIA VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD AIRBAG PROBLEMS. MOST ARE LOOSE CONNECTIONS THAT VIBRATE LOOSE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A SAFETY FEATURE. KIA DEALERS ARE CHARGING EXCESSIVE FEES TO CLEAR CODES AND WIGGLE WIRES. $110 DIAGNOSTIC FEES. ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS POP UP AGAIN. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATORY 5 YEAR UNLIMITED MILES WARRANTY ON SAFETY FEATURES ON VEHICLES. I AM NOW DRIVING MY CAR WITHOUT AIRBAGS AND REFUSE TO PAY KIA TO FIX THEM TEMPORARILY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. DO SOME RESEARCH YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD LOOSE CONNECTIONS ON AIR BAG SENSORS IN THE PAST 5 YEARS. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2010 Kia Forte has 28 Air Bags complaints on file. 10 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.