2012 Kia Forte Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

36Air Bags complaints

12.5%Of all 289 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE160 · 55.4%

AIR BAGS36 · 12.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32 · 11.1%

SERVICE BRAKES30 · 10.4%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC20 · 6.9%

Share of the 289 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Kia Forte overview page.

What owners report

“WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER CAR AT A SPEED THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY BUT NONE DID. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON…”NHTSA complaint 11291822 — filed 12/29/2019

“THE STEERING WHEEL CLICKS REALLY BAD. MY STEERING WHEEL COMPONENTS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ALSO COME ON WITH THESE ISSUES.”NHTSA complaint 11287218 — filed 12/05/2019

“MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IN THE CAR. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR ON JANUARY 10 2019 FOR A RECALL 18V363…”NHTSA complaint 11176251 — filed 02/11/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Kia Forte have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Kia Forte: 36 of 289 complaints on file (12.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Kia Forte have in total?

289 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 20 involved a crash, 21 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and 3 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.