Airbag light came on August 21, 2026. I tried several steps to troubleshoot with no resolution. I took it to the local Kia dealership for further inspection. I was terrified to drive the vehicle because of the airbag failure. I explained to the technician that I had read that there was an warranty extension for the exact clock spring failure. I met the qualification (2011-2016 /unlimited mileage) but I was required to pay $493.05 for this repair.
2012 Kia Forte airbags problems
37 complaints (13% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 79,000. 15 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 37
- of this car's complaints
- 13%
- typical mileage
- 79,000
- crashes
- 15
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Kia Forte airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2012 Kia Forte airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
- What is wrong
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
- Risk
- If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Recall number 18V363000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Air bags may be disabled during crash
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE18-003 on 3/16/18 to investigate incidents involving crashes, resulting in significant collision related damage, where the frontal airbags failed to deploy. ODI reviewed complaint data, available design, test, and field data on the model year (MY) 2011 Hyundai Sonata, MY 2012-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. ODI also evaluated data from the automotive air bag system supplier, ZF-TRW (ZF), to review vehicles that may contain the same air bag control unit (ACU) used in the subject vehicles. Hyundai Motor America (HMA) issued recall No. 18V‑137 for MY 2011-2013 Sonata and MY 2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. Kia Motors America (KMA) issued recall No. 18V‑363 for MY 2010-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup, MY 2011-2013 Optima, MY 2011-2012 Optima Hybrid, and MY2011-2012 Sedona vehicles. The two recalls address vehicles containing ACUs manufactured without adequate circuit protection by installing a wire harness filter kit to prevent internal damage to the ACU. In the event of a crash, ACU damage may result in the disablement of the vehicle's airbags. Each respective manufacturer has mailed letters to affected vehicle owners informing them of the remedy and its availability. ODI plans to evaluate the susceptibility of the subject ACU to electrical signals, as well as other vehicle factors that can either lead to, or reduce the likelihood of, an electrical overstress event in other vehicles manufactured with the subject ZF ACU.Accordingly, this Preliminary Evaluation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-001), to expand the scope of the investigation to include the Tier-one supplier and any manufacturers who installed the subject ACU in production vehicles. Additional information is available with the closing resume available at (see Associated Documents).The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at under the following ODI identification numbers: 10781050, 10849839, 11099038, 11080341.
PE18003
What 2012 Kia Forte owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
There is a class action lawsuit concerning the airbag control unit not functioning properly leading to safety issues during a crash. The case is called ZF-TRW Airbag Control Unit Product Liabilty Litigation. Case number XXX My Kia Forte was on the list of recalled vehicles. I have been having electrical problems with my car and this may be the answer I have been looking for !! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact's cousin owned a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked unattended by the privacy fence. The contact was alerted by her nephew and observed that the vehicle was on fire. The front windshield had shattered, and smoke was visible inside the cabin. The fire appeared to originate from the dashboard area. The contact used a fire extinguisher to suppress the flames with the assistance of her brother. The local fire department arrived on the scene and completed extinguishing the fire. The airbags deployed during the incident, and the fire department declared the vehicle a total loss. Upon investigation, the contact was able to link the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.
My wife got an accident in June 2022 but air bag did not work so I contacted Kia 6/22/2022 sent proof photo but just no good excuse why air bag did not work. It should be recalled for this matter. Defective airbag or sender.
Air bag light is on and dealership can't find cause. There is obvious reason for this and the kia dealership is at a loss. They've Replace coil/spring and acm it didn't fix it. Now they think it's a possible wire issue. Im the original owner and My car is a 2012 with about 75000 miles on it. I understand that older cars have issues but I still don't feel like there's enough "wear" for all this "tear"
The air bag light came on. I brought it to the dealer and was told it was the clock spring. I was charged over $700.00 for this repair. It appears that other years of the same make and model had problems with the clock spring as well and received an extended warranty. I want to know since my car had the same issue why my car 's clock spring is not covered in this class action suit for the extended warranty.. Thank you for any assistance . I contacted Kia USA and they would not refund the cost.
Recall #SC165,for the airbag frontal deploy module failure was fixed but now the same problem along with the airbag malfunction indicator light is illuminating on my dash. Kia won't call me back or email me back when I asked them if this is something they will fix again since the first fix failed for this same issue? And randomly while driving I smell a electrical burn smell but no smoke? When I was leaving for work that morning and I stared my car the indicator light came on and never has gone off since that day?
My airbag light is on took it to dealership when the airbag recall came out to have it check and got it back with airbag light on. And when it rains water gets in the trunk and also my passenger and driver side floor board gets soaked it has begun to show signs of mold this really concerns me due to the fact i have health issues and having to drive a car with mold growing in it is a huge issue
I was injured in a crash that happened Saturday at 232pm . My airbags did not deploy at 45 mph. Old women did a u turn into me. I was in left lane . I crash driver side front into her passenger doors. My steering is damaged and my side fender was hooked inward along with my side mirror being hit i thought my airbags recall issue was solved. Im in back and neck pain i went to hospital after and had xrays were the doctors where astonished by my non deployment when i told them the speed and showed photos
The engine light suddenly came on and engine was tapping stalling and I smelled burnt melted plastic smell. The oil light was intermittently coming on and off. The fuel was consumed quickly than normal. I had brakes remaing engaged when foot not pressing pedal and could feel contact to road. Engine has failed car was moving.
Questions about the 2012 Kia Forte airbags
Does the 2012 Kia Forte have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 37 complaints about the airbags of the 2012 Kia Forte, 13% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2012 Kia Forte airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 79,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Kia Forte airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 18V363000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Kia Forte have bad airbags?
The Kia Forte model years with the most airbags complaints are 2014 (63 complaints), 2010 (41 complaints) and 2012 (37 complaints).
Other 2012 Kia Forte problems
Engine 167Brakes 52Electrical 32Lights 23Acceleration 14Fuel system 11Transmission 11Body 9Steering 9Driver assistance 5Visibility 5Seat belts 3Suspension 3Wheels 3Tires 2
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2012 Kia Forte?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history