2013 Kia Forte Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 16 airbag complaints for the 2013 Kia Forte, 8% of its 195 total complaints for the year, tied to 11 crashes, 1 fire, and 12 injuries. A related recall (18V363000) covers the airbag control unit, which Kia says may short circuit.
- Airbags complaints
- 16
- 8% of 195
- Crashes reported
- 11
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 12
- Median mileage
- 100,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy during frontal or rear-end collisions, often at highway speeds around 40 mph, leading to drivers striking the steering wheel or windshield.
- Front seat belts reportedly failed to lock at the same time airbags did not deploy, worsening injuries in crashes.
- Some owners report the airbag warning light stayed on continuously without deploying, and dealers were slow to respond to service requests.
- Several complaints describe crashes that were later confirmed as recall-related incidents involving the airbag control unit.
- One report describes a fire discovered after the vehicle was parked, linked to a recall notice the owner had not yet acted on.
- Median mileage at the time of failure across these complaints was 100,000 miles.
When 2013 Kia Forte airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 28, 2016, latest Jul 8, 2025.
Airbags recalls for the 2013 Kia Forte
- NHTSA 18V363000Jun 1, 2018Airbags507,587 vehicles
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
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.
Airbags complaints by Forte model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does the 2013 Kia Forte have?
- NHTSA lists 16 airbag complaints for the 2013 Kia Forte, which is 8% of the 195 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2013 Kia Forte?
- Yes. Recall 18V363000 covers 2010-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup models, addressing an airbag control unit that Kia says may short circuit in a crash.
- Did the airbag problems cause injuries or crashes?
- NHTSA data tied to these 16 airbag complaints shows 11 crashes, 1 fire, and 12 injuries reported.
- At what mileage do airbag failures typically get reported?
- The median mileage at failure among these complaints was 100,000 miles.
- How does 2013 compare to other Kia Forte years for airbag complaints?
- The 2013 Forte's 16 airbag complaints and 8% share are lower than 2010 (41 complaints, 19%), 2011 (35 complaints, 23%), and 2014 (63 complaints, 14%).