How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Kia Forte?

NHTSA lists 16 airbag-related complaints for the 2018 Kia Forte, which is 12% of all 136 complaints filed for that model year.

Is there an airbag recall for the 2018 Kia Forte?

Yes. Recall 22V031000 covers 2017-2018 Forte and other Kia models where the Air Bag Control Unit cover may contact a memory chip on the circuit board, and dealers will inspect and update the software or replace the unit.

Did the airbag issue cause crashes or injuries?

NHTSA data tied to these 16 airbag complaints for the 2018 Forte shows 8 crashes and 8 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 40,500 miles.

What do owners describe happening with the airbags?

Owners describe airbags failing to deploy during frontal, rear-end, and T-bone collisions, along with airbag warning lights that stayed on after recall repairs were supposedly completed.

2018 Kia Forte Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 16 airbag complaints for the 2018 Kia Forte, 12% of all complaints for the year, tied to 8 crashes and 8 injuries at a median 40,500 miles. A related recall (22V031000) covers a defective Air Bag Control Unit on 2017-2018 Forte and other Kia models.

Airbags complaints: 16; 12% of 136
Crashes reported: 8
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 8
Median mileage: 40,500 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

Drivers report frontal or head-on crashes where the airbags failed to deploy at all, leaving occupants with head, neck, or back injuries.
Owners describe rear-end and T-bone collisions at highway speeds, around 35 to 50 mph, where the airbag system stayed inactive despite visible vehicle damage.
Several complaints mention the airbag warning light staying on or flickering intermittently even after dealers performed recall-related work.
Some owners state their vehicle was scheduled for the airbag control unit recall repair but the work was delayed or never completed before a crash occurred.
One owner reports being asked to pay for airbag clock spring repairs out of pocket after a related recall service was performed.

When 2018 Kia Forte airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 25, 2018, latest Apr 29, 2025.

16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2018 to Apr 2025; peak Feb 2024 (3).

Airbags recalls for the 2018 Kia Forte

NHTSA 22V031000Jan 25, 2022Airbags410,619 vehicles
Air bags
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

Airbags complaints by Forte model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201041 (19%)
201135 (23%)
201237 (13%)
201316 (8%)
201463 (14%)
201523 (9%)
201613 (10%)
201718 (6%)
201816 (12%)
20196 (4%)
20205 (7%)
20217 (10%)
20222 (7%)
20235 (8%)
20247 (28%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Kia Forte?: NHTSA lists 16 airbag-related complaints for the 2018 Kia Forte, which is 12% of all 136 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2018 Kia Forte?: Yes. Recall 22V031000 covers 2017-2018 Forte and other Kia models where the Air Bag Control Unit cover may contact a memory chip on the circuit board, and dealers will inspect and update the software or replace the unit.
Did the airbag issue cause crashes or injuries?: NHTSA data tied to these 16 airbag complaints for the 2018 Forte shows 8 crashes and 8 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 40,500 miles.
What do owners describe happening with the airbags?: Owners describe airbags failing to deploy during frontal, rear-end, and T-bone collisions, along with airbag warning lights that stayed on after recall repairs were supposedly completed.