I was parking my car yesterday at 7/11 and the car accelerated on it's own and crashed into a cement pillar. The airbag did not deploy. I have seen a blog where dozens of forte owners complained about the same issue, sometimes more than once. I was injured and the car needs $9000 in repairs, also I am sure my insurance will increase.
2017 Kia Forte airbags problems
critical 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
11crashes
12injuries
2fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 16 airbags complaints filed for the 2017 Kia Forte, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the 2017 Forte's airbags failing to deploy during collisions at speeds ranging from 20 to 45 mph—well above normal deployment thresholds. A 40 mph side-impact left one driver thrown into the steering wheel; a 35 mph side-strike prompted fire department personnel to tell an owner the bags should have deployed. Two fatal crashes involved complete non-deployment of both driver and passenger airbags. One vehicle hit a tree at 45 mph with no deployment at just over 10,000 miles. Another failed to deploy at 20 mph with failure mileage around 3,000 miles.
In contrast, one owner experienced spontaneous deployment of the steering-wheel airbag simply by closing the car door at home—with no warning light beforehand and no dealer diagnostics offered.
A separate concern: seatbelt pretensioners failed to lock during impacts. In one 40 mph crash, the belt did not restrain the driver; in a fatal multi-impact collision, the passenger's belt failed to lock while the driver's belt broke and tore during ejection.
NHTSA recall SC226 addresses Forte models manufactured March 2, 2017 through July 27, 2018 for a communication fault (DTC B1620) in the airbag control module. One owner reports their December 2016-built vehicle carries the identical defect code but falls outside the recall window, raising questions about the scope of affected units.
Same Kia Forte airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Non-deployment in crashes
Multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy during collisions at speeds well above the typical deployment threshold (20–45 mph). In at least two fatal collisions, airbags remained inactive despite severe front-end or side-impact damage. One owner hit a tree at 45 mph with no deployment; another was struck at 35 mph and told by first responders the bags should have deployed.
When: During accidents; failure mileage as low as 3,000 miles reported; one vehicle manufactured December 2016 (pre-recall window)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag failed to deploy during front-end collision at 20–25 mph; Airbag failed to deploy during side-impact at 35 mph; Airbag failed to deploy during front-end collision at 45 mph; Driver-side and passenger-side airbags inactive during multi-impact crash at high speed; No deployment during front-end collision at 20 mph
Codes mentioned: B1620
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle inspected at time of repair with no diagnosis provided beyond 'product liability' notation. Most vehicles not inspected by dealer. One owner reported $9,000 in repair costs for vehicle damage (unrelated to airbag fix).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: SC226 recall issued; covers 2017–2018 Forte manufactured March 2, 2017 to July 27, 2018. One owner notes their vehicle (manufactured December 2016) has identical DTC B1620 defect but falls outside recall window. One owner reports manufacturer was notified but did not assist.
Spontaneous deployment
One owner reports the steering-wheel airbag deployed without any accident or impact—simply while closing the car door at home. No warning light was illuminated beforehand. The dealer provided no diagnostics, only a phone number, leaving the owner with an unsafe vehicle.
When: At approximately 10,669 miles (based on context, though mileage not explicitly stated for this event)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering-wheel airbag deployed spontaneously with no collision or impact; No warning light illuminated prior to deployment; Deployment triggered by closing car door
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer declined to inspect or diagnose; owner sent away in car without service.
SRSCM communication fault
One owner reports airbag fault light with multiple diagnostic trouble codes (10 faults total), including B1620 indicating the airbag SRSCM (Safety Restraint System Control Module) is not communicating. The owner notes their vehicle (manufactured December 2016, pre-recall) has the same defect as vehicles covered by SC226 recall (March 2017–July 27, 2018 production range), suggesting the defect may be broader than the recall addresses.
When: Discovered post-manufacture; vehicle made December 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag fault light illuminated; Multiple diagnostic codes present (10 total); SRSCM not communicating with vehicle electronics
Codes mentioned: B1620
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: SC226 recall (2017–2018 Forte, March 2, 2017–July 27, 2018 production). Owner's vehicle (December 2016 manufacture) has identical defect but falls outside official recall window.
Seatbelt pretensioner/locking failure
Two owners report seatbelts failed to lock or restrain during high-impact crashes. In one 40 mph collision, the belt did not lock and the driver was thrown into the steering wheel. In a fatal multi-impact crash, the passenger's belt failed to lock, trapping them under the dash; the driver's belt reportedly broke and ripped during ejection. This absence of restraint amplified occupant injuries.
When: During crashes (40 mph impact and high-speed multi-impact crash)
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt did not lock during 40 mph impact collision; Seatbelt failed to restrain occupant during crash; Seatbelt reportedly broke and ripped during ejection at high speed; Passenger trapped under dash due to belt failure
Repairs/costs cited: One police officer observed belt failure during on-scene inspection; no repair completed or diagnostic provided.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The airbags did not deploy when a large jeep turned into the driver side door.
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 Kia Forte?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2017 Kia Forte?
It's a serious issue. 16 complaints have been filed, including 11 reports involving a crash and 2 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 6,150 and 36,650 miles, with the median around 23,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,150; a quarter make it past 36,650. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Kia/Forte.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.