2010–2013 KIA Forte and 4 other KIA models: air bags recall
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.
What was reported
Source: manufacturer filing, 49 CFR Part 573Reported to NHTSA Jun 1, 2018 by Kia Motors America, owners notified Sep 28, 2018.
Which vehicles are covered
Source: NHTSA campaign 18V363000Vehicles built Feb 24, 2009 to Aug 31, 2012 — a VIN outside that window is not part of this campaign even if the year, make and model match.
| Model year | On WhichTrim |
|---|---|
| 2010 KIA Forte | every KIA on this site |
| 2011 KIA Forte | every KIA on this site |
| 2012 KIA Forte | every KIA on this site |
| 2013 KIA Forte | every KIA on this site |
| 2010 KIA Forte Koup | every KIA on this site |
| 2011 KIA Forte Koup | every KIA on this site |
| 2012 KIA Forte Koup | every KIA on this site |
| 2013 KIA Forte Koup | every KIA on this site |
| 2011 KIA Optima | every KIA on this site |
| 2012 KIA Optima | every KIA on this site |
| 2013 KIA Optima | every KIA on this site |
| 2011 KIA Optima Hybrid | every KIA on this site |
| 2012 KIA Optima Hybrid | every KIA on this site |
| 2011 KIA Sedona | every KIA on this site |
| 2012 KIA Sedona | every KIA on this site |
None of the vehicles this campaign names has a page on WhichTrim: every model year it names is older than the catalogue, which begins at 2016. The campaign record above is complete as filed, and whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by its VIN. Other campaigns on vehicles without a page here →
How much of it has been fixed
Source: manufacturer quarterly report, 49 CFR 573.7of the campaign
The final figure: the six quarters of reporting that 49 cfr 573.7 requires have closed.
This is the manufacturer's own cumulative count of vehicles it has inspected and repaired, divided by the vehicles the campaign covers. It files that count with NHTSA every quarter for six consecutive quarters, starting from the quarter in which owners were told a remedy was ready, and then the obligation ends — so a figure on an older campaign is where the count stopped, not where it stands today.
It rarely reaches 100%, and not because the work was not done. The same report asks manufacturers to count vehicles they could not reach at all — exported, stolen, scrapped, or simply never located — and those stay in the denominator. A low number means a lot of these vehicles are still out there unrepaired; it does not tell you which ones.
The federal paperwork
Source: nhtsa.govFiled documents
- Owner letter PDF — The letter mailed to registered owners, in full.
Check one specific vehicle
A recall applies to a build range, so year, make and model cannot settle it. NHTSA checks a VIN against the manufacturer's own list and tells you whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.
NHTSA VIN recall lookup →Campaign 18V363000 · the manufacturer calls it SC165
Own one, or run a fleet? Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, this one's expansions included. Or take a free one-line alert by model year.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573Is SC165 the same recall as 18V363000?
Yes. SC165 is the number Kia Motors America uses for this campaign in its own paperwork and in the letter it sends owners. 18V363000 is the number NHTSA files it under. One recall, two references — dealers and service departments generally quote the manufacturer's.
Does this recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to remedy a safety defect or a compliance failure at no charge, for vehicles up to 15 years old measured from the date of first sale. A dealer that asks you to pay for a recall repair is in the wrong.
How do I know whether my vehicle is included?
By VIN, not by model year. This campaign covers vehicles built Feb 24, 2009 to Aug 31, 2012. The manufacturer files a build range with NHTSA and only vehicles inside it are covered, so two identical-looking cars from the same year can differ. NHTSA's own lookup checks a VIN against the manufacturer's list.
What if the repair is not available yet?
It happens, and often. Manufacturers must notify owners when a defect is found even if the parts or the software are not ready, then notify them a second time once the remedy exists. The remedy filed for this campaign is described above.
What did the manufacturer say was wrong?
The problem, risk and fix quoted on this page are the manufacturer's own words as filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 573. WhichTrim does not paraphrase them.
Who started this recall?
NHTSA's record credits NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. A recall can begin with the manufacturer's own testing, with a defect investigation, or with a compliance test against a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.