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NHTSA Vehicle Research

Kia Forte Research

Free safety data straight from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Recalls, consumer complaints, and crash test ratings — everything you need before you buy.

8 Recalls
388 Complaints
4★ Safety Rating
FREE Gov Data
2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019

🛡️ NCAP Crash Test Safety Ratings

Year Overall Front Crash Side Crash Rollover
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019

⚠️ NHTSA Recalls (8)

The following safety recalls have been issued by NHTSA for the Kia Forte. If you own this vehicle, check your VIN at our VIN lookup tool or NHTSA.gov to see if your vehicle is affected.

2023 Model Year (3 recalls)

Campaign #22V906000 08/12/2022
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front left steering knuckle may crack, which can result in a loss of steering control.

Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front left steering knuckle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2023. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC259.

Campaign #23V649000 22/09/2023
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.

Risk: Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC283.

Campaign #24V244000 01/04/2024
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.

Risk: Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC306. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 23V-649.

2022 Model Year (1 recall)

Campaign #22V304000 05/05/2022
STEERING:COLUMN

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.

Risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.

2021 Model Year (2 recalls)

Campaign #21V164000 11/03/2021
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Campaign #22V304000 05/05/2022
STEERING:COLUMN

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.

Risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.

2019 Model Year (2 recalls)

Campaign #18V771000 31/10/2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.

Campaign #20V459000 05/08/2020
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles. The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.

Risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.

💬 Consumer Complaints (388)

Real complaints filed with NHTSA by Kia Forte owners. These reports help identify common issues and potential safety concerns.

Most Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
POWER TRAIN 60
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 53
ENGINE 47
STEERING 16
AIR BAGS 13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9
STRUCTURE 8
TIRES 6
2024 model • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE • 07/01/2026

Coolant is burning and going into the oil in the engine. Occupancy indicator is malfunctioning causing a drastic amount of liability for death

2024 model • ENGINE • 10/16/2025

The contact owns a 2024 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was illuminated and the "all cylinders misfiring" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was bad fuel in the tank that needed to be drained. The…

2024 model • ENGINE • 04/07/2026

My car would not go when i gave it gas on a major highway with mu 3 children in the back seat. We almost got into a wreck.

2023 model • STEERING,AIR BAGS • 05/21/2026

I was driving home, on my way while driving I approached a curve on my way around the curve my vehicle continued to accelerate to the right as I was going around the curve. I tried to redirect the vehicle back to the left by trying to turn the steering wheel towards the left but I could not control the…

2023 model • AIR BAGS • 05/24/2026

I was driving in a road, when a female deer appeared out of the trees and bushes from the right shoulder of the road. I tried not to hit it but but the deer got in my way. I hit the deer and quickly moved over to the right shoulder. The whole front right of the vehicle was destroyed and…

2023 model • LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES • 03/06/2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while leaving Walmart and approaching the vehicle, the contact became aware that another driver with a similar vehicle was able to unlock her vehicle with the other driver’s key fob on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The lights flashed, alerting the contact that the vehicle was unlocked. No…

2022 model • UNKNOWN OR OTHER • 06/01/2026

Air compressor broken Backup camera not working

2022 model • UNKNOWN OR OTHER • 06/08/2026

Vehicle: 2022 Kia Forte LXS I am filing this complaint regarding a complete air conditioning system failure on my 2022 Kia Forte LXS, which is fully covered under Kia's 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. The vehicle has been driven under 60,000 miles and has no accident history. The AC system failed completely. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership for…

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