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2021 Kia Forte Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 67 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

C
69/100

Use Caution — 2021 Kia Forte

The 2021 Kia Forte has elevated complaints or recalls that warrant careful consideration. Have any open recalls resolved before purchase and inspect the vehicle thoroughly.

2
NHTSA Recalls
2 recalls on record
67
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
10
Crashes + Injuries
In NHTSA complaints

Own or buying a 2021 Kia Forte?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Kia Forte (2)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Kia dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V164000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #22V304000
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Kia Forte

Based on 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine
15
Unknown Or Other
13
Steering
9
Power Train
7
Air Bags
5
Electrical System
4
Tires
3
Structure
2
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Kia Forte — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 254 complaints 2016 0 complaints 2017 0 complaints 2018 134 complaints 2019 144 complaints 2020 68 complaints 2021 67 complaints 2022 22 complaints 2023 56 complaints 2024 21 complaints 2025 0 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2015, 2018, 2019 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2016, 2017, 2022 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Kia Forte

Is the 2021 Kia Forte reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Kia Forte has 2 recalls and 67 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Forte have?
The 2021 Kia Forte has 2 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Forte?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Kia Forte are: Engine, Unknown Or Other, Steering, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Kia Forte safe to buy?
The 2021 Kia Forte has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Kia Forte should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Kia Forte are: 2016, 2017, 2022. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2015, 2018, 2019.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.