2021 Kia Forte Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 69 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

69/100

Elevated Reported Activity — 2021 Kia Forte

The 2021 Kia Forte shows elevated recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Make sure any recall campaigns are resolved before purchase and have the vehicle inspected thoroughly.

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NHTSA Recalls

2 recalls on record

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

In NHTSA complaints

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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.

🔧 Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module

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.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #21V164000

🔧 Steering: Column

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

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #22V304000

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Most Common Problems — 2021 Kia Forte

Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Steering

Power Train

Air Bags

Electrical System

Tires

Seat Belts

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Kia Forte — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Kia Forte VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015, 2017 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2022, 2024 — 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 recall campaigns and 69 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get 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: 2022, 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015, 2017.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

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.