2021 Kia Forte problems and recalls

Owners have filed 67 complaints on the 2021 Kia Forte, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (22 complaints).

67
Complaints
2
Recalls
10
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
6
Injuries
89.2
Severity index

Severity index 89.2 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 89.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 10 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 89% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 22 complaints (32.8%)22 33%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 17 complaints (25.4%)17 25%SteeringSteering: 9 complaints (13.4%)9 13%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 8 complaints (11.9%)8 12%Power TrainPower Train: 7 complaints (10.4%)7 10%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (9.0%)6 9%StructureStructure: 3 complaints (4.5%)3 4%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 3 complaints (4.5%)3 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE2232.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1725.4%
STEERING913.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM811.9%
POWER TRAIN710.4%
AIR BAGS69.0%
STRUCTURE34.5%
SEAT BELTS34.5%

Complaints filed per year

010212021: 102022: 212023: 52024: 132025: 112026: 7 (partial year)21222123242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
202110
202221
20235
202413
202511
2026 (year to date)7
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2021 to 2022 (29 against 31).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V16400011/03/2021AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEKia 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
22V30400005/05/2022STEERING:COLUMNKia 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.

Other Kia Forte model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.