Kia Forte Recalls (2021-2023)

What recalls does the Kia Forte have?

• 2023 Kia Forte Lower Control Arm Recall (24V244) Do not driveRepeat recall
  April 1, 2024 · 215 vehicles · Suspension, Wheels and Tires

  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.

• 2023 Kia Forte Lower Control Arm Recall (23V649) Do not drive
  September 22, 2023 · 3,866 vehicles · Suspension, Wheels and Tires

  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.

• 2023 Kia Forte Steering Arm Recall (22V906)
  December 8, 2022 · 939 vehicles · Steering

  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.

• 2021-2022 Kia Rio Steering Column Recall (22V304)
  May 5, 2022 · 30 vehicles · Steering

  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.

• 2021 Kia Telluride Passenger Air Bag Recall (21V164)
  March 11, 2021 · 142 vehicles · Air Bags

  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.

Which Forte parts are recalled most?

Which Forte model years have the most recalls?

How do I check my Forte for open recalls?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. The lookup lists every open safety recall on that specific vehicle, so you will see which of the 5 Kia Forte campaigns above apply to you. You can also ask any authorized Kia dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is on your registration card, your insurance card, and a plate at the lower driver-side corner of the windshield. Brand-new recalls can take a few days to show up, so check again if you received a letter.

What are Forte owners reporting?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA since 2020, by model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports, but the components that come up most often show where owners are having trouble.

Excerpts from owner complaints (unverified):

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, I took my 2021 Kia Forte LXS for a routine oil change. I had NO PRIOR issues, warning lights or anything with my vehicle. The oil change was performed. I then drove my vehicle less than 20 miles, the vehicle would then not accelerate and started to bog down.

2021 KIA Forte owner, Engine, NHTSA complaint 11647666

It keeps getting broken into by the KIA boys in attempt of theft. It's a group that targets KIAs because they're easy. I now have to make sure my steering wheel is locked up.

2021 KIA Forte owner, Unknown Or Other, NHTSA complaint 11766285

At low and moderate speeds, engine intermittently and slightly stalls? A rapid alarm sounds and no signal lights up on dashboard. This is corrected by tapping on the gas. This has been an ongoing issue since 2022.

2022 KIA Forte owner, Unknown Or Other, NHTSA complaint 11743567

Can a recall make your Forte a lemon in California?

A recall alone does not make a Kia Forte a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act looks at whether a warranty defect substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety and was not fixed within a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

1 of the 5 recalls listed here follow an earlier campaign on the same component, which can mean a first fix did not work. Most are single-repair campaigns, but repeat visits for any covered defect still count.

Within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the same defect was repaired two or more times when it is likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases, and owners outside that window can still have a claim. An owner who prevails can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

What to keep: every repair order, the recall owner letters, your purchase or lease contract, and a log of dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure every visit is written up, even when the dealer says it found nothing.

More Kia Forte lemon law pages

All Kia recalls · 2021 Kia Forte lemon law · 2022 Kia Forte lemon law · 2023 Kia Forte lemon law

Other Kia models with recalls

• Carnival: 7 recalls
• Carnival Hybrid: 1 recall
• EV6: 5 recalls
• EV9: 10 recalls
• Forte: 5 recalls
• K4: 3 recalls
• K5: 9 recalls
• Niro: 3 recalls
• Niro EV: 5 recalls
• Niro PHEV: 3 recalls
• Rio: 2 recalls
• Seltos: 4 recalls
• Sorento: 13 recalls
• Sorento Hybrid: 6 recalls
• Sorento PHEV: 8 recalls
• Soul: 5 recalls
• Sportage: 11 recalls
• Sportage Hybrid: 2 recalls
• Sportage PHEV: 3 recalls
• Stinger: 5 recalls
• Telluride: 16 recalls
• Telluride Hybrid: 2 recalls

Frequently asked questions about Kia Forte recalls