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2021 Kia Forte

Verified July 23, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
4
of 5 stars
Recalls
2
on record
MPG
30
combined

Open recalls on record

2 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Recalls2
Complaints67
Safety
Fuel

Vehicle Summary

2021 Kia Forte

2 recalls
67 complaints
30 MPG combined
4/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Check all recalls are completed
Review consumer complaints
Verify no crash-related complaints
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
2
Owner complaints
67
Complaints citing a crash
10

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalised by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

2 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 21V164000high

    Airbag system issue

    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."

  • 22V304000high

    Steering issue

    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.

Consumer complaints

67 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

67
Total
10
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE29
  • OTHER12
  • STEERING7
  • AIR BAGS6
  • ELECTRICAL3

Notable Issues

67 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 6 reports involve injuries. 10 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)29
miscellaneous issues12
steering issues (play, noise, loss of assist)7

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Sedan
Drive type
FWD
Engine
2.5L 4-cyl
Fuel type
Regular Gasoline
Transmission
Automatic
Seats
5

Fuel economy

27

City

35

Hwy

30

Comb

Annual cost
$2,000
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Data sources

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Kia Forte years

Common problems

Kia Forte problems

1,080 owner complaints analysed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 22V304000

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

  2. Recall

    Recall 21V164000

    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.