- 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.
Vehicle Summary
2021 Kia Forte
Before You Buy
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 normalized 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 We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.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.
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."
Consequence
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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 for this recall is SC207.
- 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.
Consequence
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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 number for this recall SC235.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2021 Kia Forte.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 4 / 5
- Passenger
- 3 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 10.7%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2021 Kia Forte 4 out of 5 stars overall, below the 5-star median for the 16 comparable 2021 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 10.7% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2021 Kia Forte, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
27
City
35
Hwy
30
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $2,050
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 296 g/mi
How this compares
At 30 MPG combined, the 2021 Kia Forte ranks 7th of 18 midsize cars EPA rated for 2021 — 1.5 MPG better than the 28.5 MPG median for that group.
That places it a little above the middle of its class. Fuel cost is close enough to its rivals that other running costs will probably matter more.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $2,050, $25 less than the $2,075 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $10,250, a $125 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 296 grams per mile — about 4.4 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
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
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2021 Kia Forte, newest first.
- Recall
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Recall
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.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
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
- $2,050
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Recall
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Recall
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.