Kia · Forte · 2021
2021 Kia Forte
2
Recalls
67
Complaints
4/5
NCAP overall
The 2021 Kia Forte has 2 recalls and 67 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. One stored NHTSA configuration has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, not a rating for all versions. Most frequent stored component label: engine (14 reports).
Stored NHTSA configuration: 2021 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD NCAP Vehicle ID: 15637
Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year. How this configuration is selected
Source: NHTSA Public Records
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
- Complaints
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Recalls
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Safety ratings
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Investigations
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Manufacturer communications
- Separate successful check not recorded.
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.
NHTSA Owner Complaint Summary
Most Reported Problems for the 2021 Kia Forte
These are the largest leading-label component groups across 67 owner reports in the database. They describe complaint categories, not confirmed defect rates or mechanical diagnoses.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Reported Area 1
Engine
15
reports, 22% of all complaints
Reported Area 2
Steering
9
reports, 13% of all complaints
Reported Area 3
Powertrain & Transmission
7
reports, 10% of all complaints
Reported Incident Signals
- Crash-flagged reports
- 10
- Fire-flagged reports
- 0
- Reports with injuries
- 6 (6 reported injuries)
- Reports with deaths
- 0 (0 reported deaths)
These fields are submitted with owner reports and do not establish that the vehicle caused an incident.
Year and Safety Context
Dated incidents in these records range from Dec 2, 2020 to Apr 20, 2026. Reports without an incident date are not included in this range.
This page also contains 2 NHTSA recalls and 0 linked investigations. A complaint category does not automatically mean that a recall or investigation covers the same issue.
Nearby tracked years: 2020 (65 complaints) and 2022 (22 complaints). Raw totals are not adjusted for sales volume, vehicle age, or time on the road.
Research Context
The 2021 Kia Forte page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most frequent complete stored component label is engine with 14 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2021 Kia Forte currently shows 2 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 67 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 4/5 overall NHTSA rating for one stored configuration, not all versions.
- The most frequent complete stored component labels on this page are engine (14), unknown or other (8), steering (5).
- Vehicle
- 2021 Kia Forte
- Recalls
- 2
- Complaints
- 67
- Stored Configuration Overall Rating
- 4/5. Stored NHTSA configuration: 2021 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD. NCAP Vehicle ID: 15637.
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Configuration Test Results
Stored NHTSA configuration: 2021 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD NCAP Vehicle ID: 15637
Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year. How this configuration is selected
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
No rollover risk estimate available in this dataset
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: OptionalLane Departure Warning: Standard
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 22V304000May 05, 2022
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.
Remedy Status
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 ID: 21V164000March 11, 2021
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."
Remedy Status
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.
Owner Complaints
67 totalENGINE
Apr 20, 2026
Driving under normal conditions April 20,2026, on the way to school. Got off the freeway and the vehicle immediately shut-off and the check engine light came on. Vehicle was stuck partially in the roadway and would not move. Vehicle was towed to Kia dealership and they found t...
Preview excerpt
STEERING
CRASHApr 15, 2026
The contact owned a 2021 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the steering wheel locked independently, causing the vehicle to veer off the road into a construction site. The contact stated that the air bags did deploy. The contact stated that she sustained ...
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ENGINE
Mar 2, 2026
Oil is burning out quickly causing the car to stop abruptly without any warning and caused damages to the engine.
ENGINE
Jan 12, 2026
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a serious safety issue involving my 2021 Kia Forte. Approximately one year ago, I purchased this vehicle used with approximately 56,000 miles. I have owned the vehicle for nearly a year without prior incident u...
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ENGINE
Jan 10, 2026
Was currently stuck in slow walking traffic and once traffic began to progress the car overheated engine notice appeared. Pulled into a parking lot as soon as car was parked the vehicle turned off. This happened during the night and was an extremely traumatic experience! Car does...
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SEAT BELTS
Sep 29, 2025
So i took my car to sands kia in surprise az about my seat belts. Both the front driver and passenger belts come unlatched while driving. They said out of warranty so i would have to pay or they will do nothing. This should be a Kia issue. Obviously a defect in the seat belts. I ...
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ENGINE
Jul 14, 2025
I am writing to report a serious safety concern involving my Kia vehicle. Shortly after getting an oil change, my car began making unusual noises and then suddenly stopped working in the middle of a busy intersection. This unexpected stall created a dangerous situation for both m...
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ENGINE
Jul 5, 2025
My 2021 Kia forte GT is currently sitting in my driveway, undriveable. It started about 3months or so ago I had realized I was getting more and more frequent oil changes to the point where the car would be consuming a quart of oil in at least a week or less. Fast forward to this ...
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ENGINE
Jul 4, 2025
2021 Kia Forte VIN# [XXX] 107,000 miles While driving my Kia Forte on [XXX] i experienced a sudden noise without warning just 2 months to the exact date after an oil change. The vehicle became unsafe to operate and could not accelerate properly. In some cases it would no have ...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Jun 27, 2025
HVAC blower motor connector got so hot it has melted the plactic
Showing 10 recent complaints from 67 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2021 Kia models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Kia Forte Years
2022 Kia ForteCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.1r22c2020 Kia ForteCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.65c2023 Kia ForteCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.3r54c2019 Kia ForteCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.2r140c2024 Kia ForteCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.21c2018 Kia ForteCompare this year against 2021 for complaint and recall shifts.3r133c
More 2021 Kia Models
2021 Kia SeltosAnother 2021 Kia option for same-year comparison.2r317c2021 Kia TellurideAnother 2021 Kia option for same-year comparison.4r306c2021 Kia SorentoAnother 2021 Kia option for same-year comparison.4r214c2021 Kia SoulAnother 2021 Kia option for same-year comparison.2r199c2021 Kia K5Another 2021 Kia option for same-year comparison.6r140c2021 Kia SportageAnother 2021 Kia option for same-year comparison.2r41c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Forte have?
The 2021 Kia Forte has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2021 Kia Forte?
NHTSA has received 67 owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Kia Forte.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Kia Forte?
Our stored NHTSA record for the 2021 Kia Forte has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Stored NHTSA configuration: 2021 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD. NCAP Vehicle ID: 15637. Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Forte?
The most frequent complete stored component labels for the 2021 Kia Forte are engine (14 reports), unknown or other (8 reports), steering (5 reports). These are exact-label counts, not broader component-group totals or confirmed defects.
Does the 2021 Kia Forte have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2021 Kia Forte. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.