2021 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls & Reliability
95 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Kia Forte, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 15/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2021 Kia Forte has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2021 sits among all Forte years
What owners report
Recalls (2)
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
71 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2021 Kia Forte. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2021 Kia Forte reliable?
The 2021 Kia Forte drew 95 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 15/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2021 Kia Forte problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Kia Forte are engine (22 complaints), other (19), and electrical (10).
Does the 2021 Kia Forte have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2021 Kia Forte. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.