2021 Kia Forte problems
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Forte. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 22% of complaints. Next are electrical system (9%) and steering (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 99 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 11 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 83% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the Kia Forte with enough data (99 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
December 2,2020 I was driving on route 33 west and exited the exit at canal winchester. I was driving towards the left side of ramp and the steering wheel took control and slammed me into a cement barrier. Weather was 44 degrees and at 4 pm in the evening.
The contact owns 2021 Kia Forte. The contact stated the brakes would constantly squeak when making a stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that it was not a failure. The contact stated while she was parking the vehicle in a parking lot, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The contact stated the vehicle inadvertently accelerated on its own and crashed into a building. There were no warning lights illuminated.
I was in a head on accident at 45mph air bags did not deploy . was wearing my seatbelt and had a head injury due to hit the steering wheel with my head
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 noise and neck injuries, including placenta rupture, causing early labor. Medical attention was required. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was deemed a total loss.
My Kia forte 21 that I owned for less than 2 years, stalled out while driving on 20 April 23. The engine light came on. I checked the oil and there was none , despite having regular maintenance being performed. No light indicators appeared informing me that my vehicle had no oil left. My vehicle had 21,234 miles when the engine failed. Kia has yet to contact me or assist me with this matter. I could’ve possibly died while driving on the highway and my car randomly stalling out.