2021 Kia Forte problems and complaints
Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Forte. The most-reported areas: Engine (22), Unknown Or Other (18), Steering (9).
Key takeaways
- 69 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 11 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 22 | 32% |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 | 26% |
| Steering | 9 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 8 | 12% |
| Air Bags | 7 | 10% |
| Power Train | 7 | 10% |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 6% |
| Structure | 3 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 | 4% |
| Tires | 3 | 4% |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 3% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Seat Belts,lane Departure - filed 2026-10-04
The seatbelt comes unbuckled without cause often and the lane keeping assistance pulls the car of to the right unprovoked.
Air Bags,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-23
It keeps getting broken into by the KIA boys in attempt of theft. It's a group that targets KIAs because they're easy. I now have to make sure my steering wheel is locked up. I was recently hit by another driver, i had to go to the hospital but for some reason the airbag did not deploy. I need some assistance
Engine - filed 2026-04-24
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 that there was no oil in the engine and t...
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More for the 2021 Kia Forte
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.