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.
Risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles.
NHTSA listing: FORTE. Kia campaign SC235.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
The areas named in the 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2022 Forte. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Engine4 · 15%
Forward collision avoidance4 · 15%
Most named: warnings (3)
Electrical system3 · 11%
Steering3 · 11%
Suspension3 · 11%
Air bags2 · 7%
Brakes2 · 7%
Unknown or other9 · 33%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Kia Forte recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2022 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Forte drew the most (72) and the 2022 drew 15.
Owner complaints
2022: 27 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Forte
Model year
Complaints
2016
137
2017
302
2018
136
2019
147
2020
76
2021
68
2022
27
2023
62
2024
25
Safety recalls
2022: 1 recallTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Forte
Model year
Recalls
2016
1
2017
3
2018
3
2019
2
2020
0
2021
2
2022
1
2023
3
2024
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Kia Forte 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 10.7%
Questions
What are the most common 2022 Forte problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: engine (4), forward collision avoidance (4), electrical system (3). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2022 Kia Forte safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2022 Kia Forte earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
How do I check if my Forte has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: FORTE.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.