Recalled components: suspension and steering. Most-described problems: loss of power or limp mode and suspension part problems (5 complaints, 8% each). Most-reported area: steering (15 complaints, 23%).
More complaints than a typical Forte year
The 2023 drew 48 owner complaints in its first three years, against 35 for a typical Forte year.
Years to avoid: 2019; best year: 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
Risk: Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC306. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 23V-649.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles.
The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
Risk: Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC283.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles.
Due to a manufacturing error, the front left steering knuckle may crack, which can result in a loss of steering control.
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front left steering knuckle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2023. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC259.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles.
NHTSA listing: FORTE. Kia campaign SC259.
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.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2023 Kia Forte.
What owners report
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Forte. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Loss of power or limp mode5 · 8%
Suspension parts (struts, ball joints, control arms)5 · 8%
Most named: warnings (8); automatic emergency braking (5)
Engine9 · 14%
Powertrain8 · 12%
Suspension8 · 12%
Lane departure systems7 · 11%
Most named: blind spot detection (3)
Unknown or other8 · 12%
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 2023 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 2023 drew 48.
Owner complaints
2023: 66 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Forte
Model year
Complaints
2010
232
2011
162
2012
307
2013
211
2014
445
2015
262
2016
139
2017
305
2018
136
2019
150
2020
78
2021
69
2022
28
2023
66
2024
26
Safety recalls
2023: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Forte
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
3
2012
4
2013
5
2014
3
2015
1
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.
In the 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Kia Forte, the problems described most are loss of power or limp mode (5) and suspension part problems (5). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2023 Kia Forte safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2023 Kia Forte earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2023 Kia Forte?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2023 Kia Forte.
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 Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
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.