YearToAvoid

2021 Kia Forte Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2021 Kia Forte has a complaint index of 27, ranking 12th worst of 16 model years, and earns a Good verdict. It has 68 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with Engine issues as the top problem area.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
27/100
#12 of 16 Forte years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
68
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
11
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
7
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
31
27 city / 37 hwy
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0

Top 2021 Kia Forte problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine23 (34%)
  2. Other20 (29%)
  3. Electrical System9 (13%)
  4. Steering9 (13%)
  5. Airbags7 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain7 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body4 (6%)
  8. Fuel System3 (4%)
  9. Seat Belts3 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering can lock or bind suddenly at speed, causing the vehicle to veer off the road or into a ditch.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple head-on and side-impact crashes, including one where the driver hit the steering wheel with their head.
  • Seat belts have failed to retract properly after a crash in at least one reported case.
  • Front windshields can develop micro-bubbles in the glass that create glare and distracting distortion in direct sunlight.
  • Tires have reportedly failed suddenly, including a case of both driver-side tires exploding at the same time, and other owners found tire pressure far above the recommended level.
  • Brakes have squeaked persistently after purchase, with dealership fixes not resolving the noise.
2021 Kia Forte complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2021Dec 2021May 2022May 2023Mar 2024Nov 2024Jun 2025Jan 2026
68 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2022 (4).

2021 Kia Forte recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V304000May 5, 2022Steering30 vehicles

    Steering:column

    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.

    Risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 21V164000Mar 11, 2021Airbags142 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    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 fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

    Remedy: 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 recall is SC207.

2021 Kia Forte fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
37 MPG
Combined
31 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Forte years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good47147234
2020Best2076031
2021Good2768231
2022Best727131.5
2023Caution60623 !31

All Kia Forte years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Kia Forte reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Forte has a complaint index of 27 and ranks 12th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Forte years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Kia Forte?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints make up 34% of reports, followed by Electrical System and Steering at 13% each, and Airbags at 10%.
Does the 2021 Kia Forte have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Forte, one for a steering column bolt that may not be secured properly and one for an airbag occupant classification system that may fail to detect a child restraint.
What year Kia Forte should I avoid?
Among Forte years, 2014 has the highest complaint index at 100 and an Avoid verdict, along with 2012, 2011, and 2017, all also rated Avoid.
How many complaints does NHTSA have on file for the 2021 Kia Forte?
NHTSA lists 68 complaints for the 2021 Kia Forte, including 11 crashes, 7 injuries, and 0 fires.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.