YearToAvoid

2023 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 Forte years

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

The 2023 Kia Forte has 62 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 60 out of 100 — #7 highest of 16 Forte model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is steering (14 complaints, 23% of the total). Complaints report 11 crashes, 4 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
62
Recalls
3
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
11 / 4
Injuries / deaths
5 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
31
27.5 city / 37 hwy

Top 2023 Kia Forte problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering14 (23%)
  2. Electrical System12 (19%)
  3. Engine11 (18%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras11 (18%)
  5. Other8 (13%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (13%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain8 (13%)
  8. Lane Departure7 (11%)
  9. Airbags5 (8%)
  10. Structure & Body5 (8%)
2023 Kia Forte complaints: complaints filed per month7Dec 2022Jul 2023Jan 2024Aug 2024May 2025Oct 2025Apr 2026
97 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Apr 2024 (7).

2023 Kia Forte recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V244000Apr 1, 2024Suspension, Wheels & Tires215 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 23V649000Sep 22, 2023Suspension, Wheels & Tires3,866 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 22V906000Dec 8, 2022Steering939 vehicles

    Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

2023 Kia Forte fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27.5 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.

2023 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
2021Good2768231
2022Best727131.5
2023Caution60623 !31
2024Best1325031

All Kia Forte years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Kia Forte a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2023 Kia Forte ranks #7 of 16 among Forte model years (Complaint Index 60/100, verdict: Caution). It has 62 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Kia Forte?
The most reported problem areas are steering (14 complaints), electrical system (12 complaints), and engine (11 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 30,000 miles.
Does the 2023 Kia Forte have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2023 Kia Forte, most recently reported 2024, covering suspension, wheels & tires and steering. At least one carries a Do Not Drive advisory.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Kia Forte?
EPA rates the 2023 Kia Forte at 31 MPG combined (27.5 city / 37 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,100. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.