NHTSA has received 69 owner complaints about the 2021 Kia Forte, or 11.9 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.29, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #23 of 85 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Kia models its rate is 66% lower; against other Compact cars it is 46% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2021-02-20 and 2026-10-04. Median delay from incident to filing: 15 days.
69Complaints
11.9Complaints per year on the road
0.29Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
2Recalls
15.9%Share involving a crash or fire
10Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2020) drew 11.5 complaints per year, about the same. The following model year (2022) drew 5.8 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 31 complaints, 49% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (31.9% of complaints), followed by Unspecified or other (14.5%) and Airbags & seat belts (13.0%). 11 reports (15.9%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 7 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 22 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the second year (28% of incidents). In the last 12 months 10 new complaints were filed, versus 15 in the 12 months before — down 33%.
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.29
vs. other Kia models0.34
vs. other 2021 models0.31
vs. other Compact cars0.54
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (31)0.51
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.
The contact owned a 2021 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the steering wheel locked independently, causing the vehicle to veer off the road into a construction site. The contact stated that the air bags did deploy.
Steering · 2026-04-24 · ODI 11733681 · Crash
The seatbelt comes unbuckled without cause often and the lane keeping assistance pulls the car of to the right unprovoked.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-10-04 · ODI 11768878
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.
Engine · 2026-04-24 · ODI 11733651
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a serious safety issue involving my 2021 Kia Forte. Approximately one year ago, I purchased this vehicle used with approximately 56,000 miles.
Engine · 2026-04-18 · ODI 11731999
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: 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.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE Campaign 21V164000 · 2021-03-11
Summary: 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.
