NHTSA has received 26 owner complaints about the 2022 Kia Forte, or 5.6 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.13, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2022 vehicles we track, it ranks #12 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Kia models its rate is 84% lower; against other Compact cars it is 76% 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
Limited data: fewer than 30 complaints, so shares and indexes are unstable.
Complaints filed between 2021-12-02 and 2026-08-20. Median delay from incident to filing: 15 days.
26Complaints
5.6Complaints per year on the road
0.13Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
1Recalls
15.4%Share involving a crash or fire
9Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2021) drew 11.8 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2023) drew 16.3 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2022 model collected 11 complaints, 85% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (23.1% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (23.1%) and Electrical (11.5%). 4 reports (15.4%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 23 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the second year (38% of incidents). 9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for this model year. 12% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses.
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.13
vs. other Kia models0.16
vs. other 2022 models0.14
vs. other Compact cars0.24
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (11)0.15
I got into an accident i On December 10th, 2023 my car was totaled out. My steering wheel felt like it was doing its own thing and I crashed straight into a curb and some rocks.
Steering · 2024-10-26 · ODI 11622041 · Crash
Air bags did not deploy in a front/side impact crash. Driver slid on ice and slush, went off the road and hit a tree. The car is currently being evaluated by the service center and insurance company. No sensors or warnings went off.
AC is not blowing cold air even after replacing refrigerant. Mechanic says the compressor has failed, even though the car is only a few years old and has never been involved in any major incidents.
Electrical · 2026-08-20 · ODI 11758316
Vehicle: 2022 Kia Forte LXS I am filing this complaint regarding a complete air conditioning system failure on my 2022 Kia Forte LXS, which is fully covered under Kia's 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Interior & equipment · 2026-06-12 · ODI 11743761
At low and moderate speeds, engine intermittently and slightly stalls? A rapid alarm sounds and no signal lights up on dashboard. This is corrected by tapping on the gas. This has been an ongoing issue since 2022.
Interior & equipment · 2026-06-11 · ODI 11743567
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.
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2022 Kia Forte?
26 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2022 Kia Forte, or about 5.6 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2022 Kia Forte?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 23.1% of complaints.
Does the 2022 Kia Forte have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall(s) for this model year.
Is the 2022 Kia Forte still generating complaints?
9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
How does the 2022 Kia Forte compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 26 owner complaints about the 2022 Kia Forte, or 5.6 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.13, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2022 vehicles we track, it ranks #12 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Kia models its rate is 84% lower; against other Compact cars it is 76% lower.