2021 Kia Forte reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Kia Forte holds 68 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 12 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Forte years here — over the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Column and Air bag control module.

2012 Kia Forte — Photo by Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (22 of 68), then Steering (9) and Electrical system (8). Those filings include 11 that report a crash and 7 that report an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Forte has 76 complaints, 6 per year, and the 2022 has 27 complaints, 5 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Kia Forte. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall steering, column 2022-05-05 · NHTSA campaign 22V304000

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.

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.

Recall air bags, air bag control module 2021-03-11 · NHTSA campaign 21V164000

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."

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.

Complaints by component (68 total)

Engine

Steering

Electrical system

Air bags

Powertrain

Fuel and propulsion system

Seat belts

Structure

Tires

Equipment

Forward collision avoidance

Hydraulic brakes

Exterior lighting

Lane departure

Seats

Speed control

Visibility and wipers

Show 9 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"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. I was recently hit by another driver, i had…"
Air bags, Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-23
"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…"
Engine · filed 2026-04-24
"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…"
Steering · filed 2026-04-24
"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. I have…"
Engine · filed 2026-04-18
"Oil is burning out quickly causing the car to stop abruptly without any warning and caused damages to the engine."
Engine · filed 2026-03-10

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2021 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Forte	1.6L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AM-S7)	Front-wheel drive	27	35	30 MPG	$2150
Forte	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	Front-wheel drive	29	40	33 MPG	$1950
Forte	2L, 4-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	27	37	31 MPG	$2100
Forte	1.6L, 4-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	25	32	28 MPG	$2300
Forte FE	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	Front-wheel drive	31	41	35 MPG	$1850

Specs and fitment

4th generation (BD), 2019–present

Body styles Sedan

Oil 0W-20 (2.0L and 1.6L turbo where equipped) , 4 qt capacity

Tire size 195/65R15 to 225/40R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 21V164000. 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." 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. 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.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Kia Forte Next year 2022 Kia Forte See every Kia Forte model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Kia Forte reliable?

What are common problems with a 2021 Kia Forte?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (22 of 68), then Steering (9) and Electrical system (8). Those filings include 11 that report a crash and 7 that report an injury.

Is the 2021 Kia Forte more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Forte has 76 complaints, 6 per year, and the 2022 has 27 complaints, 5 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Kia Forte been recalled?

The 2021 Kia Forte has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Kia Forte?

Owners have filed 68 complaints about the 2021 Kia Forte with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Kia Forte get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Kia Forte is 31.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Forte take?

Viscosity and capacity depend on engine and model year; use the generation specs here and confirm in the owner’s manual.

What generation is the 2020 Kia Forte?

4th generation / BD (2019-on).

What tire sizes does a Kia Forte use?

US Forte fits commonly run about 195/65R15 to 225/40R18 depending on trim.