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2021 Kia Forte: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2021 / kia / forte
known issues7 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-21)
complaints67 on file (2021-02-20 → 2026-04-24)
recalls2
investigations0
fars94 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Engine failure with oil loss or consumptionENGINE16 complaints2021-06 → 2026-04forte-2021-engine-failure-oil-loss
  • 11733651 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. Vehicle was towed to Kia dealership and they found…
  • 11680039 While driving my Kia Forte on [XXX] i experienced a sudden noise without warning just 2 months to the exact date after an oil change. The vehicle became unsafe to operate and could not accelerate properly. In some cases it would no have it would feel like it was losing power…
  • 11647666 On Saturday, March 1, 2025, I took my 2021 Kia Forte LXS for a routine oil change. I had NO PRIOR issues, warning lights or anything with my vehicle. The oil change was performed. I then drove my vehicle less than 20 miles, the vehicle would then not accelerate and started to…
  • 11564996 While driving on the interstate, multiple dash lights came on, the engine started knocking and shutting down. The vehicle was towed to the dealership and was found that the oil plug had fallen out, causing the oil to drain out and ruin the motor
Vehicle theft due to absent engine immobilizerEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES10 complaints2022-01 → 2024-11forte-2021-anti-theft-immobilizer-theft
  • 11477635 My car was stolen from in front of my home, they were able to steal my brand new car because they popped off the bottom steering wheel cover and used an iphone charger to start the ignition and drive away
  • 11460437 A defect in 2021 Kia Forte vehicle engine start and security systems allows for the rear window to be broken without an alarm activation and the car to be started without a key or key-like device. The vehicle can be started with something as simple as a screwdriver
  • 11477416 My main issue is concerning a critical design flaw that has been found due to a social media challenge called the Kia Challenge where people are able to start up and steal a Kia after only using a USB cord adapter (found near the key start on the steering wheel) without needing…
  • 11447312 There is no kill switch. this is a new car but doesn't have the push start. So, I have gotten it stolen twice. It's still at body shop. I had to pay 500 twice for detectible and I asked while they have car if Kia could put a safety feature, so it doesn't happen again they told…
Transmission slip and loss of accelerationPOWER TRAIN6 complaints2022-03 → 2025-04forte-2021-transmission-power-loss
  • 11469144 The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started to decelerate while the RPM increased. The contact pulled over to the side and notice the vehicle smoking but there was no fire. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to a local…
  • 11643881 The transmission went out while driving, entering the highway. It was intermittently missing a gear or slipping in about 2nd or 3rd gear. I first noticed it going about 40 mph and trying to accelerate to highway speeds. It was during a winter storm and other vehicles behind…
  • 11464701 Vehicle has issues where transmission actuator will stop functioning causing sudden loss of acceleration. Was doing 70 MPH in expressway and vehicle stopped accelerating. Issue has occurred two times, both times being serviced by Dealership, after receiving the vehicle back…
Air bag non-deployment in crash eventsAIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS5 complaints2022-01 → 2026-01forte-2021-airbag-non-deployment
  • 11450155 I was in a head on accident at 45mph air bags did not deploy . was wearing my seatbelt and had a head injury due to hit the steering wheel with my head
  • 11622287 The contact stated that while his mother was driving at 20 MPH and attempting to complete a left turn. another driver failed to stop at a red light, as a result, the contact's mother was struck by the other vehicle on the passenger's side; however, the air bags did not deploy
  • 11713406 On May 13, 2023, I was involved in a severe frontal collision on the passenger side while driving my 2021 Kia Forte. The impact caused significant damage, and my insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. Despite the severity of the crash, none of the airbags deployed
Steering column lock and rubbing noiseSTEERING5 complaints2021-12 → 2026-04forte-2021-steering-lock-noise
  • 11573666 The electric steering column motor has worn parts causing the steering wheel to make a rubbing noise. There is a TSB out for this problem but for cars only manufactured in certain plants. My car was not manufactured in one of the plants that generated the TSB but I have that…
  • 11607671 There is loud sound associated with the steering column! It has locked on me before and wouldn’t allow me to turn the vehicle. It has been to the dealership several times only for them to not be able to pinpoint the issue
  • 11653119 While driving, primarily on the highway, I have experienced a recurring issue with the power steering system. The steering assist appears to delay activation after periods of inactivity—such as when driving straight. When I attempt a small correction (even a movement as small as…
Brake squeak and caliper failure at low mileageSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER3 complaints2021-08 → 2021-12forte-2021-brake-squeak-caliper
  • 11431600 I bought a brand new Kia Forte with 30 miles on it in February. In April I took it to the dealership for the breaks squeaking. The dealership stated they put conditioner on my breaks. Took the car back again in may for the breaks still squeaking. The dealership changed my oil…
  • 11445263 I got my car April 18 2021. It is a 2021 car and i got it off the lot with only 30 miles. I had the car for only 2 months and my breaks were already making a squeaky noise. I took it in to get them replaced I asked why i needed new ones sooo quick and i was told that maybe the…
Sunroof sudden shattering while drivingUNKNOWN OR OTHER2 complaints2023-05 → 2024-03forte-2021-sunroof-explosion
  • 11520605 I was driving down a highway with no other cars near me and heard a loud noise (sounded like a gunshot). I pulled over and my sunroof had exploded. The glass was facing upwards not downwards. It appears it exploded from the inside not by a foreign object
  • 11575700 Driving down the highway and sunroof exploded. Sounded like a gun shot

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
672021-02-202026-04-24100ENGINE:22; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:17; STEERING:9; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:8; POWER TRAIN:7

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
21V16400011/03/2021AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEKia 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.
22V30400005/05/2022STEERING:COLUMNKia 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.Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.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.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202494legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2021 Kia Forte vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2021/kia/forte
@misc{wrenchpro_2021_kia_forte_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2021 Kia Forte},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2021/kia/forte}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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