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2023 Kia Forte

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2023 Kia Forte do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 141.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 7 of 61 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

61 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2026
Unknown Or OtherFire

Backing out of a driveway that had a mud hole. Car got turned and stuck in the mud. We were trying to push it out and then it started smoking under the drivers tires and then we heard a pop. Next thing the undercarriage is on fire and we got away. Withing minutes the whole car was engulfed in flames. UNKNOWN MODERATE ONLY CAUSE…

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Backing out of a driveway that had a mud hole. Car got turned and stuck in the mud. We were trying to push it out and then it started smoking under the drivers tires and then we heard a pop. Next thing the undercarriage is on fire and we got away. Withing minutes the whole car was engulfed in flames. UNKNOWN MODERATE ONLY CAUSE WE WERE STUCK AND COULD EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER NO NO

NHTSA ODI #11724342

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2026
Air BagsCrashInjury

My son was in a car accident in my car January 1 at none of the Air bags went off. Not one there is a police report and I have pictures. Its a 2023 kia forte

NHTSA ODI #11718865

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2026
SteeringUnknown Or OtherCrash

Unknown Concerning the front passenger steering component. Carfax showed prior accident with minor damage to the front passenger bumper. I purchased the car not long ago and and was hit in the same exact spot. When I looked up the VIN for more information online I came across the safety issue with some other 2023 forte. I'm con…

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Unknown Concerning the front passenger steering component. Carfax showed prior accident with minor damage to the front passenger bumper. I purchased the car not long ago and and was hit in the same exact spot. When I looked up the VIN for more information online I came across the safety issue with some other 2023 forte. I'm concerned that my vehicle could possibly have the same issue though it's not showing up right now under recall.

NHTSA ODI #11709300

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2025
Electrical System

My low beam headlights seem to burn out at an unusually high rate. Multiple times per year, and this is much higher than any other vehicle that I've owned. I believe there may be some type of electrical issue.

NHTSA ODI #11707776

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2025
SteeringStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrashFire

My father was in a fatal vehicle accident in which the car was going very fast and then he crashed into a building. The car then started on fire. The black box was unable to be recovered to check car function. There were no medical findings

NHTSA ODI #11703022

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2025
Electrical SystemExterior LightingLane Departure

Electrical issues since 44K miles I’m at 50 K miles. I’ve complained multiple times and they kept saying electrician wasn’t available. Then they lie about it being a waitlist for a loaner car. All the lights on the dashboard goes on and all the dealership couldn’t diagnose the problem. The second time the check engine lights wen…

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Electrical issues since 44K miles I’m at 50 K miles. I’ve complained multiple times and they kept saying electrician wasn’t available. Then they lie about it being a waitlist for a loaner car. All the lights on the dashboard goes on and all the dealership couldn’t diagnose the problem. The second time the check engine lights went out the back up camera. They said it was the back up camera the backup camera was replaced the backup camera now messes up all the time and does not cut on when backing up randomly cut on when driving Kia issue was flashing lights, but they decided to worry about the check engine light, which was the careless converter, they fixed the careless converter And didn’t fix the flashing lights problem. They tried to say the car electrical reason was physical damage, which was false and now the electrical problems are getting worse the gear shifter license to work on the PRND the right brake light in the front and back goes in and out. I don’t know what the mileage is while driving I got a ticket from the cops because of that, the mileage randomly changes and I never know how much gas is in the car when I put in gas.

NHTSA ODI #11691550

25,000 miles · Sep 29, 2025
Power Train

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who …

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The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #11690318

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2025
Electrical SystemService Brakes

Summary: Unintended full brake engagement at highway speeds caused by electronic parking brake/Auto Hold button defect. Extreme risk of collision. Details: On [XXX], my wife was driving our 2023 Kia Forte GT Line when the Auto Hold and electronic parking brake system malfunctioned. The system fully engaged the brakes without wa…

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Summary: Unintended full brake engagement at highway speeds caused by electronic parking brake/Auto Hold button defect. Extreme risk of collision. Details: On [XXX], my wife was driving our 2023 Kia Forte GT Line when the Auto Hold and electronic parking brake system malfunctioned. The system fully engaged the brakes without warning while traveling at highway speed, scraping the brake rotors and creating an immediate risk of being rear-ended. This occurred multiple times. The following day ([XXX], the brake pedal would not depress at all, rendering the vehicle undrivable. The dealership (McFarland Kia, North Hampton, NH) diagnosed “a sticky substance” inside the electronic parking brake button, located next to the cupholder. There have never been any liquid spills in this vehicle. The more likely cause is a combination of factory lubrication and normal dust/debris accumulation over time. If such a small amount of dust or residue can trigger unintended full braking while driving, it is a dangerous design flaw that poses a life-threatening hazard to drivers and passengers. The vehicle was repaired after I paid $284.99 out-of-pocket, but I am pursuing reimbursement through my Zurich Vehicle Service Contract. I have also requested an independent third-party brake and rotor inspection, as this defect may have caused further damage. Why this is a safety issue: Sudden, uncommanded braking at highway speeds can cause high-speed rear-end collisions. The defect can occur without visible warning and without any driver action. The defect can be triggered by minimal non-liquid debris, which is unavoidable over the life of a vehicle. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether this is an isolated case or part of a larger design defect in the Kia Forte’s electronic parking brake/Auto Hold system. This condition should not be possible in a vehicle that meets federal safety standards. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11683514

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2025
Forward Collision Avoidance

Driving home. Unexpectedly foward collision warning came on light never turned off even after a reset was done on the car

NHTSA ODI #11677136

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2025
Forward Collision Avoidance

The front radar FCA/SCC is misdetecting vehicles in other lanes and often slams on the brakes for no reason. Other times it lights on the dash and says the system (radar detection) is off or is blocked, when it clearly is not. Kia had this same issue with the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Kia Telluride and issued TSB SC243 (with a softwa…

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The front radar FCA/SCC is misdetecting vehicles in other lanes and often slams on the brakes for no reason. Other times it lights on the dash and says the system (radar detection) is off or is blocked, when it clearly is not. Kia had this same issue with the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Kia Telluride and issued TSB SC243 (with a software update). I have been to 2 different dealerships, and one had a bunch of excuses and the other dealership had no idea what i was talking about. The car was about 21 months old and millage 20,000 miles when the issue began.

NHTSA ODI #11673182

Official recalls

3

24V244000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Apr 1, 2024

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

23V649000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Sep 22, 2023

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

22V906000 · Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

Dec 8, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.