2023 Kia Forte Safety Report
2023 KIA FORTE Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2023 Kia Forte
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2023 Kia Forte. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (52) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 12 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2024 | Compare against the 2024 Kia Forte with 19 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Kia Forte before buying across this generation. |
Kia Forte Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Forte years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Kia Forte | 19 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2022 Kia Forte | 21 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Kia Forte | 64 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Kia Forte | 63 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Kia Forte | 138 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Kia Forte | 133 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2023 Kia Forte Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2023 Kia Forte, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Kia onlySteering
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Kia onlyAir Bags
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Kia onlyForward Collision Avoidance
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Kia onlySteering,Suspension
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Suspension issues Kia onlyLane Departure
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Lane Departure issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2023 Kia Forte
Reliability Score
The 2023 Kia Forte receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2023 Kia Forte
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2023 Kia Forte
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2023 Kia Forte:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train Multiple reports of power train issues, including engine stalling and unexpected full brake engagement, pose a significant safety risk. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bags One reported case where air bags failed to deploy during a collision, indicating potential reliability issues. |
High | Occasional | N/A miles |
| Suspension Recalled due to manufacturing errors in the front lower control arm, leading to potential suspension failure. |
Medium | Common | 20k-40k miles |
| Steering Issues with steering linkages and control arm have been reported, potentially leading to steering failure. |
Medium | Common | 20k-40k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2023 Kia Forte:
Engine stalling and unexpected full brake engagement are common issues.
Front lower control arm issues have been reported.
Steering linkages and control arm issues have been reported.
One reported case of air bags failing to deploy.
Recall Details for the 2023 Kia Forte
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Kia Forte by NHTSA:
Summary: 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: 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.
Summary: 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: 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.
Summary: 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: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2023 Kia Forte
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2023 Kia Forte with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 6 complaints involved crashes. 4 involved fires. 5 reported injuries or fatalities.
My son, [XXX] , has opened a complaint/Case #XXX with Kia. His 2023 KIA Forte had been idle for at least 24 hours when the engine compartment caught fire. He became aware of this when the Fire Department knocked on his apartment door around 4:00 PM 12/26/25 and said they were evacuating the building because a car was on fire. He went outside and was shocked, to say the least, that it was his car. ...
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
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
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 ...
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.
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
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 back...
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 th...
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 ...
Driving home. Unexpectedly foward collision warning came on light never turned off even after a reset was done on the car
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 bun...
As I was driving at about 20 mph coming to a stop my passenger front door unlatched and caused the door to open and the door sensors to go off. This door was in fact locked and closed. Now I’m very scared to drive my car because if I was going faster the door could swing open and would be very dangerous to and to others.
Passenger front side makes noises like something is clicking. It makes like a rattle noise too
Clunking when going over bumps especially when turning into a driveway. Started at about 20,000 miles along with excessive clicking when turning the steering wheel.
Catastrophic clutch pressure plate failure - while attempting to shift into gear, teeth on clutch pressure plate sheared horizontally when interacting with input shaft. No indicators appeared when failure originally occurred, only grinding sound when clutch pedal is depressed. Malfunction occurred at a stoplight leading to traffic blockage and no major safety risk. However due to nature of failu...
The oil in the engine constantly sludges even with regular maintenance with full synthetic oil, I went over a pot hole and two of the rear lights went out and won’t go back on even after replacing bulbs and wiring harness, and the worst of all is the suspension, the lower control arm and the trailing arm both have gone out after only 20k miles of light mostly highway driving, this car offers nothi...
The contact rented a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the contact noticed that the Lane Keep Assist was following the lines on the right side of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to veer towards an exit several times. The contact was able to steer the vehicle back into the correct lane. The rental company was notified of the failure. The dealer and the manufact...
Recently I purchased a 2023 Kia Forte on 11/09/2024 with only 53,848 miles on the odometer. Within a month the car has lost total power four times. The Advanced Driver Assistance Systems keeps faulting and kicks in taking drive control of the vehicle making it challenging to control. The current miles on the vehicle is 58,281. When I called in to have the vehicle serviced through a Kia dealersh...
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle was driving on the incorrect side of the road coming towards the contact head-on. While attempting to avoid crashing into the other vehicle, the contact swerved over to the side of the road and drove downhill. The contact then heard a loud thud, and the vehicle became undriveable. The vehic...
The vehicle has 20k miles and just shut down while going 40 miles per hour. It just turned off. There were no codes or warning lights. The dealership said they had could not find anything wrong and though they suspected what was wrong they could not prove it and so could not get reimbursed for the repair and wouldn’t do it. Why does a new car shut off while going to miles per hour, that is scary t...
Showing 20 of 52 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2023 Kia Forte
Has the 2023 KIA FORTE been recalled?
Yes, the 2023 KIA FORTE has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2023 KIA FORTE have?
The 2023 KIA FORTE has 52 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 8 involved crashes. 4 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2023 KIA FORTE?
The 2023 KIA FORTE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 KIA FORTE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2023 KIA FORTE involve power train (6 complaints), steering (4 complaints), air bags (3 complaints). Other affected components include forward collision avoidance, steering,suspension, lane departure.
How many crash reports does the 2023 KIA FORTE have?
There are 8 crash reports associated with the 2023 KIA FORTE out of 52 total complaints (15.4% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2023 KIA FORTE have?
There are 4 fire reports for the 2023 KIA FORTE out of 52 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2023 KIA FORTE?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 KIA FORTE. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2023 KIA FORTE?
4 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2023 KIA FORTE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2023 KIA FORTE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2023 KIA FORTE is acceptable with caveats. It has 52 complaints, 3 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2023 KIA FORTE?
The components with the most failures on the 2023 KIA FORTE are: 1. POWER TRAIN (6 complaints), 2. STEERING (4 complaints), 3. AIR BAGS (3 complaints), 4. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (3 complaints), 5. STEERING,SUSPENSION (3 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 6 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2023 KIA FORTE?
Be cautious of power train and suspension issues, and consider the reliability of air bags before purchasing. The 2023 KIA FORTE has 52 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2023 KIA FORTE?
The 2023 KIA FORTE receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 52 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 12 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Power Train and Air Bags.
What are the known issues with the 2023 KIA FORTE?
Known issues with the 2023 KIA FORTE include: Power Train, Air Bags, Suspension, Steering. These are based on patterns found across 52 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any known issues with the power train?
Yes, there are reports of engine stalling and unexpected full brake engagement.
What about the air bags?
There is one reported case where air bags failed to deploy during a collision.
Are there any common issues with the suspension?
Yes, issues with the front lower control arm have been reported.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of power train and suspension issues, and consider the reliability of air bags before purchasing.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2023 Kia Forte
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2023 Kia Forte. The data includes 52 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 8 reported crashes, 4 fire incidents, 4 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2023 Kia Forte an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16