2023 Kia Forte: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 59 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is steering (15% of complaints); the 2022 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 3 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Apr 2024
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I was driving in a road, when a female deer appeared out of the trees and bushes from the right shoulder of the road. I tried not to hit it but but the deer got in my way. I hit the deer and quickly moved over to the right shoulder. The whole front right of the vehicle was destroyed and the airbags did not open. Sheriff arrived and saw the vehicle, the vehicles debri and the deer which had to be put down. He asked for the vehicles registration and did a report of the accident. The Sheriff then called a local tow company who arrived in a couple of minutes and towed the vehicle to their garage/shop.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2026
“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”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2026
“The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while leaving Walmart and approaching the vehicle, the contact became aware that another driver with a similar vehicle was able to unlock her vehicle with the other driver’s key fob on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The lights flashed, alerting the contact that the vehicle was unlocked. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Mar 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2026
“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.”Owner report · Steering,Unknown Or Other · Jan 2026
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2025
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2025
“Driving home. Unexpectedly foward collision warning came on light never turned off even after a reset was done on the car”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Jul 2025
“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.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2025
“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 manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Lane Departure · Dec 2024
When filing, owners marked a crash in 10 of these complaints and injuries in 5 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact Forte by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2023 Kia Forte reliable?
NHTSA has 59 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2023 Kia Forte. The most complained-about area is steering (15% of complaints).
Does the 2023 Kia Forte have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning suspension:front:control arm:lower arm. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.