repaired · 2026 Q1
Control arm: lower arm
Do not driveRisk. Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2023 Kia ForteProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 66 owner complaints about the 2023 Kia Forte, most often about the steering. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-244 the manufacturer reports only 70% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2023 Kia Forte has problems
66 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
15Steering4 crash/fire/injury
11Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
10Forward collision avoidance1 crash/fire/injury
9Engine2 crash/fire/injury
8Power train1 crash/fire/injury
8Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
7Lane departure1 crash/fire/injury
5Air bags
5Service brakes
188 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 15 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 10 | 1 |
| Engine | 9 | 2 |
| Power train | 8 | 1 |
| Suspension | 8 | 1 |
| Lane departure | 7 | 1 |
| Air bags | 5 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 |
| 8 other systems | 18 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2023 Kia Forte recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q1
Control arm: lower arm
Do not driveRisk. Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q4
Spindle: arm
Risk. A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Best & worst years
2023 vs. every other Forte year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forte median. How we score
'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2023 Kia Forte safety ratings
2023 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard & Optional
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What Forte owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose and was difficult to turn. Due to the failure, the vehicle unexpectedly swayed from left to right. The contact stated…
Unknown. During a basic collision Avoidance maneuver performed by myself on the highway at speed of aprox 60MPH the steering suddenly became non-responsive, resulting in my inability to maintain directional control and cause a collision. The vehicle continued traveling before coming to its final…
I was driving home, on my way while driving I approached a curve on my way around the curve my vehicle continued to accelerate to the right as I was going around the curve. I tried to redirect the vehicle back to the left by trying to turn the steering wheel towards the left but I could not control…
Own a 2023 Forte?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.