Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2023 Kia Forte. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Front Lower Control Arm May Fail
- 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.
Front Lower Control Arm May Fail
- 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.
Loss of Steering Control from Cracked Knuckle
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (63)
63 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 63 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 14 | 22.2% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 15.9% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 10 | 15.9% |
| Engine | 9 | 14.3% |
| Power train | 8 | 12.7% |
| Suspension | 8 | 12.7% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 12.7% |
| Lane departure | 7 | 11.1% |
| Air bags | 5 | 7.9% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 6.3% |
How 2023 compares with other Forte years
Best and worst Forte years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 260 | 1 |
| 2016 | 136 | 1 |
| 2017 | 304 | 3 |
| 2018 | 136 | 3 |
| 2019 | 147 | 2 |
| 2020 | 76 | 0 |
| 2021 | 69 | 2 |
| 2022 | 27 | 1 |
| 2023 | 63 | 3 |
| 2024 | 26 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2023 Kia Forte 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 34 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,950
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 261 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 34 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 41 / 34 | $1,950 | 261 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 39 / 32 | $2,100 | 277 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 35 / 30 | $2,250 | 296 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 348 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2023 Forte for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2023 Kia Forte FAQ
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Forte have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 24V244000 (suspension), 23V649000 (suspension), 22V906000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2023 Kia Forte problems?
Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (14), Electrical system (10), Forward collision avoidance (10) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2023 Kia Forte get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · CVT version at 30 city, 41 highway and 34 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2023 Kia Forte get?
NHTSA rated the 2023 Kia Forte 4 dr fwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2023 Forte compare with other years?
Among the 2015–2021 Kia Forte model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (69) and the 2017 the most (304). The 2023 drew 63. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.