NHTSA model-year recall report

2021 Kia Forte Recalls

2 campaigns in our verified NHTSA snapshot, with source consequences, remedies, and VIN-specific next steps.

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NHTSA campaigns

Affected systems

Urgent advisories

May 5, 2022

Latest campaign date

At a glance

What the record says

This model year's count is below the Kia Forte average of 2.6 campaigns per listed year. That is context only—not proof that this year is safer or less safe.

The most frequent affected category is Air Bags › Air Bag / Restraint Control Module, appearing in 1 campaign.

1
Read
Review every campaign and urgent instruction below.
2
Verify
Check your exact VIN with NHTSA or the manufacturer.
3
Repair
Contact an authorized dealer if a campaign applies.

Source campaign records

All 2021 Kia Forte recall campaigns

Shown newest first. NHTSA summary, consequence, and remedy text is preserved without truncation.

NHTSA campaign 22V304000

Steering › Column

Manufacturer: Kia Motors America

Reported May 5, 2022

What is recalled

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.

Safety consequence

Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 21V164000

Air Bags › Air Bag / Restraint Control Module

Manufacturer: Kia Motors America

Reported Mar 11, 2021

What is recalled

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

Other Kia Forte model years

Compare campaign histories within the same model. Counts are descriptive, not a safety grade.

20233 campaigns 20221 campaign 20212 campaigns 20192 campaigns 20183 campaigns 20173 campaigns 20161 campaign 20151 campaign 20143 campaigns 20135 campaigns

View all model years

Other 2021 Kia recall reports

2021 Kia K56 campaigns 2021 Kia Stinger5 campaigns 2021 Kia Telluride5 campaigns 2021 Kia Sorento4 campaigns 2021 Kia RIO2 campaigns 2021 Kia Seltos2 campaigns

2021 Kia Forte recall questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Forte have?

This verified dataset contains 2 NHTSA campaigns associated with the 2021 Kia Forte. A campaign can apply to some, not all, vehicles of the same model year.

Does this confirm an open recall for my 2021 Kia Forte?

No. This page is a model-year campaign history. Use NHTSA's official lookup or an authorized dealer to confirm whether a campaign applies to your exact VIN and whether the repair remains open.

Are vehicle recall repairs free?

When a safety recall campaign applies to your VIN, the manufacturer remedy is generally provided at no charge through an authorized dealer. Confirm eligibility and scheduling with the manufacturer or dealer.

Source: NHTSA. Dataset includes campaigns through Jul 30, 2026. Last processed Aug 8, 2026. Methodology