Model year 2021 · Midsize Cars

2021 Kia Forte: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2021 Kia Forte at 28–35 mpg combined across 5 versions. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 69 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

28–35

NHTSA overall rating

4/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Kia dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2021 Kia Forte recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 2 safety recalls for the 2021 Kia Forte, newest first.

Steering: Column

NHTSA 22V304000 Reported May 5, 2022

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC235)
Units affected: 30 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Air bags: Sensor: Occupant classification: Front passenger and 1 more component

NHTSA 21V164000 Reported Mar 11, 2021

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC207)
Components: Air bags: Sensor: Occupant classification: Front passenger; Air bags: Air bag/restraint control module
Units affected: 142 (estimate)
Problem: 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."
Risk: 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.
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2021 Kia Forte fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2021 Kia Forte EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Forte	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 7-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	27/35/30 mpg	$2,250	296
Forte	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	Manual 6-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	25/32/28 mpg	$2,400	326
Forte	2.0L 4-cyl	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	29/40/33 mpg	$2,050	270
Forte	2.0L 4-cyl	Manual 6-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	27/37/31 mpg	$2,150	290
Forte FE	2.0L 4-cyl	Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	31/41/35 mpg	$1,900	256

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2021 Kia Forte crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2021 Kia Forte NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2021 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	10.7%	Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2021 Kia Forte owner complaints

Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Forte, most recently on Oct 4, 2026. 11 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 7 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2021 Kia Forte complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Engine	22
Unknown or other	18
Steering	8
Air bags	7
Electrical system	7
Power train	6
Seat belts	4
Fuel/propulsion system	3
Structure: Body	3
Tires	3

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Kia Forte model years

Kia Forte by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2024 Forte	26–34 mpg	0	26	4/5
2023 Forte	26–34 mpg	3	66	4/5
2022 Forte	26–35 mpg	1	28	4/5
2020 Forte	28–35 mpg	0	78	4/5
2019 Forte	31–35 mpg	2	150	4/5
2018 Forte	25–32 mpg	3	136	5/5
2017 Forte	25–32 mpg	3	305	5/5
2016 Forte	24–30 mpg	1	138	5/5
2015 Forte	24–30 mpg	1	259	5/5

All Kia Forte years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2021 Kia models

2021 Kia K5 2021 Kia Niro 2021 Kia Rio 2021 Kia Sedona 2021 Kia Seltos 2021 Kia Sorento 2021 Kia Soul 2021 Kia Sportage 2021 Kia Stinger 2021 Kia Telluride

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Kia.