2023 Kia Forte
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 63 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.
Of the 2023 reports, 11 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 5 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armDo not drive until repairedApr 1, 2024
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.
Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 24V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armDo not drive until repairedSep 22, 2023
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.
Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 23V649000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, linkages, knuckle, spindle, armDec 8, 2022
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.
A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 22V906000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: suspension
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Sep 6, 2026, crash
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 resting position. During this sequence, the driver-side front suspension assembly sustained a catastrophic separation before the impact The steering knuckle was no longer attached to the vehicle, the strut was broken, and the driver-side wheel/tire ultimately ended up underneath the vehicle when the vehicle finally come to a stop . During the event The driver-side axle shaft completely detached and somehow come out of the transaxle housing and was found a significant distance back along the roadway, a great distance back before the initial impact . indicating that it separated before the vehicle reached its final resting position. It is in my strongest opinion the maneuver itself could have potentially been cause of the catastrophic event. And is potentially why I could not maintain complete complete control of vehicle the whole time.
Suspension, Aug 9, 2026
The right front lower control arm has completely broken/fractured during operation. Kia has previously issued safety recalls SC283 (NHTSA 23V649) and SC306 (NHTSA 24V244) for this exact vehicle model year due to improperly manufactured right front lower control arms that can crack and fail. My vehicle was manufactured in March 2023 (03/23), which is just prior to the official April 12, 2023 recall window. Because the component suffered the precise, catastrophic structural failure described in the federal recall campaigns, it is clear that defective parts were used in production earlier than Kia's current recall parameters account for. This is a severe safety hazard that causes an immediate loss of steering control and places occupants at extreme risk of a crash. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this out-of-window component failure and pressure Kia to expand the recall parameters to protect other owners. The vehicle was in a minor pothole incident six months ago but suffered no suspension failure at that time. This is a fresh, catastrophic fracture just discovered on the right front lower control arm. The fracture is clean, unoxidized, and brand new, proving it is a recent spontaneous material failure matching recalls SC283/SC306, not old accident damage.
Suspension, Jun 25, 2025
Passenger front side makes noises like something is clicking. It makes like a rattle noise too
Steering, Suspension, May 14, 2025
Clunking when going over bumps especially when turning into a driveway. Started at about 20,000 miles along with excessive clicking when turning the steering wheel.
Suspension, Exterior lighting, Engine, Feb 7, 2025
The oil in the engine constantly sludges even with regular maintenance with full synthetic oil, I went over a pot hole and two of the rear lights went out and won’t go back on even after replacing bulbs and wiring harness, and the worst of all is the suspension, the lower control arm and the trailing arm both have gone out after only 20k miles of light mostly highway driving, this car offers nothing but problems it’s no surprise that they discontinued the model it’s an absolute nightmare. I bought it brand new and it feels like I’m going to die in it, every speed bump or pot hole I go over feels and sounds like I’m hitting a wall, I’ve replaced the ball joints and am thinking about replacing the control arms because I’m worried they are going to break. I completely understand that living in San Fernando valley there are worse road conditions than usual but I’ve never had a car fall apart like this from driving out here. What’s worse is even after having to have parts replaced with OEM parts IMMEDIATELY the replacement parts are beginning to wear out, I can’t go over speed bumps that are higher than a few inches without scraping the bottom of the car because the car is riding low, I suspect the coils and struts are also already going out also, just the most terribly engineered vehicle, I don’t know if it’s due to something that should be recalled but it absolutely feels like it is to me and I know many other people are suffering through the same issues with their fortes.
Steering, Suspension, Jul 25, 2024
2023 Kia Forte LXS drives unsteady requiring continuous correction of Steering: feels excessive bumpiness/bounciness in the front end with subtle abnormal sideways movement (as if drifting away or swaying). It also feels the vehicle has subtle but sudden shaky movements and looseness in the wheel leading up to steering but no vibration. This is felt at both slow speed and highway speed. Dealership Service Dept. has already checked the wheels alignment, balancing and suspension, and found them to be okay. To me, the symptoms suggest faulty Steering System such as Steering linkage or steering column. However Dealership now refuses to acknowledge the issue calling it a normal function of the vehicle. Every time I drive the vehicle, it feels unsafe. Dealership also does not accept my requests to investigate the steering system. In fact they shut the door at my face.
Suspension, Apr 29, 2024
My brand new 2023 Kia Forte LXS (Koa the Kia)'s lower right control arm is completely broken, the rack & pinion inner tie rod end is bent, as well has damage to bottom coverage panel, right side rims scratches and scratched under bumper paint from collapse. In March of 2024, the vehicle completely collapsed on the road, and felt like the car was dangerously floating. By the good grace of God, my children and I made it home safely. I was not aware of how tremendous the damages were, until MaxCare directed me to have a tow company transport my new vehicle to a manufacturer, Ed Voles Kia in Atlanta, GA, where the right tire was completely disconnected from the vehicle. Ed Voyles Kia has had the vehicle since the collapse, and has been inspected with an invoice for future references. The vehicle would make loud popping noises, depending on the steering wheels position while operating the vehicle. I took it upon myself to get the issue checked out in Little Rock, AR at Landers Kia in February 2024, personally thinking it was the brakes (though just purchased). Other than unappealing noises, and a floating feeling while driving, there were no other warnings to anticipate such a grueling tragedy.
Steering, Suspension, Apr 6, 2024
Front lower control arm recalled since September 2023. As of April 2024 recall not remedied dispite multiple visits to the dealership and contacting Kia directly.