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2021 Kia Forte recalls

2 recalls are on record with NHTSA for the 2021 Kia Forte.

2021 Kia Forte recall lookup visual: Vehicle on a dark service lift with a VinSleuth recall case card for campaigns, free repair, and risk flags

Methodology: recall and complaint counts are pulled from NHTSA public data by make, model, and model year during the site build. This page is not a VIN-specific open-recall status.

Sources and review: source: NHTSA recalls and complaints datasets. Last reviewed June 2026; author: VinSleuth editorial desk; reviewer: Vehicle public-records review.

2 Open recalls
67 Complaints
0 Fire reports
0 Crash reports

Recall details

Recall AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE #21V164000 Reported 11/03/2021

Defect

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.

Free fix

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.

Recall STEERING:COLUMN #22V304000 Reported 05/05/2022

Defect

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.

Free fix

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.

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Decode a specific 2021 Kia Forte VIN to see its spec, recalls, complaints, and crash ratings together.

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Other Kia Forte model years

Recalls differ by model year — check the years near yours.

What owners complain about

Top components in 67 NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Kia Forte.

ENGINE 15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13
STEERING 9
POWER TRAIN 7
AIR BAGS 5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4
TIRES 3
STRUCTURE 2

Frequently asked

How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Forte have?

2 recalls are on record with NHTSA for the 2021 Kia Forte. Recall repairs are always free at a franchise dealer.

Do I have to pay to fix a Kia recall?

No. Federal law requires manufacturers to repair safety recalls for free at any authorized dealer, regardless of who owns the vehicle or its warranty status.

Is this recall list specific to my VIN?

This page lists recalls reported to NHTSA for every 2021 Kia Forte. To confirm whether a recall is still open for one specific VIN, enter it in our decoder or check with Kia. NHTSA has no public by-VIN recall feed, so we look up the make, model, and year.

2021 Kia Forte crash ratings All recalls