2023 Kia FORTE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2023 Kia FORTE has 94 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is driver assist/cameras problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: the car is slamming on breaks at random no warning it is going to cause a reck a 18 wheeler almost killed us that was behind us. and i can be driving down the road and the wheel try to jerk me into another lane. this car is not safe. but is not having any warning lights going off that anything is wr. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.
94
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
21 complaints- • The car is slamming on breaks at random no warning it is going to cause a reck a 18 wheeler almost killed us that was behind us. And I can be driving down the road and the wheel try to jerk me into another lane. This car is not safe. But is not having any warning lights going off that anything is wr
- • The car is slamming on breaks at random no warning it is going to cause a reck a 18 wheeler almost killed us that was behind us. And I can be driving down the road and the wheel try to jerk me into another lane. This car is not safe. But is not having any warning lights going off that anything is wr
- • The 2023 Kia Forte LXS model rear camera often fails to identify people, objects, or other vehicles presenting a hazard to vehicles that are backing up. It fails to identify people and vehicles in the blindspots and is quite unreliable leading to several serious close calls in the vehicle. Due to
“The car is slamming on breaks at random no warning it is going to cause a reck a 18 wheeler almost killed us that was behind us. And I can be driving down the road and the wheel try to jerk me into another lane. This car is not safe. But is not having any warning lights going off that anything is wr”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
13 complaints- • Issue seems to be with the steering of the car. It is very stiff and difficult to maneuver. Steering needs to be hold tightly to keep car in the lane, else car keeps on going towards the right side. I took the car to service center as well and they also acknowledged the problem and as per my underst
- • The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated while pulling out of the driveway and making a left turn, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and test driven the vehicle and diagnos
- • Car has a steering/pull issue. Car will pull to the right when driving on a flat straight road. Steering wheel will tighten up and then the pull starts to occur. Resistance must be applied in order to keep the car on the road. The lane keep safety feature has to be turned completely off or car will
“Issue seems to be with the steering of the car. It is very stiff and difficult to maneuver. Steering needs to be hold tightly to keep car in the lane, else car keeps on going towards the right side. I took the car to service center as well and they also acknowledged the problem and as per my underst”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
9 complaints- • Good morning, I want to report extreme safety concerns about my KIA Forte GT - Line 2023.When I first came home with the car days later the car shut off in the middle of the street while driving just one house up from my house. I attempted to turn it back on and the car would not turn back on and i
- • Never been in a accident on my second engine and had the transmission replaced now I have oil in my coolant and my screen stoped working but think it’s grime be dealership be I took it some ware and there found wires that was cut
- • My car was broken into and the anti theft system failed to protect my car. The entire steering column is damaged as well as a window.
“Good morning, I want to report extreme safety concerns about my KIA Forte GT - Line 2023.When I first came home with the car days later the car shut off in the middle of the street while driving just one house up from my house. I attempted to turn it back on and the car would not turn back on and i”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
8 complaints- • Never been in a accident on my second engine and had the transmission replaced now I have oil in my coolant and my screen stoped working but think it’s grime be dealership be I took it some ware and there found wires that was cut
- • The car caught fire on the highway. Per firemen there was a problem with the engine and fuel and it caught fire in under 3 minutes...
- • Driving down the road and the car will quit running and will take 20-30 for it to start again and now won’t start at all and it quit running while driving at Hyway speeds 10 times and could have been hit by other vehicles
“Never been in a accident on my second engine and had the transmission replaced now I have oil in my coolant and my screen stoped working but think it’s grime be dealership be I took it some ware and there found wires that was cut”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
7 complaints- • I have had two transmission replacements within the first 6000 miles on the vehicle. And now the 3rd transmission is whining after only 600 miles.
- • I’ve had my car at the dealer four times now within the first 10k miles to get its FOURTH transmission replacement. Kia will not replace the transmission with a brand new one however settles for used refurbished transmissions with Used parts. Which have been failing on average of 1000 to 1500 miles
- • Never been in a accident on my second engine and had the transmission replaced now I have oil in my coolant and my screen stoped working but think it’s grime be dealership be I took it some ware and there found wires that was cut
“I have had two transmission replacements within the first 6000 miles on the vehicle. And now the 3rd transmission is whining after only 600 miles.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 94 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The car is slamming on breaks at random no warning it is going to cause a reck a 18 wheeler almost killed us that was behind us. And I can be driving down the road and the wheel try to jerk me into another lane. This car is not safe. But is not having any warning lights going off that anything is wr
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: Issue seems to be with the steering of the car. It is very stiff and difficult to maneuver. Steering needs to be hold tightly to keep car in the lane, else car keeps on going towards the right side. I took the car to service center as well and they also acknowledged the problem and as per my underst
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: Good morning, I want to report extreme safety concerns about my KIA Forte GT - Line 2023.When I first came home with the car days later the car shut off in the middle of the street while driving just one house up from my house. I attempted to turn it back on and the car would not turn back on and i
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: Never been in a accident on my second engine and had the transmission replaced now I have oil in my coolant and my screen stoped working but think it’s grime be dealership be I took it some ware and there found wires that was cut
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia FORTE — Year Comparison
How does 2023 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 94
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 5
- Crash reports
- 11
- Injury reports
- 8
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2023 Kia FORTE