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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2021 Kia Forte is associated with 67 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 14 reports (21% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 5 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl and 1.6l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 28 to 35 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 67 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Engine (14 / 21%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 10 crash / 0 fire / 6 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 4 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 28–35 MPG across 5 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 Kia Forte?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Forte FE 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) 31 MPG 41 MPG 35 MPG — $1,750 / yr
Forte 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) 29 MPG 40 MPG 33 MPG — $1,850 / yr
Forte 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 27 MPG 37 MPG 31 MPG — $2,000 / yr
Forte 1.6L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S7) 27 MPG 35 MPG 30 MPG — $2,050 / yr
Forte 1.6L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 25 MPG 32 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 Kia Forte?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
4 DR FWD 10.7%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 Kia Forte models.
View complete 2021 Kia Forte crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 Kia Forte?

Summary of 67 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
67
Crash Reports
10
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
6
Total Injuries
6

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Engine 14 complaints
Steering 5 complaints (2 crashes)
Powertrain 4 complaints
Air Bags 3 complaints (3 crashes)
Tires 3 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2021 Kia Forte problems & component breakdown (31 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 Kia Forte?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #22V304000 Active Recall
Affected Component: STEERING:COLUMN

Defect Summary: 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.

Free 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.
NHTSA Campaign #21V164000 Active Recall
Affected Component: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

Defect Summary: 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."

Free 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.
View all 2021 Kia Forte recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 Kia Forte

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 Kia Forte

How many safety recalls does the 2021 Kia Forte have?

The 2021 Kia Forte is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 2 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 Kia Forte?

NHTSA records list 67 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 Kia Forte. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Engine, appearing in 14 filings (21% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2021 Kia Forte defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Kia Forte?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2021 Kia Forte earned an Overall Safety Rating of 4 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2021 Kia Forte get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2021 Kia Forte range from 28 to 35 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.