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Recall Campaigns
2
Federal recall campaigns
Urgent Safety Directives
0
Zero urgent stop-drive alerts
Affected Subsystems
2
Air Bags & Restraints, Steering System
Authorized Remedy
100% Free
Mandated dealer repair by law
Federal Safety Campaign Analysis

Executive Recall Findings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists 2 official safety recall campaigns for the 2021 Kia Forte in AutoUtility's current federal dataset. The primary affected vehicle systems include Air Bags & Restraints, Steering System.

VIN Specificity Notice: Safety recall campaigns apply to specific production date ranges and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Check your 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov or with an authorized dealer to verify whether a safety repair is open.
Campaign Status & Legal Rights
  • • Federal Authority: Recalls administered under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301.
  • • Free Dealer Remedy: Under federal law, safety defect repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers.
  • • Latest Campaign Filing: Recorded on May 5, 2022.
Federal Directives

Official NHTSA Recall Campaigns (2)

Complete safety campaign filings including defect descriptions, safety hazards, and free dealer remedies

NHTSA Campaign #22V304000 STEERING:COLUMN
Filed: May 5, 2022

What is defective?

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.

Safety Risk / Consequence

Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

Authorized Free Dealer 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.

Manufacturer Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
NHTSA Campaign #21V164000 AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
Filed: March 11, 2021

What is defective?

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."

Safety Risk / Consequence

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.

Authorized Free Dealer 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.

Manufacturer Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Subsystem Scope

Vehicle Systems Involved in Recalls for 2021 Kia Forte

Distribution of official safety recall campaigns across automotive subsystem domains

01 1 CAMPAIGN

Air Bags & Restraints

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Air Bags & Restraints subsystem.

7 Consumer Complaints →
02 1 CAMPAIGN

Steering System

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Steering System subsystem.

9 Consumer Complaints →
Fleet History

Recall History for Kia Forte

Official safety recall campaign volume across sibling model years (2015–2024)

Model Year NHTSA Recalls NHTSA Complaints Detailed Report
2015 Kia Forte 1 258 View 2015 Recalls →
2016 Kia Forte 1 2 View 2016 Recalls →
2017 Kia Forte 3 301 View 2017 Recalls →
2018 Kia Forte 3 134 View 2018 Recalls →
2019 Kia Forte 2 147 View 2019 Recalls →
2020 Kia Forte 0 74 View 2020 Recalls →
2021 Kia Forte Current Page 2 67 Current
2022 Kia Forte 1 26 View 2022 Recalls →
2023 Kia Forte 3 60 View 2023 Recalls →
2024 Kia Forte 0 24 View 2024 Recalls →
Consumer Checklist

VIN-Specific Recall Verification

How to confirm whether an individual vehicle requires an authorized safety repair

Safety recall campaigns apply to specific vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and manufacturing date ranges. To verify if your individual vehicle has an uncompleted safety recall:

  • Locate your 17-character VIN on the driver's side door jamb or dashboard.
  • Enter the VIN into the official NHTSA recall lookup at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
  • Contact any franchised Kia dealership to schedule a free remedy appointment.
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 711)
Related Workstations

Related Official Reports for 2021 Kia Forte

Explore owner problem reports and crash safety ratings for this model year

← 2021 Kia Forte Overview

Key performance indicators, EPA fuel economy specs, powertrain variants, and summary ratings.

2021 Kia Forte Owner Complaints (67) →

NHTSA defect complaints breakdown across all vehicle subsystems and recurring symptoms.

2021 Kia Forte Safety & Crash Ratings →

NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test results, driver assistance systems, and rollover ratings.

2021 Kia Forte MPG & Range →

EPA fuel economy ratings, electric range, and annual energy cost benchmarks.
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Safety Recalls & Federal Directives for the 2021 Kia Forte

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

How many safety recalls are on file for the 2021 Kia Forte?

The 2021 Kia Forte is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns, affecting systems including Air Bags & Restraints, Steering System.

A recall campaign listing indicates that a safety defect or noncompliance standard was determined for specific production runs of this vehicle model year.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

Are there urgent 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' directives for the 2021 Kia Forte?

No official 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' safety advisories are associated with recall records for the 2021 Kia Forte in AutoUtility's current dataset.

Urgent directives apply to critical safety risks; standard recall campaigns require timely inspection and remedy at an authorized dealer.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database

Are recall repairs free for the 2021 Kia Forte?

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.

Federal law (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301) requires manufacturers and franchised dealers to provide authorized safety recall repairs at no cost to the vehicle owner. Because campaigns apply to specific production runs and option packages, vehicle owners must verify their 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm individual applicability.

Source: National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301)

Does a recall campaign apply to every 2021 Kia Forte?

Not necessarily. Model-year recall campaigns typically apply to specific vehicle production date ranges, assembly plants, or optional equipment packages.

AutoUtility's model-year records describe campaign scope; owners must check their individual 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm if an open recall applies to their specific vehicle.

Source: NHTSA VIN Lookup Service
Official US Government Data Provenance

Recall records published on this page are retrieved directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Safety Recalls Database under 49 U.S.C. 30118.

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