Severe Issues

2023 KIA FORTE Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2023 Kia Forte. This model year has 54 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Steering Defects.

54
Complaints
8
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Injuries
1
Deaths
3
Recalls

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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2023 Kia Forte Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
12
complaints

Steering Defects

Crash-related:2
Fires:1
#2
9
complaints

Electrical Faults

Crash-related:1
#3
9
complaints

Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB

Injuries:1

Considering a 2023 Kia Forte?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2023 Kia Forte. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Steering Defects1221β€”
Electrical Faults91β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB9β€”β€”β€”
Engine Problems8β€”2β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain7β€”β€”β€”
Uncategorized Issues612β€”
Lane Departure61β€”β€”
Suspension Failures6β€”β€”β€”
Structural Problems421β€”
Airbag Malfunctions33β€”β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures3β€”β€”β€”
Brake System31β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper3β€”β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System2β€”β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration221β€”
Door Lock Issues1β€”β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2023 Kia Forte. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

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Showing 54 most recent complaints

Door Lock IssuesApr 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while leaving Walmart and approaching the vehicle, the contact became aware that another driver with a similar vehicle was able to unlock her vehicle with the other driver’s key fob on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.…

Electrical FaultsMar 30, 2026

I am reporting a serious and ongoing safety issue involving my 2023 Kia Forte GT. The vehicle has experienced persistent mechanical problems, including a check engine light and multiple diagnostic trouble codes, including P0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold – Bank 1…

Uncategorized IssuesπŸ”₯ FireMar 24, 2026

My son, [XXX] , has opened a complaint/Case #XXX with Kia. His 2023 KIA Forte had been idle for at least 24 hours when the engine compartment caught fire. He became aware of this when the Fire Department knocked on his apartment door around 4:00 PM 12/26/25 and said they were eva…

Uncategorized IssuesπŸ”₯ FireMar 14, 2026

Backing out of a driveway that had a mud hole. Car got turned and stuck in the mud. We were trying to push it out and then it started smoking under the drivers tires and then we heard a pop. Next thing the undercarriage is on fire and we got away. Withing minutes the whole car wa…

Airbag MalfunctionsπŸ’₯ CrashFeb 18, 2026

My son was in a car accident in my car January 1 at none of the Air bags went off. Not one there is a police report and I have pictures. Its a 2023 kia forte

Steering DefectsπŸ’₯ CrashJan 7, 2026

Unknown Concerning the front passenger steering component. Carfax showed prior accident with minor damage to the front passenger bumper. I purchased the car not long ago and and was hit in the same exact spot. When I looked up the VIN for more information online I came across th…

Electrical FaultsDec 30, 2025

My low beam headlights seem to burn out at an unusually high rate. Multiple times per year, and this is much higher than any other vehicle that I've owned. I believe there may be some type of electrical issue.

Steering DefectsπŸ’₯ CrashπŸ”₯ FireDec 4, 2025

My father was in a fatal vehicle accident in which the car was going very fast and then he crashed into a building. The car then started on fire. The black box was unable to be recovered to check car function. There were no medical findings

Electrical FaultsOct 6, 2025

Electrical issues since 44K miles I’m at 50 K miles. I’ve complained multiple times and they kept saying electrician wasn’t available. Then they lie about it being a waitlist for a loaner car. All the lights on the dashboard goes on and all the dealership couldn’t diagnose the pr…

Transmission / DrivetrainSep 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. No warning lights were illu…

Electrical FaultsAug 27, 2025

Summary: Unintended full brake engagement at highway speeds caused by electronic parking brake/Auto Hold button defect. Extreme risk of collision. Details: On [XXX], my wife was driving our 2023 Kia Forte GT Line when the Auto Hold and electronic parking brake system malfunction…

Forward Collision Avoidance: AEBJul 30, 2025

Driving home. Unexpectedly foward collision warning came on light never turned off even after a reset was done on the car

Forward Collision Avoidance: AEBJul 13, 2025

The front radar FCA/SCC is misdetecting vehicles in other lanes and often slams on the brakes for no reason. Other times it lights on the dash and says the system (radar detection) is off or is blocked, when it clearly is not. Kia had this same issue with the 2020, 2021, and 2022…

Structural ProblemsJul 11, 2025

As I was driving at about 20 mph coming to a stop my passenger front door unlatched and caused the door to open and the door sensors to go off. This door was in fact locked and closed. Now I’m very scared to drive my car because if I was going faster the door could swing open and…

Suspension FailuresJun 25, 2025

Passenger front side makes noises like something is clicking. It makes like a rattle noise too

Steering DefectsMay 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.

Transmission / DrivetrainApr 29, 2025

Catastrophic clutch pressure plate failure - while attempting to shift into gear, teeth on clutch pressure plate sheared horizontally when interacting with input shaft. No indicators appeared when failure originally occurred, only grinding sound when clutch pedal is depressed. …

Suspension FailuresFeb 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…

Lane DepartureFeb 3, 2025

The contact rented a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the contact noticed that the Lane Keep Assist was following the lines on the right side of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to veer towards an exit several times. The contact was able to s…

Steering DefectsJan 7, 2025

Recently I purchased a 2023 Kia Forte on 11/09/2024 with only 53,848 miles on the odometer. Within a month the car has lost total power four times. The Advanced Driver Assistance Systems keeps faulting and kicks in taking drive control of the vehicle making it challenging to co…

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Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2023 Kia Forte.

Recalls for 2023 Kia Forte

3 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2023 Kia Forte. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

22V906000Aug 12, 2022
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

23V649000Invalid Date
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

24V244000Jan 4, 2024
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

2023 Kia Forte β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2023 Kia Forte reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2023 Kia Forte has 54 NHTSA owner complaints, 8 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (12 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2023 Kia Forte?β–Ύ

#1: Steering Defects (12 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (9 complaints). #3: Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB (9 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2023 Kia Forte?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2023 Kia Forte?β–Ύ

The 2023 Kia Forte has 8 crash-related complaints and 4 fire reports out of 54 total NHTSA complaints. 4 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2023 Kia Forte have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2023 Kia Forte. The largest issue: STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2023 Kia Forte?β–Ύ

The 2023 Kia Forte has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Kia Forte reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2023 Kia Forte

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.