2023 Kia Forte: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
61 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2014 Kia Forte, which has 439 complaints and a score of 44, and treat the 2012 and 2017 cars (289 and 301 complaints, scores of 67 and 52) with caution. Buy a 2018 or later car: the 2020 has 74 complaints, no recalls and a score of 90. Read the full note on the model page. 2023 specifically: a year the record favours — 61 complaints, score 75/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Kia Forte and Hyundai Veloster: the years to avoid, including 2023 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 61 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 20.33
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Electrical system failed while operating vehicle on major highway. All lights flashed, system shut off, power steering locked up.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal knocking sounds. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle later lost motive power while driving with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not covered under warra…
I was driving in a road, when a female deer appeared out of the trees and bushes from the right shoulder of the road. I tried not to hit it but but the deer got in my way. I hit the deer and quickly moved over to the right shoulder. The whole front right of the vehicle was destroyed and the airbags did not open. Sheriff arrived and saw the vehicle, the vehicles debri and the deer which had to be put down. He asked fo…
Recalls: 3 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 24V244000 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. |
| 22V906000 | Steering:Linkages:Knuckle:Spindle:Arm | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. |
| 23V649000 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 30 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Steering14 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Electrical System10 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine9 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Forward Collision Avoidance9 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Suspension8 complaints · typical job: Struts, springs and control-arm bushings, one axle (4.0 h labour + parts)$780–$1,580
- Power Train8 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Kia Forte years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Kia Forte?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Steering (14 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2023 Kia Forte a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 75/100, computed from 61 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2023 Kia Forte's most common problem?
14 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2023 Kia Forte sit in the Steering group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement: about 5.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,020–$2,500 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2023 Kia Forte cost to run per year?
About $3,576 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $17,880 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2023 Kia Forte have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2023 Kia Forte, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/04/2024. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2023 Kia Forte really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 61 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 61 NHTSA complaints on record (20.3/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (15.9/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems