Representative 2016 model. Photo: Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2017 Kia Forte recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2017 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 305
Latest campaign: Jan 25, 2022

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	1	Jan 25, 2022	22V031000
Latches/locks/linkages	1	Aug 9, 2021	21V622000
Engine and engine cooling	1	Apr 13, 2021	21V260000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jan 25, 2022Latest campaign


Jan 25, 202222V031000	Air bags Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 22V031000 What's wrong Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash. Risk Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Remedy Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226. Filed under Forte, Forte Koup Campaign NHTSA 22V031000 · Jan 25, 2022
Aug 9, 202121V622000	Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid latch A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V622000 What's wrong Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release." Risk A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216. Filed under Forte Campaign NHTSA 21V622000 · Aug 9, 2021
Apr 13, 202121V260000	Engine and engine cooling: engine oil/lubrication A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V260000 What's wrong Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage. Risk A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210. Filed under Forte Campaign NHTSA 21V260000 · Apr 13, 2021

Jan 25, 202222V031000

Air bags

Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 22V031000

What's wrong: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Filed under: Forte, Forte Koup
Campaign: NHTSA 22V031000 · Jan 25, 2022

Aug 9, 202121V622000

Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid latch

A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 21V622000

What's wrong: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
Filed under: Forte
Campaign: NHTSA 21V622000 · Aug 9, 2021

Apr 13, 202121V260000

Engine and engine cooling: engine oil/lubrication

A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 21V260000

What's wrong: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Filed under: Forte
Campaign: NHTSA 21V260000 · Apr 13, 2021

Merged from NHTSA model names: Forte, Forte Koup. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2017 Kia Forte? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component305

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

305Complaints filed

23Involving a crash

10Involving a fire

21Injuries reported · 4 deaths

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	145	48	4	4	3
Unknown or other	49	16	6	4	5
Electrical system	47	15	3	3	2
Exterior lighting	44	14	2	2	0
Fuel/propulsion system	29	10	2	2	5
Air bags	18	6	13	0	14
Vehicle speed control	17	6	0	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	14	5	0	0	0
Power train	12	4	0	0	0
Structure	10	3	2	0	2
Steering	9	3	1	0	2
Service brakes	8	3	1	0	0
Visibility/wiper	8	3	1	0	0
Latches/locks/linkages	6	2	0	0	0
Wheels	6	2	0	0	0

8 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Electrical system
“I was driving this car and received a check engine light and lulled over to find an electrical fire had occurred under the hood. I was able to use a fire extinguisher to put out this fire.”
Filed 10/05/2026 · ODI 11769030
Exterior lighting
“I own a 2017 Kia Forte that has a recurring problem with water intrusion in the rear tail light assemblies.”
Filed 10/03/2026 · ODI 11768734
Structure
“2017 Kia Forte (Recall SC216 Trunk latch - this 2017 VIN needs to be included”
Filed 09/30/2026 · ODI 11767943

Other Kia Forte model years

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Other Kia models

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2017 Kia Forte recall questions

How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Forte have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2017 Kia Forte. The most recent, 22V031000 (reported January 25, 2022), concerns air bags. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2017 Kia Forte?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 145 complaints out of 305 filed with NHTSA (48%). Across all complaints, owners reported 23 crashs and 10 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2017 Kia Forte?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Kia dealer.

Check a specific Kia by VIN

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