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#BS-2021-KIAFOR-24EA

2021 Kia Forte

Based on reports from 90 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
90
Crashes
13
Fires
0
Recalls
2
TSBs
69
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 90 complaints, 13 crashes, 0 fires, and 2 recalls. Complaint rate is 1.6x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

check engine light on solid dtc p0304 on cylinder 4

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

piston rings

1 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
3

loud noise while shifting car would not accelerate

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

18 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 21K miles.

!Inspect the SteeringMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (18 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine18 (20%)
Other17 (19%)
Steering8 (9%)
Electrical7 (8%)
Drivetrain6 (7%)
Airbags6 (7%)
Fuel System3 (3%)
Wheels & Tires3 (3%)

2021 Kia Forte: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 20% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Forte, with 18 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 21,234 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 21K-mile mark.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Forte, with 8 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Forte, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Forte, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

11
21
33
22
9
23
21
24
12
25
4
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Kia Forte. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

21V164000Mar 2021

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

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."

22V304000May 2022

STEERING:COLUMN

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Kia Forte is the 2010 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2021 Kia Forte vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)

This vehicle

90

Class avg

56

1.6x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 90 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Kia Forte Model Years

2024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009
View all Kia Forte years →

2021 Kia Forte: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Kia Forte?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Kia Forte is related to the engine, with 18 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Kia Forte reliable?
The 2021 Kia Forte has 90 complaints, 13 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 1.6x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Kia Forte problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Kia Forte have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Kia Forte has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Kia Forte problems start?
Based on 7 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 21,234 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 90 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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