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2021 Kia Forte problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Kia Forte are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 8 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).
Does the 2021 Kia Forte have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 29 of 60 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Forte concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%), and the largest group is filed under engine (22). For comparison, the 2020 scores 51% and the 2022 scores 41%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Kia Forte years
Of the 14 Kia Forte years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (48%). The worst is the 2015 (76%), the best the 2023 (29%). By volume, the 2021 drew 68 complaints (29 drivetrain), against 76 for the 2020 and 27 for the 2022.
Kia Forte years to avoid and best years →
2010 Forte problems · 2011 Forte problems · 2012 Forte problems · 2013 Forte problems · 2014 Forte problems · 2015 Forte problems · 2016 Forte problems · 2017 Forte problems · 2018 Forte problems · 2019 Forte problems · 2020 Forte problems · 2021 · 2022 Forte problems · 2023 Forte problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Kia Forte
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 29 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Kia Forte engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Kia Forte, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Kia Forte? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2021 Kia Forte have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 29 of 60 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Forte concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Kia Forte?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Kia Forte is engine: 22 of 68 complaints (32%) name it, followed by steering (9) and electrical system (8). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Kia Forte reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 48% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Kia Forte years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Kia Forte?
No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Kia Forte, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Kia Forte years are better?
Among the Kia Forte years we track, the 2023 (29%) and the 2022 (41%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (48%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-forte
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.