Home · 2021 Kia Forte Koup · Complaints

What 67 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Kia Forte Koup

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (67)Crash / fire / injury (10)Engine (22)Steering (9)Electrical system (8)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Airbags (6)Body & structure (3)Fuel system (3)Seat belts (3)Tires (3)Brakes (2)

3 of 67 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Nov 20, 2024EngineFuel system

This car was sold to me without disclosing that the manufacture failed to have a engine security system on the car to at least "deter" auto theft.If the key to the car was programmed/chipped like other cars, it would provide at least some level of protection. I've already stopped car thieves from trying to steal it once by pure luck, but I'm like the thousands out there constantly worried that someone's going to try to take it in lieu of the social media challenges.The horrible settlement that out government gave us was to upgrade the software which provides NO help with deterring thieves from breaking in and trying to steal it.The reimbursement provided in the settlement is complete joke, and doesn't offer to properly repair or reimburse for after-market security systems.This is evident from the fact that insurance companies still won't insure this car, even after the software upgrade. The insurance companies are telling me that they still won't insure the car even with upgrade because it doesn't stop thieves from breaking into the car and causing comprehensive damage to the car.I can only find a few insurance companies that will insure the car, and the premium cost is twice as much as I pay to insure a car that's worth twice as much money! If our government or NHTSA was truly concerned, they would have demanded that the manufacture make significant change to the ignition/engine starter, i.e., changing out the ignition switch system with a programmed/chipped key, and/or engine starter kill without said key. If the manufacture and the government made this change a required "recall" to properly fix and advertised it nationwide, THEN thieves would at least be less inclined to cause damage, and insurance companies would feel more comfortable about taking the risk. This ongoing expense/problem for me has me seriously considering if anyone in my family should every purchase another KIA/Hyundai product again. Stand behind your product with some INTEGRITY.

NHTSA ODI 11626477

Mar 13, 2022Electrical systemEngineFuel system

Car completely shut down while in drive on 2 separate occasions leading it to be towed to dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11456501

Mar 13, 2022Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

Car stalled and shut off while in drive leading it to be towed.

NHTSA ODI 11456502

Working with the data? Download all 67 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2021 Kia Forte Koup verdict →