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2022 Kia Forte

Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

25 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)100
Severity (30%)79
Recall load (20%)95
Trend (10%)57

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20212026 YTD

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

4/5 overall

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2022 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD

Front crash
Side crash
Rollover

Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%

Stability control: StandardForward collision warning: StandardLane departure warning: Standard

No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.

NHTSA crash-test photo, 2022 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2022 Kia Forte, plotted where owners report it happening.

Engine

16%

4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

The car hesitates to accelerate when going from my stop and then suddenly accelerate. The check engine comes on and when I’m gonna take it to the dealership. It turns …

Driver assistance

16%

4 complaints

My car body material looks like a baby toy I have a bas accient and

Steering

12%

3 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years

I got into an accident i On December 10th, 2023 my car was totaled out. My steering wheel felt like it was doing its own thing and I crashed straight into a curb and s…

Suspension

12%

3 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

I keep shutting down, not going on something with a forward assist on top of that. I have no control over my car does whatever ones and it’s very unstable Fawzy no con…

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Steering · 22V304000

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.

Risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2022 Kia FORTE beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2022? See how every Forte model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2022 Kia Forte against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2022 Kia Forte as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.