NHTSA Safety Recalls
2018 Kia Forte Recalls
The 2018 Kia Forte has 3 NHTSA safety recalls on file. Recall repairs are always free, whatever the car's age or mileage.
A recall covers a range of VINs, not every Kia Forte built. Check your own 17-character VIN before assuming yours is affected.
3 recalls on the 2018 Kia Forte
AIR BAGS
NHTSA 22V031000- The defect
- 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.
- The risk
- Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP
NHTSA 21V260000- The defect
- 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.
- The risk
- A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
NHTSA 21V622000- The defect
- 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."
- The risk
- A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
- The fix
- 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.
Reported September 8, 2021 by Kia Motors America
Checking your own car
A recall applies to a range of VINs, not to every 2018 Kia Forte built. To confirm whether yours is affected, find the 17-character VIN on the driver-side dashboard or door jamb and enter it in NHTSA's official lookup.
Repairs for safety recalls are free and never expire. A dealer cannot charge you, and cannot refuse on the grounds that the car is old or out of warranty. If one does, call the NHTSA hotline on 1-888-327-4236.