RoadVitals

2019 Kia Forte Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Oct 20, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 146 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Kia Forte submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Oct 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the instrument panel, radio, and A/C were inoperable. The contact also stated that the steering wheel had become firm. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was a faulty wiring harness, steering, instrument cluster, and additionally the oil drain plug was leaking. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 1,100.

NHTSA ID
11550969
Incident
Feb 13, 2019
Mileage
1,100 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 26, 2021

On June 18, 2021 our vehicle was taken to the West Hills Kia located in Bremerton, WA for routine maintenance. During this visit, we reported a sound coming from the steering wheel and indicated that the sound was loud and wanted it inspected. The technician reported this as follows: MR 10DIAG: Diagnose Customer Concern Customer states when turning the steering wheel, it sounds like something is being wound up. The Technician, Michael Moore (102) verified the noise confirming that it was coming from the Output Shaft Bearing area of the Steering Column Housing. The Technician also indicated that this issue required a tech line case with Kia for approval. I have called West Hills Kia's Service Department on: June 25th, 2021, June 30th, 2021, July 7th, 2021, July 22nd, 2021 and again today, July 26th, 2021 to check on the status of this approval to no avail. On June 30th, 2021 and July 22nd, 2021, I left 2 voice messages for their Service Department Manager, Jay also without a return call. I have called Kia Consumer directly on July 5th, 2021, July 6th, 2021 and July 7th, 2021. Each time, the wait times have been greater than 30 minutes and after holding, I have been hung up on. Today, on my drive home, the steering wheel locked up and would not let me turn the steering wheel. Considering that the vehicle is still under warranty and an issue like this could cause an accident or even irreparable damage, we do not feel safe driving this vehicle. We would like this matter resolved ASAP.

NHTSA ID
11426467
Incident
May 6, 2021
Steering
Filed Jan 21, 2021

ON 8/26/20 IN THE DEALERSHIP WITH STEERING ISSUES. ADVISED FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. 9/3/20 REPLACED CLOCKSPRING. HOWEVER, ADVISED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE. 10/19/20 BACK TO DEALER. ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, HOWEVER, STUDS OR BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON 1/21/21 CAR BACK IN THE SHOP WITH SAME STEERING ISSUE. LOCAL DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPAIR AND THEY HAVE CONTACTED KIA. KIA STATES THIS IS A PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL AND THEY ARE WORKING ON A "REMEDY". I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A 2019 KIA FORTE AND I SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING A NEW VEHICLE. NO RESOLUTION AS OF TODAY!!!

NHTSA ID
11389231
Incident
Aug 26, 2020
Mileage
11,412 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 18, 2020

HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND I HAVE TO HAVE A NEW STEERING SHAFT PUT IN. I WAS HEARING A GRINDING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD IT CHECKED AND THAT IS WHAT THEY FOUND. THANK GOD IT WAS COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTEE.

NHTSA ID
11355709
Incident
Sep 11, 2020
Mileage
14,239 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 14, 2020

ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO MY STEERING WHEEL STARTING MAKE A GRINDING NOISE I TOOK IT TO MY KIA DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. AFTER THAT WAS REPLACE MY STEERING WHEEL IS STILL MAKING THE NOISE.

NHTSA ID
11354836
Incident
Aug 17, 2020
Mileage
9,950 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 4, 2020

WHEN DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL "GROWLS" WHEN MAKING TURNS WHILE IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP PUT ME IN A LOANER DUE TO ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS REPLACING AND CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 13 MONTHS WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID
11343338
Incident
Jul 15, 2020
Mileage
20,500 mi
Driver assistanceSteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 28, 2020

WHILE DRIVING THE CRASH RESPONSE SYSTEMS TURNS ON & SHOWS ERROR CODES WHICH HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP BY IT SELF. ALSO THE DRIVER ASSIST HAS PULLED MY WHEEL OUT OF MY HAND & JERKED HAD TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES.... THE LEFT STRUT MOUNT BEARING IS ALSO DEFECTIVE ON THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
11302528
Incident
Dec 1, 2019
Mileage
10,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Apr 13, 2019

CAR WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED. THIS WAS AROUND 3000 MILES. TOOK IT IN CONFIRMED THE GRINDING NOISE BUT DID NOT NOTE DOWN WHAT IT WAS ON RECEIPT. A MONTH LATER DEALERSHIP TOOK CAR BACK AND GAVE ME A RENTAL AND HAD SPECIALIST LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT STILL HAS SOME LOST OF POWER FROM TIME TO TIME AND GRINDING NOISES..

NHTSA ID
11195988
Incident
Jan 9, 2019
Mileage
3,150 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .