2021 Kia Forte Steering Problems

The contact owned a 2021 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the steering wheel locked independently, causing the vehicle to veer off the road into a construction site. The contact stated that the air bags did deploy. The contact stated that she sustained noise and neck injuries, including placenta rupture, causing early labor. Medical attention was required. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11733681

Incident

Apr 15, 2026

Mileage

150,000 mi

Component/System Involved: Electric Power Steering (EPS) – specifically, a potential malfunction with the assist motor response timing. Description of Incident: While driving, primarily on the highway, I have experienced a recurring issue with the power steering system. The steering assist appears to delay activation after periods of inactivity—such as when driving straight. When I attempt a small correction (even a movement as small as 1/16 of an inch), there is unusually high resistance, followed by a sudden release. This results in an overcorrection and can create a cycle of steering instability as the same pattern repeats with each correction. Safety Risk: This malfunction poses a safety risk because the delay in steering assist and sudden release can lead to unintended sharp corrections or lane drifting, especially at highway speeds. The issue requires both hands on the wheel to maintain control, and the unpredictable nature of the steering increases the chance of losing control or colliding with another vehicle. Warning Lamps/Symptoms Prior to Failure: There are no warning lights, error messages, or chimes preceding or accompanying the issue. Mileage & Vehicle Info: Several people seem to be having the same issue and it happens at different stages of the vehicles life, but no one seems to have found a solution or source of the problem.

NHTSA ID

11653119

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

There is loud sound associated with the steering column! It has locked on me before and wouldn’t allow me to turn the vehicle. It has been to the dealership several times only for them to not be able to pinpoint the issue.i have a video but no pictures.

NHTSA ID

11607671

Incident

Jan 24, 2024

The electric steering column motor has worn parts causing the steering wheel to make a rubbing noise. There is a TSB out for this problem but for cars only manufactured in certain plants. My car was not manufactured in one of the plants that generated the TSB but I have that problem and Kia will not fix it. TSB CHA 084

NHTSA ID

11573666

Incident

Feb 3, 2024

Transmission overheating and dragging… weird smell and noise and scrubbing sound when turning the steering wheel. Only 50k miles on car

NHTSA ID

11563455

Incident

Dec 22, 2023

I am so sadden and broke. My Kia 2021 Forte was stollen.The car has just about 8k miles. The thieves had busted rear passenger side glass, torn down steering column, opened electric wiring Skelton and taken away the car. Police said they found my damaged car. I was also told that my damaged car was towed and was kept at auto body shop. I'm so depressed, upset. Its difficult to express in words how saddened I'm at loss in all aspects - physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially since the vehicle was stolen.

NHTSA ID

11525170

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

My main issue is concerning a critical design flaw that has been found due to a social media challenge called the Kia Challenge where people are able to start up and steal a Kia after only using a USB cord adapter (found near the key start on the steering wheel) without needing a key. This has caused a concerning increase in the theft of Kias across the country which has also affected my insurance rates. After repeatedly trying to contact Kia for two days on August 2nd and August 3rd, I was finally able to get in contact with customer service concerning the recent issue with Kias (model years of 2011 to 2021 with manual key start steering wheels) that are being stolen by just using a USB cord to turn on the car without a key. After waiting on hold for an hour, the customer service agent was extremely rude and uncaring about my concerns as my area is also being affected by these recent car thefts. My insurance rates have also gone up due to the overall riskiness of owning these cars and their likelihood of being stolen because it has a key start for the engine. After doing research on the information available to me, I found out that Kia higher-ups approved measures to cut the costs by not including automobile immobilizers that have been the industry standard for a little over 20s years. It makes no sense that my older 2018 model Camry has industry standard parts but my 2021 Kia Forte does not. I am highly aggravated that I am stuck having to pay for a vehicle that has a higher likelihood of being stolen all because the company wanted to save a few dollars and not include immobilizers on their cars until the 2022 models. I am highly upset that Kia, their reps, and dealers have displayed an abhorrent lack of concern in trying to fix this issue as this prevents me from having to go to important job sites for work. This issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Link to story https://www.insider.com/tiktok-kia-challenge-using-usb-cables-to-steal-cars-2022-7

NHTSA ID

11477416

Incident

Aug 3, 2022

I have noticed recently that the car keeps all of a sudden pulling to the right and I have not had the lane assistance on since a week after I bought the car. It is at 4000 miles right now and this problem began at approximately 3000 miles. Not sure if anyone else has noticed this but if it is just as if the lane assistance was turned on. I have also noticed that when I have my work bag which is approximately 40 pounds in my lunchbox in the front seat without the seatbelt connected the seatbelt warning does not come on like it did in my last car with the same items on the seat. Not sure if there is a different weight limit now but I figured I would add this in in case there isn’t.

NHTSA ID

11445798

Incident

Nov 29, 2021

while coming to a stop, the passenger side front wheel locked up forcing the car into a sharp right had turn which put the car into a ditch, striking cement barrier at bottom of ditch. car likely totalled

NHTSA ID

11432804

Incident

Sep 13, 2021