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SteeringPart report

2018 Kia Forte Steering Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
4%of 136 total for the year
Median mileage
6,800miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the steering of the 2018 Kia Forte, 4% of the 136 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 6,800 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Kia Forte 2018 - the engine stopped working while driving (around 55mph) the car shut off and I could barely control the car as I no longer had speed control which made it risky going from one line to another to get off the road and pull over, putting myself and the other drivers at risk of an accident, and almost at the end when leaving the road the steering column became hard and I could not control the steering wheel very well. …”

NHTSA complaint #11527812, filed 2023-06, 118,000 miles

“I was entering an onramp at about 15mph; a car yielded in front of me. I hit my brakes and yet slid into the rear of the front car. I did not stop, even with brakes applied, and slid in to the front acre. No airbags deployed and my Kia was totaled and undrivable.”

NHTSA complaint #11197280, filed 2019-04, 6,800 miles

“I was having an issue with a used Kia the day I bought it I say used because it had less then 2000 miles when I was given the keys, it had wobbly tires and then about 2 weeks into having it, this noise came up in the front right tire, clanking and grinding almost; when I pulled into a parking spot, turning the wheels all the way left, a pop happened. I straightened the wheels and got out. Looked at my front driver and it looked okay, but then when I went to the front passenger it was turned all the way inwards. There was a line with a lug nut on the end that was disconnected. …”

NHTSA complaint #11234047, filed 2019-07, 3,744 miles

“Driving car at about 40/mph and suddenly acceleration was lost. Released foot off of gas pedal and reapplied pressure but car continued to lose velocity and came to a full stop. Engine is now unable to turn over and car is completely not functional”

NHTSA complaint #11608921, filed 2024-08

“Steering wheel making a clicking noise when turning both ways, stationed and moving, also rattles a lot when going over speed bumps, seems like a manufacturer defect as this is a common thing heard around these Kia’s”

NHTSA complaint #11675794, filed 2025-07

Related service bulletins

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202414%
20231523%
2022414%
2021913%
202034%
201996%
201854%
201793%
201654%
201542%
20146414%
2013137%
201293%
201153%
2010115%

Other parts of the 2018 Kia Forte

Engine
57 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaintsAir bags
16 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Kia Forte

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology