2021 Kia Forte Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 1about this part
- Share
- 1%of 69 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 1 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2021 Kia Forte, 1% of the 69 complaints for this model year. 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.
“On May 13, 2023, I was involved in a severe frontal collision on the passenger side while driving my 2021 Kia Forte. The impact caused significant damage, and my insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. Despite the severity of the crash, none of the airbags deployed. I experienced body pain for several days following the accident. Given the nature of the collision and the damage sustained, the airbags should have deployed to protect the occupants. This raises serious concerns about the reliability of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).”
NHTSA complaint #11713406, filed 2026-01Related service bulletins
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10185029Dec 23, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: LED HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT (SA455) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the LED headlamp(s) on certain 2021MY Kia Forte…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 8% |
| 2023 | 3 | 5% |
| 2022 | 1 | 4% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 15 | 10% |
| 2018 | 6 | 4% |
| 2017 | 44 | 14% |
| 2016 | 10 | 7% |
| 2015 | 13 | 5% |
| 2014 | 22 | 5% |
| 2013 | 14 | 7% |
| 2012 | 23 | 8% |
| 2011 | 8 | 5% |
| 2010 | 15 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2021 Kia Forte
22 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Kia Forte
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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