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critical Owners of the 2023 Kia Forte have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Forte | 8 |
| 2020 Forte | 3 |
| 2021 Forte | 9 |
| 2022 Forte | 3 |
| 2023 Forte (this page) | 13 |
Among the 13 model years of Kia Forte in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Steering accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Owners of 2023 Kia Forte vehicles describe a cluster of steering problems that persist despite dealer intervention. The most consistent complaint is a rightward pull on flat roads requiring constant steering correction; this gets worse after right turns and has led some dealers to attempt five or more alignments—still without a fix. Some dealers eventually tell owners this is normal, which contradicts what owners experience in other vehicles.
Steering feel varies abnormally with speed: stiff and hard to manage at 45+ mph, then loose and vague at 20–30 mph. Lane-assist and blind-spot features sometimes contribute to the problem, but disabling them doesn't fully resolve the steering stiffness. Owners also report unsettling shaky movements, looseness in the steering column, and excessive bounciness in the front end, often suspecting linkage or column issues.
Clunking noises come from underneath the vehicle during turns and bumps, with clicking when turning the steering wheel. One owner references an NHTSA steering campaign but was told their VIN isn't included. A separate complaint documents unintended emergency brake activation while driving.
One owner reported losing all power four times in the first month and ADAS features kicking in to take steering control without warning. Dealerships have consistently declined to investigate the steering system itself after basic alignment and suspension checks come back normal, with some dealers refusing further diagnostic work.
Vehicle pulls or drifts to the right on flat roads, requiring continuous steering correction. Steering wheel tightens before the pull occurs. Becomes more pronounced after right turns. Dealerships attribute it to alignment but multiple alignments (5+) have not resolved the issue; some dealers claim it's normal operation.
When: Reported from as early as ~500 miles to 4+ months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel pull to right; steering tightness preceding pull; need for constant steering correction; worsening after right turns; difficulty keeping vehicle in lanes
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple alignment attempts (5–6+) at dealerships; independent alignments also performed; no permanent fix achieved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners report steering recalls exist but their VINs are not associated with recall campaigns
Steering wheel feels abnormally stiff at highway speeds (45+ mph) and unusually loose or soft at lower speeds (20–30 mph). Lane-assist and blind-spot features enabled may worsen the effect, but disabling them does not fully resolve the stiffness. Owners report this is inconsistent with normal behavior of other vehicles.
When: Present from early ownership (as low as ~1,020 miles); persists throughout vehicle use
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel stiffness at higher speeds; loose/soft steering feel at low speeds; challenging steering response; vehicle wanders or steers away automatically
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel alignment checked and found okay; blind-spot and lane-assist settings adjusted; no successful repair to date
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships deny issue exists after initial inspections; some dealerships claim stiffness is normal operation
Steering feels unsteady with subtle but sudden shaky movements and looseness in the steering wheel, combined with excessive bumpiness and swaying in the front end. Vehicle feels as if drifting away or swaying. Symptoms occur at both low and highway speeds. Owners suspect steering linkage or steering column fault.
When: Present throughout ownership at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel looseness; sudden shaky steering movements; excessive front-end bounciness; subtle sideways swaying; drifting sensation; requires continuous correction
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel alignment, balancing, and suspension checked and found normal; dealership refuses further investigation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership refuses to acknowledge the issue; claims symptoms are normal vehicle function
Abnormal clunking or clicking sounds originating from underneath the vehicle or floorboard, particularly when making turns (left or right) or going over bumps. One owner reports excessive clicking when turning the steering wheel. Occurs starting around 20,000 miles.
When: As early as ~80 miles; also reported at ~20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: clunking from undercarriage; clicking when steering wheel turned; clunking during left/right turns; clunking over bumps
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership test drive and diagnosis found no issue on first visit; clunking reoccurred; no repair completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner referenced NHTSA Campaign 22V906000 for steering but VIN not included in recall
Lane-assist and other driver assistance features fault or activate unintentionally, taking automated control of steering and causing the vehicle to steer away without driver input. This removes driver control and creates hazardous situations. Feature disabling does not fully resolve underlying steering issues.
When: Occurring within first month of ownership (around 4,433 miles added in first month); persists despite feature adjustment
Symptoms owners cite: lane-assist faulting and kicking in; unintended automated steering; loss of driver control when feature activates; blind-spot feature affecting steering
Repairs/costs cited: Blind-spot and lane-assist features disabled or adjusted to 'warning only'; underlying issue remains
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs documented in narratives; owner contacted Kia Corporate and noted vehicle still under manufacturer warranty (60,000-mile coverage)
Vehicle loses all power four times within the first month of ownership. Causes are not identified in narratives but create severe safety hazard if occurring in traffic.
When: First month of ownership; occurred 4 times in approximately 4,433 miles
Symptoms owners cite: total loss of power; unexpected engine shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Scheduled for dealership service on 01/23/2025 at time of complaint filing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle under manufacturer warranty up to 60,000 miles; owner filed complaint with Kia Corporate on 01/07/2025
Emergency brake has activated twice while driving at approximately 40 mph without driver input or clear cause.
When: During period vehicle was at dealership for 2+ months for diagnostic work
Symptoms owners cite: unintended emergency brake activation; activation during normal driving
Repairs/costs cited: Occurred while vehicle was under dealership evaluation for steering pull issue; no separate repair noted
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
My father was in a fatal vehicle accident in which the car was going very fast and then he crashed into a building. The car then started on fire. The black box was unable to be recovered to check car function. There were no medical findings
New 2023 Kia Forte LXS (barely 1020 miles) steering wheel feels stiffer and steering the car becomes challenging when driving at or above 45 mph with lane-assist feature set to 'Warning only'. Vehicle starts to steer away (wander) automatically. This issue is subtle when driving at lower speed such as 20 -30 mph. Passengers in the back seat felt unsafe including the driver at the time of this…
My car was broken into and the anti theft system failed to protect my car. The entire steering column is damaged as well as a window.
Car has a steering/pull issue. Car will pull to the right when driving on a flat straight road. Steering wheel will tighten up and then the pull starts to occur. Resistance must be applied in order to keep the car on the road. The lane keep safety feature has to be turned completely off or car will jerk back due to the pull issue. The pull issue becomes more noticeable after taking right turns.…
2023 Kia Forte LXS drives unsteady requiring continuous correction of Steering: feels excessive bumpiness/bounciness in the front end with subtle abnormal sideways movement (as if drifting away or swaying). It also feels the vehicle has subtle but sudden shaky movements and looseness in the wheel leading up to steering but no vibration. This is felt at both slow speed and highway speed.…
It's a serious issue. 13 complaints have been filed, including 3 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.