The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·22V304000·Announced 2022-05-05

2021-2022 Kia Rio and Forte steering column bolt failure

A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly in certain 2021-2022 Kia Rio and Forte vehicles, potentially causing the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in loss of steering control.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: This recall involves a critical steering system defect affecting vehicle control. The source describes a structural failure of a steering column retention bolt that can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack, resulting in loss of steering control and increased crash risk. No injuries or deaths have been reported.

Plain-English summary

Kia Motors America is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. The lower steering column u-joint retention bolt may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.

Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt at no charge to owners. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 27, 2022.

If you own an affected vehicle, contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 to schedule the repair. You can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov for more information. Kia's reference number for this recall is SC235.

The recalled product

Product
KIA FORTE, RIO
Brand
KIA
Manufacturer
Kia Motors America
Category
Vehicle — Steering System
Hazard
Affected units
30

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • FORTE
  • RIO

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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