The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·24V244000·Announced 2024-04-01

2023 Kia Forte: Front Suspension Control Arm Failure Risk

Kia recalls certain 2023 Forte vehicles because the right front lower control arm may be improperly welded and fail, risking sudden loss of steering control and crashes.

NHTSA safety advisory

Do not drive this vehicle

NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

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: Structural vehicle defect affecting the suspension system. The source explicitly states failure can cause sudden loss of steering control and increase crash risk. Although no deaths or injuries are reported, the safety-critical nature and clear failure mechanism meet the 'Severe' classification criterion.

Plain-English summary

Kia America, Inc. is recalling certain 2023 Kia Forte vehicles due to a manufacturing defect in the right front lower control arm. The control arm may have been improperly welded during production.

If the control arm fails, drivers could experience sudden loss of steering control, significantly increasing the risk of a crash. This is a serious safety hazard affecting the vehicle's ability to maneuver and respond to driver input.

The recall affects 215 vehicles. Kia will replace the right front lower control arm at no cost to owners. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this repair has been completed. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 17, 2024.

Owners can contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 (Kia recall number SC306) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) for more information.

The recalled product

Product
KIA FORTE
Brand
KIA
Manufacturer
Kia America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle
Hazard
Affected units
215

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 (1)

  • FORTE

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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