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2018 Kia Forte recalls
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Forte, filed between April 13, 2021 and January 25, 2022. Each one is below with what is wrong and the free fix.
| Campaign | Filed | Part |
|---|---|---|
| 22V031000 | January 25, 2022 | Air bags |
| 21V622000 | August 9, 2021 | Latches/locks/linkages: latch |
| 21V260000 | April 13, 2021 | Engine and engine cooling: pump |
Air bags (22V031000)
Filed January 25, 2022
What is wrong. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
What could happen. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix. Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Latches/locks/linkages: latch (21V622000)
Filed August 9, 2021
What is wrong. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
What could happen. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix. Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
Engine and engine cooling: pump (21V260000)
Filed April 13, 2021
What is wrong. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
What could happen. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Check that your car is on the list
Most campaigns cover only cars built in a certain date range or at a certain plant, so a 2018 Kia Forte may or may not be included. The VIN is the only sure test. It is 17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver door jamb sticker. Look up your VIN.
How to confirm the repair is free
- Call any authorized Kia dealer service desk and give them the VIN and the campaign number from the list above.
- Ask them to confirm the campaign is open for your car. If it is, the parts and labor are covered.
- If the dealer says the part is not in stock, ask for a written note with the date, and ask about a loaner if the notice says not to drive the car.
- Keep the repair order. It shows the campaign number and proves the work was done.
If you already paid for a repair that a recall later covered, Kia may owe you a refund. Ask the dealer or Kia customer service about reimbursement, and keep your receipts.
Other model years of the Forte
- 2023 (3)
- 2022 (1)
- 2021 (2)
- 2019 (2)
- 2017 (3)
- 2016 (1)
- 2015 (1)
- 2014 (3)
- 2013 (5)
- 2012 (4)
- 2011 (3)
- 2010 (3)
- All years
More: all Kia recalls, check-engine codes, car repair costs.
2018 Kia Forte recall questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Forte have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Forte. A campaign can cover only some cars of that model year, so check your VIN to see whether yours is included.
Is a recall repair on a 2018 Kia Forte free?
Yes. A safety recall repair is free at an authorized Kia dealer, whatever the age or mileage of the car and no matter who owns it now.
How do I know if my 2018 Kia Forte was already fixed?
Enter the VIN on our recall page. If a campaign is still open, it shows as open. You can also ask a dealer to run the VIN, or look at the service history paperwork for the campaign number.
Source: NHTSA recalls API, checked 2026-10-28. Text is NHTSA's wording of each campaign. New campaigns are added over time. Not a repair shop, estimates only.