Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles. The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.
Safety risk
A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Safety risk
If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Engine and engine cooling: engine: crank/camshaft position sensor
1
108,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: bulbs
1
50,100 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
—
Exterior lighting: tail lights
1
—
Forward collision avoidance
1
—
Lane departure: assist
1
—
Lane departure: lane keep: automatic steering
1
—
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1
44,959 mi
Seats
1
1,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
8,000 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
1
—
Visibility
1
100,900 mi
The 2018 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2020 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
