Kia · Known Issues
2023 Kia Forte Problems: 15 Known Issues
2023 model year · 812+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2023 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2023 model year · 812+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2023 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 812+ owner reports, the 2023 Kia Forte has 15 documented known issues, with 4 rated critical. The most serious are 7-Speed D7UF1 Dry Dual-Clutch (DCT) Judder and Slipping on 1.6T GT Models ($1,800-$4,200 repair), Improperly Welded Right Front Lower Control Arm Can Crack and Separate From the Crossmember ($0-$500 repair), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) Phantom Braking and Repeated 'Check FCA System' Warnings ($0-$400 repair) and Improperly Cast Front Left Steering Knuckle Can Crack and Cause Loss of Steering Control ($0-$600 repair). The most commonly reported issue is CVT Shudder and Hesitation Under Acceleration with 523 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $4,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front left steering knuckle may crack, which can result in a loss of steering control.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
STEERING:COLUMN
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column 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.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check recalls specific to your vehicle.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 812+ owner reports, the 2023 Kia Forte has 15 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: 7-Speed D7UF1 Dry Dual-Clutch (DCT) Judder and Slipping on 1.6T GT Models, Improperly Welded Right Front Lower Control Arm Can Crack and Separate From the Crossmember, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) Phantom Braking and Repeated 'Check FCA System' Warnings. Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2023 Kia Forte has 15 known issues documented across 812+ owner reports. 4 issues are rated critical: 7-Speed D7UF1 Dry Dual-Clutch (DCT) Judder and Slipping on 1.6T GT Models and Improperly Welded Right Front Lower Control Arm Can Crack and Separate From the Crossmember and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) Phantom Braking and Repeated 'Check FCA System' Warnings and Improperly Cast Front Left Steering Knuckle Can Crack and Cause Loss of Steering Control. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Kia Forte issues range from $0 to $4,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, 7-Speed D7UF1 Dry Dual-Clutch (DCT) Judder and Slipping on 1.6T GT Models, typically costs $1,800-$4,200 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The Forte GT (and GT-Line with the 1.6L Gamma T-GDI) uses the D7UF1 seven-speed dry dual-clutch transmission rather than the IVT used on 2.0L cars. The dry clutch friction material glazes and the clutch actuator adaptation drifts, producing a body-shaking judder when creeping awa… Repairs typically run $1,800-$4,200. Severity: high.
A supplier welding defect on 2023 Forte sedans: one of the joint connection points where the right front lower control arm attaches to the front crossmember was not welded to specification. The weld can crack under normal suspension loading and the arm can fail outright, which le… Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: high.
BD-generation Fortes fitted with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist use a windshield-mounted mono camera plus a front radar. Owners across the Forte forums report the system applying the brakes hard with nothing ahead - typically triggered by an oncoming car on an undivided road,… Repairs typically run $0-$400. Severity: high.
A narrow-build defect on 2023 Forte sedans assembled October 21 through November 7, 2022. The supplier's casting process for the front left steering knuckle ran out of specification on a single day - May 13, 2022 - producing knuckles with internal porosity/voids. A defective knuc… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: high.
The IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission, Kia's name for their CVT) in the 2019-2024 Forte develops a shuddering sensation during light-to-moderate acceleration, particularly from stops and at speeds between 20-45 mph. The issue is caused by the CVT chain and pulley interface w… Repairs typically run $0-$4,500. Severity: medium.
The UVO/AVN infotainment head unit hangs during boot on the UVO logo, or the display goes black at random while driving, taking the radio, Bluetooth phone/audio, navigation and the rear-view camera image with it. Some cars recover on the next key cycle or when reverse is selected… Repairs typically run $0-$1,200. Severity: medium.
On BD-generation Fortes the intake camshaft phaser is commanded by an oil control valve (OCV/CVVT solenoid) mounted in the front of the head. Because the 2.0 Nu is a known oil consumer, the sump often runs low and the remaining oil gets heat-cycled and sludgy; the fine screen and… Repairs typically run $90-$450. Severity: medium.
Forte 2.0L Nu cars that consume oil push unburned oil ash through the exhaust, which poisons and eventually plugs the washcoat on the close-coupled (manifold) converter and the underfloor converter. Owners see P0420 catalyst-efficiency-below-threshold, sometimes with a rotten-egg… Repairs typically run $600-$2,500. Severity: medium.
Sunroof-equipped Fortes route water from the sunroof tray through four small rubber drain hoses down the A- and C-pillars. Pollen, pine needles, and road grit pack the upper end of the hose; once blocked, the tray overflows past the seal and water runs down inside the A-pillar in… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: medium.
Nu-family Forte engines use a hydraulic timing chain tensioner that depends on oil pressure to keep the chain taut. After the car sits overnight the tensioner bleeds down, and on start-up the slack chain slaps the guides for one to five seconds until oil pressure builds - a loud… Repairs typically run $350-$1,400. Severity: medium.
Kia bulletin CHA121 applies to certain 2019-2024 Forte vehicles and documents an intermittent front-suspension noise while turning the steering wheel, whether the vehicle is moving or stationary. Kia’s procedure replaces the front strut bearing and upper spring pad on both front… Severity: medium.
Forte cooling systems across all three generations lose coolant from two recurring points. The plastic thermostat housing (water outlet) on the Nu engines warps or develops hairline cracks with thermal cycling, leaving a small puddle under the front of the engine that owners desc… Repairs typically run $180-$650. Severity: medium.
The 2019-2023 Forte commonly develops condensation (fogging) inside the headlight and taillight assemblies. Water enters through degraded seals or vent tubes that become clogged. In severe cases, standing water can short out LED driver boards or corrode wiring connectors. Kia has… Repairs typically run $50-$800. Severity: low.
Forte owners across generations report the heater/AC blower quitting entirely or losing individual speeds, and the cause traced repeatedly on the forums is heat damage at the blower motor's electrical connector rather than the motor itself. Owners describe pulling the connector o… Repairs typically run $60-$450. Severity: low.
The EVAP purge control solenoid on the Forte's intake sticks or leaks in the open position, so fuel vapor from the charcoal canister is pulled into the intake manifold when it should be sealed - including with the engine off and immediately after a fill-up. The classic owner symp… Repairs typically run $90-$350. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.