Model year guide

2022 Kia Forte

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2022 Kia Forte is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 7 on record.

2022 Kia Forte — representative photo
Representative photo

2022 Kia Forte at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints28
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined26–33 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2022 Kia Forte recalls 1

Steering:column NHTSA Campaign #22V304000 · manufacturer #SC235 · 05/05/2022

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.

Fix: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2022 Kia Forte common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

2022 Kia Forte safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 10.7% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2022 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2022 Kia Forte MPG & running costs

Combined26–33 mpg
City26 mpg
Highway35 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,300
EPA size classMidsize Cars
Transmission3 options
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$500 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2022 Kia Forte costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,500
Fuel only$11,500
Per mile$0.15

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
182.7 in
Width
70.9 in
Height
56.7 in
Wheelbase
106.3 in
Curb weight
2,769–3,012 lb
Front track
60.6 in
Rear track
60.6 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2022 Kia Forte — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 39

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 39.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: MISFIRE CONCERN DUE TO OVERRUNNING ALTERNATOR DECOUPLER - This bulletin provides information to address unresolved misfire events on some 2020–2024MY Forte (BDm) produced from January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2024, and 2020–202…

Bulletin TSB_ENG263 · Engine, Electrical System · Aug 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at upda…

Bulletin TSB_ELE422 · Electrical System · May 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software downloads and USB p…

Bulletin TSB_ELE417 · Electrical System · Apr 2026

PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating dis…

Bulletin PS797 · Back Over Prevention · Dec 2025

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relat…

Bulletin TSB_TRA046_R5 · Power Train · Apr 2025

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides…

Bulletin TSB_ENG222_R8 · Engine · Apr 2025

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: KIA CONNECT MODEM RESET (SA611) - This bulletin outlines the procedure for resetting the modem in certain 2016-2025MY Kia vehicles listed on page 3 that are equipped with Kia Connect Services. The affected vehicles m…

Bulletin TSB_ELE378 · Electrical System · Mar 2025

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides…

Bulletin TSB_ENG222_R7 · Engine · Feb 2025

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: DISPLAY AUDIO 2.0/AVN5WSOFTWARE UPDATE (SA569) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin…

Bulletin TSB_ELE338_R1 · Electrical System · Jan 2025

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: DISPLAY AUDIO 2.0V/AVN5W SOFTWARE UPDATE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information t…

Bulletin TSB_ELE347_R1 · Electrical System · Dec 2024

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the FORTE FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2022 Kia Forte. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Steering

Issue: On a small number of vehicles, the bolt connecting the lower steering column universal joint may not have been properly tightened. If the bolt loosens, you could lose steering control. Safety Risk: A loss of steering control could create a risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and instruct you to bring your vehicle to a dealership to inspect…

Transport Canada #2022238 · May 2022

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Kia Forte

The Kia Forte, known as the K3 in Asia, the Forte K3 or Shuma in China, and the Cerato in South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia, is a compact car manufactured by South Korean automaker Kia, produced from 2008 to 2024, replacing the Kia Spectra.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2022 Kia Forte vehicles on record

Other Kia Forte model years

2022 Kia Forte — frequently asked questions

Does the 2022 Kia Forte have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2022 Kia Forte. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2022 Kia Forte?

Across all 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, steering, forward collision avoidance.

What is the 2022 Kia Forte safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2022 Kia Forte an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2022 Kia Forte get?

The 2022 Kia Forte has U.S. EPA estimates of 26–33 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.