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Kia Forte front control arm weld may fail

NHTSA campaign 23V649000 · Reported 2023-09-22 · Kia America, Inc.

critical How serious is it? About this label

Very serious — steering can be lost suddenly, so do not drive the car until the repair is done.

⚠ NHTSA advises not driving this vehicle until it is repaired. See all such recalls.

What's wrong, in plain English

A suspension part on the right front of the car — the lower control arm, which helps hold the wheel in place — may have a bad weld. A bad weld can let the part break. If it breaks while you are driving, you can suddenly lose control of the steering. Kia says not to drive the car until it is fixed. A dealer will put in a new control arm free of charge.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your car is included. 2. Do not drive it; call your Kia dealer or Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 (recall SC283) to schedule the work. 3. Have the dealer replace the right front lower control arm — there is no cost to you.

Affected vehicles (1)

2023 Kia Forte

Who to contact

Kia — official Kia recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-333-4542

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

Official notice

Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Summary: 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.
Safety risk: Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC283.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.