NHTSA campaign 20V459000 · Kia campaign SC195
Kia Recall 20V-459: Left Front Axle Driveshaft May Break
NHTSA recall 20V459000 (Kia campaign SC195) was reported by Kia Motors America on August 5, 2020, with 834 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Kia Forte for the 2019 model year. Owners were notified on September 2, 2020, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 20V459000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 20V459000 (also written 20V-459 or 20V459)
- Filed by
- Kia Motors America
- Kia campaign number
- SC195
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 834 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Power Train — Axle Assembly — Axle Shaft
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 80.18% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 20V459000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Kia
Kia Forte
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 20V459000.
Defect description
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 consequence
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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 20V459000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.