Based on the main influencing factors of initial forging temperature for billet, die preheating temperature, upper die movement speed and friction coefficient during the hot forging process of automotive steering knuckle, the hot forging process of automotive steering knuckle was simulated by using software DEFORM 3D, and the numerical simulation results were analyzed by the orthogonal experimental method. The results indicate that with the increasing of initial forging temperature, the maximum equivalent stress during the hot forging process decreases, and the energy increases and maximum metal flow velocity increase for the steering knuckle. With the increasing of die preheating temperature, the maximum equivalent stress during the hot forging process of automotive steering knuckle gradually decreases, while the energy and maximum metal flow velocity gradually increase. With the increasing of upper die movement speed, the maximum equivalent stress initially decreases and then increases, while the energy and maximum metal flow velocity show an increasing trend. In addition, with the increasing of friction coefficient, the maximum equivalent stress and maximum metal flow velocity of steering knuckle first decrease and then increase, and the energy gradually increases. Thus, the primary and secondary relation of each factor is determined by comparing range values R.