Kia Forte problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 7 model years (2018–2024), NHTSA has logged 549 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls for the Kia Forte. That averages 12.9 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.32 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #4 of 9 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 21.9.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 32% below the 2018 and 2019 models (24 early complaints per model year versus 36).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (18.9 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (5.8). The 2022 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 12.9 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (30.8% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (14.4%) and Unspecified or other (12.9%). 77 complaints (14.0%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 36 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 106 complaints versus 91 in the previous 12 months — up 16%. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (21). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 36 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 10 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2021 (3), 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius and Subaru Impreza, but fewer than Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 136 | 15.5 | 0.38 | 14 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 147 | 18.9 | 0.47 | 21 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2020 | 78 | 11.5 | 0.28 | 20 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 69 | 11.9 | 0.29 | 10 | 2 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 28 | 5.8 | 0.14 | 10 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 65 | 17.2 | 0.43 | 19 | 3 ⚠ | Steering | View › |
| 2024 | 26 | 9.3 | 0.23 | 12 | 0 | Engine | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 106 · Previous 12 months: 91 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
169 · 30.8% · 1.38 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Transmission / powertrain ›
79 · 14.4% · 1.23 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Unspecified or other ›
71 · 12.9% · 1.44 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Electrical ›
57 · 10.4% · 0.66 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Airbags & seat belts ›
40 · 7.3% · 1.92 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
33 · 6.0% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure
26 · 4.7% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
24 · 4.4% · 0.76 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
19 · 3.5% · 1.38 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
12 · 2.2% · 0.36 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
8 · 1.5% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
7 · 1.3% · 0.69 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
4 · 0.7% · 0.17 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 36 months
What owners report
Front left tire blew out, plastic liner became shredded due to it. Beneath that plastic liner sits the main electrical wiring harness which rubs against the wheel creating sparks leading to total engine fire and failure
It keeps getting broken into by the KIA boys in attempt of theft. It's a group that targets KIAs because they're easy. I now have to make sure my steering wheel is locked up.
During a day trip on 9/19/26 my 2020 Kia Forte (purchased new and well maintained) lost power and several of the dash board lights came on including check engine, traction/stability control, and collision alerts. The car entered what I was told is "limp mode".
My engine is failing due to excessive oil consumption despite having proof of regular oil changes and maintenance. My car has been inspected, and the dealer has stated this is due to a known manufacture defect.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose and was difficult to turn.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact cars
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda Mazda3 | 325 | 6.0 | 0.15 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Electrical |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 262 | 7.2 | 0.18 | Stable | Rising | 11 | Electrical |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza | 499 | 8.5 | 0.21 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Kia Forte | 549 | 12.9 | 0.32 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 10 | Engine |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | 870 | 17.0 | 0.42 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 22 | Engine |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 935 | 19.3 | 0.48 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Electrical |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 1,147 | 26.7 | 0.66 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Engine |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | 1,434 | 28.7 | 0.71 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 19 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 3,012 | 68.2 | 1.69 | Worsening | Falling | 14 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 10
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 2
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (3) · 2019 (2) · 2020 (0) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (1) · 2023 (3) · 2024 (0)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.