Kia Forte problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 7 model years (2018–2024), NHTSA has logged 534 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls for the Kia Forte. That averages 12.7 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.30 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #4 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 23.0.
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
Over seven model years from 2018 to 2024, the Kia Forte has logged 534 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls, averaging 12.7 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.30 against all tracked vehicles. While the trend is improving with 2023 and 2024 models running 31% below earlier years, the 2019 model year stands out as having the highest rate at 19.2 complaints per year and should be researched most carefully because it runs at least 50% above the model's own average. The most common problem area is Engine accounting for 30.9% of complaints, followed by Transmission / powertrain at 14.6%, with recurring terms including "oil", "stolen", "engine", "steal" and "towed". Owners report 34 injuries and 1 death across all model years, and in the last 12 months alone, complaint filings rose to 107 versus 80 in the previous year.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.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 31% below the 2018 and 2019 models (24 early complaints per model year versus 36).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (19.2 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (5.6). The 2019 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. The 2022 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (30.9% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (14.6%) and Interior & equipment (13.1%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “oil”, “stolen”, “engine”, “steal” and “towed”. 73 complaints (13.7%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 34 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 107 complaints versus 80 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (24). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 35 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 defect investigation covers the tracked model years.
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius and Subaru Impreza; Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 136 | 15.7 | 0.37 | 22 | 0.25 | 16 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 147 | 19.2 | 0.46 | 51 | 0.63 | 24 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2020 | 74 | 11.1 | 0.26 | 15 | 0.26 | 19 | 0 | Interior & equipment | View › |
| 2021 | 67 | 11.8 | 0.28 | 31 | 0.51 | 9 | 2 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 26 | 5.6 | 0.13 | 11 | 0.15 | 9 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 60 | 16.3 | 0.39 | 33 | 0.4 | 16 | 3 ⚠ | Steering | View › |
| 2024 | 24 | 9.0 | 0.21 | 15 | 0.21 | 14 | 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: 107 · Previous 12 months: 80 Rising
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
78 · 14.6% · 1.26 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- transmission57
- rpms12
- towed22
- accelerate16
Airbags & seat belts
38 · 7.1% · 1.86 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- air bags16
- deploy15
- airbags12
- accident15
Steering
31 · 5.8% · 0.89 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering23
- wheel18
- column8
- right10
Body & structure
26 · 4.9% · 0.53 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- trunk6
- bumpers3
- latch5
- paint4
Driver-assist systems
24 · 4.5% · 0.78 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- forward collision7
- collision warning5
- keep assist3
- lane7
Wheels, tires & suspension
18 · 3.4% · 1.35 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tires9
- solus3
- kumho3
- tread4
Brakes
11 · 2.1% · 0.34 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- wheels3
- brakes5
- break3
- noise3
Lighting
8 · 1.5% · 0.96 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- lights6
- working3
- side3
Other
7 · 1.3% · 0.72 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.
Common terms in reports
- oil84
- stolen22
- engine171
- steal12
- towed73
- transmission75
- column17
- theft11
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 35 months
What owners report
I was driving home, on my way while driving I approached a curve on my way around the curve my vehicle continued to accelerate to the right as I was going around the curve.
I was driving in a road, when a female deer appeared out of the trees and bushes from the right shoulder of the road. I tried not to hit it but but the deer got in my way. I hit the deer and quickly moved over to the right shoulder.
There is an issue with the fuel pump where it would stall or shut off while driving or at a stoplight
The contact's son owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, with the oil pressure warning light and several other unknown…
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bags warning light illuminated and then went off.
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 | 318 | 6.6 | 0.16 | Improving | Falling | 15 | Electrical |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 250 | 7.0 | 0.17 | Stable | Rising | 11 | Electrical |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza | 494 | 9.5 | 0.23 | Improving | Steady | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Kia Forte | 534 | 12.7 | 0.3 | Improving | Rising | 10 | Engine |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | 843 | 18.0 | 0.43 | Improving | Steady | 22 | Engine |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 904 | 19.5 | 0.46 | Improving | Steady | 14 | Electrical |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 1,128 | 27.0 | 0.64 | Stable | Steady | 15 | Engine |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | 1,404 | 32.0 | 0.76 | Worsening | Steady | 19 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 2,937 | 73.3 | 1.74 | 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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Forte model year has the most complaints?
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (19.2 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (5.6).
Is the Kia Forte getting better or worse?
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 31% below the 2018 and 2019 models (24 early complaints per model year versus 36). In the last 12 months owners filed 107 complaints versus 80 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Kia Forte problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (30.9% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (14.6%) and Interior & equipment (13.1%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “oil”, “stolen”, “engine”, “steal” and “towed”.
How does the Kia Forte compare with other Compact cars?
Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #4 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 23.0. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Mazda Mazda3, Toyota Prius and Subaru Impreza; Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra have more.
Does the Kia Forte have recalls or open investigations?
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 defect investigation covers the tracked model years.