169 of the 549 complaints about the Kia Forte (30.8%) concern Engine, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 1.4× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.
169Complaints · Engine
30.8%Share of complaints
1.38×vs. all vehicles
51Last 12 months
5.3%Share involving a crash or fire
1Related recalls
Analysis
51 Engine complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 31 in the 12 months before — up 65%.
9 of these reports (5.3%) describe a crash or fire, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
1 recall campaign relates to this area, most recently campaign 21V260000 (2021-04-13, model year 2018).
As I was driving on the turnpike the car engine literally just shut down on me! It could have caused a serious accident. This is the 3rd time when driving the car just stopped on its own on me! Gas tank full, oil good and battery good, but the engine is not!
Engine · 2026-04-07 · ODI 11729604 · Crash
Car caught on fire while driving down the highway. Had engine replaced with a remanufactured engine in January of 2026 and car engine seized again 30 days later.
Engine · 2026-04-06 · ODI 11729517 · Fire
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".
Engine · 2026-10-08 · ODI 11769976
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.
Engine · 2026-10-06 · ODI 11769309
On October 4, 2026, at approximately 27,870 miles, my 2024 Kia Forte GT-Line unexpectedly shut off while I was driving and making a right-hand turn into a parking lot. The vehicle was in Drive when the engine shut off.
Engine · 2026-10-04 · ODI 11768865
The engine has failed in this vehicle just like it has in other 2.0L kia vehicles 2020-2026. The piston rings have failed and the pistons have all pitted or developed holes in them just like in the recall 25V-099/kia safety recall SC336
Engine · 2026-09-21 · ODI 11765834
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP Campaign 21V260000 · 2021-04-13 · Model years: 2018
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Why modern engines burn oil, and what owner complaints revealDesign choices linked to oil consumption in recent engines, the warning signs owners describe, what counts as normal, and which tracked models currently have the highest engine share in their complaints.
