1.23 vs. all vehicles Too few recent reports to judge
79 of the 549 complaints about the Kia Forte (14.4%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's second-largest problem area. That share is 1.2× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
79Complaints · Transmission / powertrain
14.4%Share of complaints
1.23×vs. all vehicles
5Last 12 months
3.8%Share involving a crash or fire
1Related recalls
Analysis
5 Transmission / powertrain complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
3 of these reports (3.8%) describe a crash or fire, with 1 injury and 0 deaths mentioned.
1 recall campaign relates to this area, most recently campaign 20V459000 (2020-08-05, model year 2019).
Unknown. During a basic collision Avoidance maneuver performed by myself on the highway at speed of aprox 60MPH the steering suddenly became non-responsive, resulting in my inability to maintain directional control and cause a collision.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-09-06 · ODI 11762477 · Crash
The contact owns a 2024 Kia Forte GT. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH on an off-ramp and making a right turn, the lane assist feature had malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to steer and crash into the guard rail.
Transmission / powertrain · 2025-09-03 · ODI 11684783 · Crash
The contact leased a 2014 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle began to chug. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed as needing a transmission replacement. The vehicle was repaired.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-05-15 · ODI 11738152
The transmission had a recall 2 years ago and they gave me a new one (KIA). I am having issues with my transmission again
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-05-04 · ODI 11735430
I am reporting a transmission failure in my 2020 Kia Forte with approximately 54,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete transmission failure on March 19, 2026, on the highway from Cleveland to Cincinnati.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-04-21 · ODI 11732868
Transmission was getting stuck in gear and slipping intermittently would cause the car to not accelerate over 20mph especially in the cold unless you switched it to the manual mode and manually shifted up two gears ans then back down two gears.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-03-06 · ODI 11722394
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT Campaign 20V459000 · 2020-08-05 · Model years: 2019
Summary: 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.
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.
