Kia Forte complaints by model year
2,549 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 63 | 11 | 4 | 3 |
| 2022 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 69 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 | 76 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | 147 | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| 2018 | 136 | 13 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 | 304 | 23 | 9 | 3 |
| 2016 | 136 | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| 2015 | 260 | 16 | 20 | 1 |
| 2014 | 443 | 32 | 36 | 3 |
| 2013 | 195 | 16 | 13 | 5 |
| 2012 | 292 | 20 | 23 | 4 |
| 2011 | 153 | 28 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010 | 221 | 21 | 4 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2015–2024. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 158 | 66 | 145 | 57 | 36 | 18 | 22 | 4 | 9 | 8 |
| Unknown or other | 31 | 15 | 49 | 30 | 22 | 26 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 29 | 22 | 46 | 16 | 22 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
| Power train | 17 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 47 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Air bags | 23 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 10 | 44 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 6 | 29 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Steering | 4 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 14 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Kia Forte recalls (18)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Forte model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24V244000 | Apr 1, 2024 | Front Lower Control Arm May Fail | 2023 | 74% |
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire | 2010–2013 | 32.4% |
| 23V649000 | Sep 22, 2023 | Front Lower Control Arm May Fail | 2023 | 86% |
| 22V906000 | Dec 8, 2022 | Loss of Steering Control from Cracked Knuckle | 2023 | 87.8% |
| 22V304000 | May 5, 2022 | Unsecured Steering Column | 2021, 2022 | 70% |
| 22V031000 | Jan 25, 2022 | Air Bags May Not Deploy | 2017, 2018 | 66% |
| 21V622000 | Aug 9, 2021 | Trunk Emergency Release May Fail/FMVSS 401 | 2016, 2017, 2018 | 53.7% |
| 21V260000 | Apr 13, 2021 | Foreign Particles May Cause Oil Pump to Fail | 2017, 2018 | 69.1% |
| 21V164000 | Mar 11, 2021 | Occupant Detection System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 | 2021 | 97.2% |
| 20V750000 | Dec 2, 2020 | Engine Damage May Cause Fire | 2012–2015 | 72.5% |
| 20V459000 | Aug 5, 2020 | Left Front Axle Driveshaft May Break | 2019 | 80.2% |
| 18V771000 | Oct 31, 2018 | Incorrect Low Beam Aiming/FMVSS 108 | 2019 | 88.3% |
| 18V363000 | Jun 1, 2018 | Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled | 2010–2013 | 44.5% |
| 17V773000 | Dec 1, 2017 | Brake Pedal Stopper may Deteriorate | 2012, 2013, 2014 | 51.6% |
| 16V312000 | May 17, 2016 | Improperly Tightened Seat Belt Retractor Screws | 2013 | 41.9% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2023 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2022 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2021 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2020 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2019 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2017 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2016 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2015 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2014 | ★★★★☆ | 3★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2013 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 4★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Kia Forte FAQ
How many recalls has the Kia Forte had?
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns that cover at least one Kia Forte model year from 2009 to 2024. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Kia Forte year has the most complaints?
Among the last 13 model years with settled counts, the 2014 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (443) and the 2009 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Kia Forte problems?
Across the 2015–2024 model years, owners most often name the engine, unknown or other, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Kia Forte get?
EPA rates the 2024 Kia Forte at 26 to 34 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.