Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2010 Kia Forte. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire
- Summary
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
- Consequence
- An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled
- Summary
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
- Consequence
- If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently
- Summary
- Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
- Consequence
- Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (221)
221 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 221 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 74 | 33.5% |
| Air bags | 41 | 18.6% |
| Power train | 23 | 10.4% |
| Tires | 23 | 10.4% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 8.6% |
| Service brakes | 19 | 8.6% |
| Wheels | 17 | 7.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 6.8% |
| Steering | 11 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 10 | 4.5% |
How 2010 compares with other Forte years
Best and worst Forte years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 221 | 3 |
| 2011 | 153 | 3 |
| 2012 | 292 | 4 |
| 2013 | 195 | 5 |
| 2014 | 443 | 3 |
| 2015 | 260 | 1 |
| 2016 | 136 | 1 |
| 2017 | 304 | 3 |
| 2018 | 136 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 30 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,250
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 296 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 30 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | $2,250 | 296 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 34 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 34 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2010 Forte for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2010 Kia Forte FAQ
How many recalls does the 2010 Kia Forte have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 23V652000 (brake), 18V363000 (air bag), 13V114000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2010 Kia Forte problems?
Owners filed 221 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (74), Air bags (41), Power train (23) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2010 Kia Forte get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic version at 27 city, 36 highway and 30 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2010 Forte compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2018 Kia Forte model years at least five years old, the 2009 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2014 the most (443). The 2010 drew 221. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.