Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2011 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.
Transmission Cooler Hose may Leak Fluid
- Summary
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Forte vehicles manufactured August 27, 2010, to November 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a transmission fluid cooler hose that may have been improperly manufactured, resulting in a transmission fluid leak.
- Consequence
- If enough transmission fluid leaks out, the transmission may not function properly and the vehicle may stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission cooler hose, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC129.
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 (153)
153 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 153 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 45 | 29.4% |
| Air bags | 35 | 22.9% |
| Service brakes | 28 | 18.3% |
| Power train | 18 | 11.8% |
| Electrical system | 16 | 10.5% |
| Unknown or other | 13 | 8.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 6.5% |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 5.2% |
| Structure | 8 | 5.2% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 3.9% |
How 2011 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.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2011 Kia Forte 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 30 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,250
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 296 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize 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 · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 35 / 30 | $2,250 | 296 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 35 / 29 | $2,300 | 306 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 34 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 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 2011 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
2011 Kia Forte FAQ
How many recalls does the 2011 Kia Forte have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 23V652000 (brake), 18V363000 (air bag), 16V070000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2011 Kia Forte problems?
Owners filed 153 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (45), Air bags (35), Service brakes (28) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2011 Kia Forte get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 27 city, 35 highway and 30 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2011 Kia Forte get?
NHTSA rated the 2011 Kia Forte 4 dr fwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 4 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.3% rollover risk).
How does the 2011 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 2011 drew 153. 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.