Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2014 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 ↗Engine Damage May Cause Fire
- Summary
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
- Consequence
- An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Brake Pedal Stopper may Deteriorate
- Summary
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
- Consequence
- If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
Cooling Fan Resistor May Melt
- Summary
- Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.
- Consequence
- If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and for vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014, dealers will replace the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit. For vehicles produced from January 28, 2014 to April 17, 2014, dealers will replace the multi-fuse unit only. Owners of vehicles with a 1.8L engine will also have the engine control unit software updated. The recall began on February 20, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC113.
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 (443)
443 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 443 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 215 | 48.5% |
| Steering | 64 | 14.4% |
| Air bags | 63 | 14.2% |
| Electrical system | 57 | 12.9% |
| Unknown or other | 51 | 11.5% |
| Service brakes | 28 | 6.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 5.4% |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | 5% |
| Power train | 18 | 4.1% |
| Structure | 18 | 4.1% |
How 2014 compares with other Forte years
Best and worst Forte years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2019 | 147 | 2 |
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), 2014 Kia Forte 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 29 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 308 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | $2,300 | 308 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 36 / 29 | $2,300 | 305 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 35 / 28 | $2,400 | 318 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 28 | $2,400 | 322 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 35 / 28 | $2,400 | 314 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 33 / 27 | $2,500 | 324 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 33 / 27 | $2,500 | 321 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 368 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2014 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
2014 Kia Forte FAQ
How many recalls does the 2014 Kia Forte have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 20V750000 (engine), 17V773000 (brake), 15V015000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2014 Kia Forte problems?
Owners filed 443 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (215), Steering (64), Air bags (63) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2014 Kia Forte get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 26 city, 34 highway and 29 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2014 Kia Forte get?
NHTSA rated the 2014 Kia Forte 4 dr fwd 4 stars overall, with 3 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.3% rollover risk).
How does the 2014 Forte compare with other years?
Among the 2010–2019 Kia Forte model years at least five years old, the 2016 drew the fewest complaints (136) and the 2014 the most (443). The 2014 drew 443. 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.