Kia Forte Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Kia Forte model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2009 drew the fewest (1) and the 2014 the most (443).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Engine | — | — |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
26 | 0 | Unknown or other | 4★ | 26–34 |
| 2022 | 27 | 1 | Unknown or other | 4★ | 26–35 |
| 2023 | 63 | 3 | Steering | 4★ | 26–34 |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
69 | 2 | Engine | 4★ | 28–35 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
76 | 0 | Unknown or other | 4★ | 28–35 |
| 2016 | 136 | 1 | Engine | 5★ | 24–30 |
| 2018 | 136 | 3 | Engine | 5★ | 25–32 |
| 2019 | 147 | 2 | Power train | 4★ | 31–35 |
| 2011 | 153 | 3 | Engine | 4★ | 26–30 |
| 2013 | 195 | 5 | Engine | 4★ | 26–30 |
| 2010 | 221 | 3 | Engine | — | 26–30 |
| 2015 | 260 | 1 | Engine | 5★ | 24–30 |
| 2012 Among the most complaints |
292 | 4 | Engine | 4★ | 26–30 |
| 2017 Among the most complaints |
304 | 3 | Engine | 5★ | 25–32 |
| 2014 Among the most complaints |
443 | 3 | Engine | 4★ | 24–29 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Kia Forte years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2014 Kia Forte: 443 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 215 (49%); Steering 64 (14%); Air bags 63 (14%).
Reports mention 32 crashes, 36 fires, 29 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 78,500 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2017 Kia Forte: 304 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 145 (48%); Electrical system 46 (15%); Exterior lighting 44 (14%).
Reports mention 23 crashes, 9 fires, 21 injuries, 4 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 40,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2012 Kia Forte: 292 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 161 (55%); Service brakes 52 (18%); Air bags 37 (13%).
Reports mention 20 crashes, 23 fires, 16 injuries, 3 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 82,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
The Kia Forte years with the fewest complaints
2021 Kia Forte: 69 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 22 (32%); Steering 9 (13%); Electrical system 8 (12%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 7 injuries. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Kia Forte: 76 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 18 (24%); Power train 16 (21%); Electrical system 11 (14%).
Reports mention 9 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 7,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Kia Forte owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 63 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 2022 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 69 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 76 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 7,000 |
| 2019 | 147 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 10,403 |
| 2018 | 136 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 33,937 |
| 2017 | 304 | 23 | 9 | 21 | 4 | 40,000 |
| 2016 | 136 | 16 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 44,500 |
| 2015 | 260 | 16 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 75,000 |
| 2014 | 443 | 32 | 36 | 29 | 0 | 78,500 |
| 2013 | 195 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 79,979 |
| 2012 | 292 | 20 | 23 | 16 | 3 | 82,000 |
| 2011 | 153 | 28 | 12 | 35 | 1 | 77,706 |
| 2010 | 221 | 21 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 73,000 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Kia Forte recalls
- HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire (2010–2013 model years; 1,730,192 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2023; 23V652000)
- Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently (2010 model year; 980,377 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2013; 13V114000)
- Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled (2010–2013 model years; 507,587 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2018; 18V363000)
- Air Bags May Not Deploy (2017–2018 model years; 410,619 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2022; 22V031000)
- Engine Damage May Cause Fire (2012–2015 model years; 294,756 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2020; 20V750000)
All 18 Kia Forte recall campaigns · Kia Forte problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Kia Forte years FAQ
Which Kia Forte year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2009 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Kia Forte years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2014, 2017 and 2012 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Kia Forte problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine (1,126 of 2,549 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Kia Forte have?
NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns covering the Kia Forte. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Kia Forte recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.