KIA Forte Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,559 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls on file for the KIA Forte, across 16 model years (2009–2024). The 2014 model year has the most complaints (444). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
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KIA Forte years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Forte year: 2012, 2014, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2014 Forte: 444 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2017 Forte: 305 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2012 Forte: 292 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2009 Forte: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2024 Forte: 26 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2022 Forte: 28 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common KIA Forte problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 1,130 | 16 | 20 |
| Electrical System problems | 325 | 15 | 17 |
| Air Bags problems | 294 | 15 | 151 |
| Power Train problems | 218 | 15 | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 178 | 15 | 7 |
| Steering problems | 166 | 15 | 18 |
| Service Brakes problems | 156 | 14 | 24 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 116 | 15 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 110 | 14 | 20 |
| Structure | 81 | 14 | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 63 | 10 | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 57 | 13 | 25 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 56 | 12 | 0 |
| Wheels | 56 | 12 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 53 | 12 | 3 |
| Tires | 52 | 12 | 1 |
| Suspension | 37 | 12 | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 29 | 7 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 26 | 13 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 22 | 7 | 3 |
| Seats | 18 | 8 | 6 |
| Visibility | 15 | 9 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Firerelated | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Insert, Padding | 1 | 1 | 0 |
KIA Forte problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All KIA Forte model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | 26 | 0 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Forte | 65 | 3 | 4★ | Steering | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Forte | 28 | 1 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Forte | 69 | 2 | 4★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Forte | 78 | 0 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 Forte | 149 | 2 | 4★ | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2018 Forte | 136 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2017 Forte | 305 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Forte | 136 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 Forte | 260 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2014 Forte | 444 | 3 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Forte | 195 | 5 | 4★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2012 Forte | 292 | 4 | 4★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Forte | 154 | 3 | 4★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 Forte | 221 | 3 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 Forte | 1 | 0 | — | Engine |
More from KIA: all KIA models · KIA VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which KIA Forte years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2012 (292), 2014 (444), 2017 (305) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Forte year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Forte?
Engine, with 1,130 complaints across 16 model years.
How many recalls does the KIA Forte have?
18 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.