2012 KIA Forte Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Forte years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 292 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 KIA Forte. That ranks 3rd out of 16 Forte model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (161 complaints, 55%), typically at around 100,000 miles. Complaints mention 20 crashes, 23 fires, 16 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
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- 292owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 20complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 KIA Forte problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 161 | 55% | 100,000 | “oil changes” (11%) | $6,000 |
| Air Bags | 37 | 13% | 74,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 32 | 11% | 71,450 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 30 | 10% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 8% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 21 | 7% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 20 | 7% | 58,718 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 5% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 11 | 4% | 78,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 3% | 36,400 | — | — |
| Steering | 9 | 3% | 81,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 3% | 58,280 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 2% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | 116,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% | 100,729 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 1% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 119,000 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 119,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 90,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 KIA Forte recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: 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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Engine
Problem: 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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Engine Fires (EA21003) — opened Dec 22, 2021, closed Feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V877.
- Air bags may be disabled during crash (PE18003) — opened Mar 16, 2018, closed Aug 30, 2019, led to recall 18E043000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
VEHICLE & INCIDENT DETAILS * Vehicle: 2012 Kia Forte Hatchback * VIN: [redacted] * Incident Date: August 21, 2026 * Relevant Recalls: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Recall SC284) & NHTSA Campaign 20V750000 (Recall SC200) * Kia Corporate Case Number: 26367714 * Dealership: AllStar Kia San Bernardino, CA…
Airbag light came on August 21, 2026. I tried several steps to troubleshoot with no resolution. I took it to the local Kia dealership for further inspection. I was terrified to drive the vehicle because of the airbag failure. I explained to the technician that I had read that there was an warranty…
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed an abnormal sound for approximately five minutes, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact then became aware of a fire underneath the vehicle. The contact opened the hood…
My vehicle is a 2012 Kia Forte EX. The vehicle experienced a corrosion-related brake line failure that affected braking performance and created a safety concern. The brake pedal became soft/sank, and the vehicle had unsafe braking behavior, requiring repair at a Kia dealership. The failed component…
Vehicle: 2012 Kia Forte Recall: NHTSA 23V-652 (Kia SC284) â HECU/ABS fuse recall My vehicle underwent this safety recall in 2025. The dealership replaced the HECU fuse. Immediately upon leaving the dealership after the recall repair, the same warning lights returned. I contacted the dealership…
Other KIA Forte years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | 26 | 0 |
| 2023 Forte | 65 | 3 |
| 2022 Forte | 28 | 1 |
| 2021 Forte | 69 | 2 |
| 2020 Forte | 78 | 0 |
| 2019 Forte | 147 | 2 |
| 2018 Forte | 136 | 3 |
| 2017 Forte | 305 | 3 |
| 2016 Forte | 136 | 1 |
| 2015 Forte | 260 | 1 |
| 2014 Forte | 444 | 3 |
| 2013 Forte | 195 | 5 |
| 2012 | 292 | 4 |
| 2011 Forte | 153 | 3 |
| 2010 Forte | 221 | 3 |
| 2009 Forte | 1 | 0 |
See all KIA Forte problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 KIA Forte?
Owners most often report engine, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 161 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 KIA Forte?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 KIA Forte a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Forte model years, the 2012 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.