2016 KIA Forte Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Forte years
- About as many complaints as other years 9th of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 KIA Forte. That ranks 9th out of 16 Forte model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (66 complaints, 49%), typically at around 67,000 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 6 fires, 13 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 136owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 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 | 66 | 49% | 67,000 | “knock sensor” (8%) | — |
| Electrical System | 22 | 16% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 16 | 12% | 17,310 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 15 | 11% | 39,022 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 10% | 6,650 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 13 | 10% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 7% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 10 | 7% | 118,167 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 4% | 11,300 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 4% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 4% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 4% | 15,433 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 3% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 2% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Insert, Padding | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 1,674 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 38,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 KIA Forte recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The Headlights and ALL exterior lights FLICKER or TURN OFF ENTIRELY while driving, especially when touching the Multi-Function Turn Signal Stalk to signal a turn. This can and HAS happened when the Headlights are switched on any mode: MARKER LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, or AUTO. I can be driving, Headlights…
Im getting denied dued to engine failure but whoever had the vehicle before didn't follow up with the ksds update, I just purchased the vehicle on June 30th,2026, I need this fixed ASAP because I still owe on this car.
When I have the windows down, I can see the headrest flapping in the wind. I took the cover off and discovered that the styrofoam had broken in half. I used foam adhesive to bind it together. Once again, windows down and the headrest is still flapping in the wind. Look underneath the cover and this…
My 2016 Kia Forte had a recall that was never performed and I was never told anything about the car fax or any recalls from where I got the car from, it needs a engine repair.
Car runs fine at lower speeds. When traveling over 50 mph for ten minutes or more, then decelerating or stopping in traffic or at a stop light it stalls. It cranks right back up after you put it neutral and turn the key. Weâve almost been rear ended twice since this started. The car has only been…
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 | 136 | 1 |
| 2015 Forte | 260 | 1 |
| 2014 Forte | 444 | 3 |
| 2013 Forte | 195 | 5 |
| 2012 Forte | 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 2016 KIA Forte?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 66 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 KIA Forte?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 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 2016 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.