2016 KIA Forte Engine Problems
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 KIA Forte, 49% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 67,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “knock sensor” (8% of reports).
- 66engine complaints
- 67,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 41%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Knock sensor: mentioned in 5 of 66 complaints (8%)
- Knocking sound: mentioned in 5 of 66 complaints (8%)
- Oil changed: mentioned in 5 of 66 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 25 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 66 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury.
KIA Forte engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | 8 | 31% | 39,000 |
| 2023 Forte | 9 | 14% | 49,000 |
| 2022 Forte | 4 | 14% | 12,800 |
| 2021 Forte | 22 | 32% | 93,532 |
| 2020 Forte | 20 | 26% | 53,355 |
| 2019 Forte | 37 | 25% | 16,500 |
| 2018 Forte | 57 | 42% | 67,000 |
| 2017 Forte | 145 | 48% | 69,500 |
| 2016 Forte | 66 | 49% | 67,000 |
| 2015 Forte | 158 | 61% | 86,000 |
| 2014 Forte | 216 | 49% | 93,500 |
| 2013 Forte | 107 | 55% | 85,000 |
| 2012 Forte | 161 | 55% | 100,000 |
| 2011 Forte | 45 | 29% | 105,945 |
| 2010 Forte | 74 | 33% | 100,000 |
| 2009 Forte | 1 | 100% | 120,456 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2016 KIA Forte. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 KIA Fortes have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 66 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 KIA Forte (49% of the 136 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 KIA Forte engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 67,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 KIA Forte?
The most frequent phrase is “knock sensor”, in 5 of 66 complaints, followed by “knocking sound” (5).
See all 2016 KIA Forte problems or engine problems across all Forte years.