2017 KIA Forte Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Forte years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 16 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 KIA Forte. That ranks 2nd out of 16 Forte model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (145 complaints, 48%), typically at around 69,500 miles. Complaints mention 23 crashes, 10 fires, 21 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 305owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 23complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 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 | 145 | 48% | 69,500 | “oil pump” (6%) | $5,850 |
| Unknown or Other | 49 | 16% | 26,594 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 47 | 15% | 32,850 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 44 | 14% | 40,289 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 29 | 10% | 19,850 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 18 | 6% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 | 6% | 36,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 5% | 100,007 | — | — |
| Power Train | 12 | 4% | 1,975 | — | — |
| Structure | 10 | 3% | 29,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 9 | 3% | 26,100 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 3% | 10,050 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 2% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 2% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 2% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 2% | 34,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% | 186,920 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 94,777 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 KIA Forte recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
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.
I was driving this car and received a check engine light and lulled over to find an electrical fire had occurred under the hood. I was able to use a fire extinguisher to put out this fire. The car was towed to a Kia dealership near my home for confirmation and an estimate of the damages. It…
I own a 2017 Kia Forte that has a recurring problem with water intrusion in the rear tail light assemblies. This issue was previously repaired around 2018 under Kiaâs service action related to moisture and water entering the rear combination lamps, but the problem has returned. Moisture and water…
2017 Kia Forte (Recall SC216 Trunk latch - this 2017 VIN needs to be included
There was a rod failure in the engine. The vehicle is currently at the repair facility. This rod failure caused the vehicle to die while traveling down the road, so it was a safety risk. The rod failure was diagnosed by a certified mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. This failure…
See attached document for complaint.
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 | 305 | 3 |
| 2016 Forte | 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 2017 KIA Forte?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 145 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 KIA Forte?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 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 2017 has far more complaints than most years, 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.