2018 KIA Forte Engine Problems
Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2018 KIA Forte, 42% 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: “oil change” (16% of reports).
- 57engine complaints
- 67,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 35%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.
- Oil change: mentioned in 9 of 57 complaints (16%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 17 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 57 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire.
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 | 36 | 24% | 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 (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Recently, while my boyfriend was driving my vehicle, the engine suddenly lost power without warning. He had the accelerator pedal fully depressed, yet the vehicle would barely move. He was fortunate to safely maneuver the vehicle off the road. Upon inspection, he discovered there was no oil present…
While driving the car with the flow of busy traffic, the engine failed and the car stopped. It eventually turn back on (side of the road) but now drives with hesitation, a strange noise, and with the engine light on. This cycle continued until we arrived at the repair shop. And after much research…
Engine would run fast and then sound like was going to stop and then it would start shaking and rumbling while driving on highway and in town. Car would stall while at a stop. Gas smells inside the car. Did not feel safe driving. Had the car towed to an independent garage on February 7th and They…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 KIA Fortes have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 57 owner complaints about engine for the 2018 KIA Forte (42% 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 2018 KIA Forte engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
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 2018 KIA Forte?
The most frequent phrase is “oil change”, in 9 of 57 complaints.
See all 2018 KIA Forte problems or engine problems across all Forte years.