Kia Forte Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 2,560 consumer complaints across the 15 model years of the Kia Forte (2010–2024) that have at least 5 complaints. 2014 has the most, with 444. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (1,130 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Forte model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 | 39,000 | 0 | 22 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 66 | 27,500 | 3 | 46 | 84 · More | Too new |
| 2022 | 28 | 21,840 | 1 | 39 | 2 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 69 | 28,438 | 2 | 72 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2020 | 78 | 7,000 | 0 | 100 | 25 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 150 | 10,403 | 2 | 102 | 72 · More | Stable |
| 2018 | 136 | 33,937 | 3 | 100 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 305 | 40,000 | 3 | 140 | 78 · More | Stable |
| 2016 | 136 | 44,500 | 1 | 122 | 34 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2015 | 260 | 75,000 | 1 | 146 | 36 · Typical | Falling |
| 2014 | 444 | 79,250 | 3 | 171 | 79 · More | Falling |
| 2013 | 195 | 79,979 | 5 | 73 | 49 · Typical | Stable |
| 2012 | 292 | 81,600 | 4 | 71 | 62 · Typical | Stable |
| 2011 | 154 | 77,706 | 3 | 80 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2010 | 221 | 70,130 | 3 | 85 | 57 · Typical | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine1,130 39%
- Other or unknown332 12%
- Electrical system325 11%
- Air bags294 10%
- Brakes220 7.7%
- Transmission and drivetrain218 7.6%
- Exterior lighting178 6.2%
- Steering166 5.8%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2012: “Car has less than 80,000 miles and I was driving it today and made a loud clicking noise. I pulled over and the car started smoking and then I heard all the oil drain out. I had a mechanic to look at it and he found pieces of the motor broke or crank casing. I had to get a tow truck to park it at my house. I have pictures but it says it's to big to upload.”
NHTSA complaint #11415651, filed 2021-05, 77,000 miles2014: “The car was having some ... Pause, when pressing on the gas so it was taken to a Kia dealer and they said it was the fuel injection so we paid the 200 plus dollars to get it fixed, this happen on a friday, after the fix we feuled up and saturday the car was not used on sunday morning getting to church the car motor was on fire. This happened near thacker ave”
NHTSA complaint #11396922, filed 2021-02, 50,000 miles2016: “My oil keeps on burning fast .. I had to get oil test from Kia dealer but they didn't find anything wrong with the engine and no leakage. Couple months later my engine is burning my oil fast before even oil change. This is not normal. The motor will make a cluster sound while at the stop sign. Uncomfortable sound all of the sounded.”
NHTSA complaint #11389328, filed 2021-01, 112,234 milesOther Kia models
10,219 complaintsKia Optima
7,532 complaintsKia Soul
5,579 complaintsKia Sportage
4,713 complaintsKia Sedona
2,415 complaintsKia Telluride
2,058 complaintsKia Sephia
1,701 complaintsKia RIO
1,292 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology