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EnginePart report

2020 Kia Forte Engine Problems

Complaints
20about this part
Share
26%of 78 total for the year
Median mileage
53,354miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the engine of the 2020 Kia Forte, 26% of the 78 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,354 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I purchased the 2020 Kia Forte last april 2020. The trunk latch would not open trunk, reported, serviced it still presented tight leverage function during stable park position. The computer scrambled the 1st or 2nd week of owning it during my early morning highway travel the computer scrambled more than once. I contacted Kia- thier response was not helpful to the new car malfunction. It happened more than once. The lane departure did not work at diferent periods in time; within the year I reported to Kia. The windshield cracked during first frost. Kia claimed rock chip. …”

NHTSA complaint #11400072, filed 2021-03, 89 miles

“During a day trip on 9/19/26 my 2020 Kia Forte (purchased new and well maintained) lost power and several of the dash board lights came on including check engine, traction/stability control, and collision alerts. The car entered what I was told is limp mode . I had the car towed home and after one shop misdiagnosed the problem I had it towed to the Kia dealership where purchased. I was told the engine had code p0017. …”

NHTSA complaint #11769976, filed 2026-10

“I leased car 2020 Illinois. No problems. I had car transported to in 2022 to Los Angeles, and after a few months, the car would check engine light ALL lights I believe, and car suddenly stops and dies out at each stop light. This happened 3 times and frightened me. It happened every couple months and the repair people NEVER put notes on the repair invoice!! About exactly why I was bringing car in for repair, even if nothing on computer showed up, almost like the defect was bypassing (tricking computer) inspection. …”

NHTSA complaint #11518182, filed 2023-04

“While driving I heard a pop then the lights on my dash lit up my car came to a stop i.e cut off tried to start back up the engine caught fire burned the whole front end off total loss”

NHTSA complaint #11491504, filed 2022-10

“Bought the car 8 months ago from a Kia dealer. It is now pulling the same engine codes, of the infamous recalled Kia engines. After having diagnostics done at a different Kia then I had bought and had oil changed. They told me the engine and turbo was full of metal shavings and the rods were bad. I pad $10,900 for the car $15,000 to fix, they knowingly sold me a totaled car. I’m sure records reflect they took that car as a trade I knowing the engine was bad (they never checked the oil?). There were 90,000 forte sold in the US, best estimate I could find on the gt line was 4-5 thousand. …”

NHTSA complaint #11739299, filed 2026-05

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2024831%
2023914%
2022414%
20212232%
20202026%
20193825%
20185742%
201714548%
20166649%
201515861%
201421649%
201310755%
201216155%
20114529%
20107433%

Other parts of the 2020 Kia Forte

Other or unknown
26 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
16 complaints
Electrical system
11 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
6 complaints
Air bags
5 complaints
Vehicle speed control
4 complaints
Engine cooling
3 complaints
Fuel system
3 complaints
Lane departure
3 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Brakes
2 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 Kia Forte

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology