Reliability & cost of ownership
Kia Forte Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Kia Forte? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Kia Forte problems by model year
34 recall entries across 14 model years and 2,565 owner complaints across 16 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 2 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | Not confirmed | 26 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2023 Forte | 3 | 66 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2022 Forte | 1 | 28 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 Forte | 2 | 69 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 Forte | 0 | 79 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2019 Forte | 2 | 150 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 Forte | 3 | 136 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 Forte | 3 | 305 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 Forte | 1 | 136 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 Forte | 1 | 262 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 Forte | 3 | 444 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 Forte | 5 | 195 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 Forte | 4 | 293 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 Forte | 3 | 154 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 Forte | 3 | 221 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 Forte | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Kia Forte, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine1,133 complaints
- unknown or other325 complaints
- electrical system325 complaints
- air bags294 complaints
- power train218 complaints
- exterior lighting178 complaints
- steering166 complaints
- service brakes157 complaints