Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2013 Kia Forte
NHTSA data on file today
The 2013 Kia Forte has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 195 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V652000 HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V750000 Engine Damage May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V363000 Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may be Disabled NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V773000 Brake Pedal Stopper may Deteriorate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V312000 Improperly Tightened Seat Belt Retractor Screws NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 107 complaints
- Electrical System 25 complaints
- Service Brakes 24 complaints
- Air Bags 16 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 14 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 14 complaints
Of the 195 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 13 a fire; across all 195 complaints, owners report 17 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2013 Kia Forte has a below-average reliability rating due to significant issues with its engine, electrical system, and service brakes, reflected by 195 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns. The concentration of complaints around the engine indicates a notable risk of failure. However, the data's limitations mean it's difficult to predict other specific issues with certainty.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | Unknown | $1,500–$5,000 | common |
| electrical system | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | common |
| service brakes | Unknown | $300–$1,200 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
- Inspect and replace spark plugs
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush and refill
- Replace air filters
- Rotate and balance tires
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine knocking noises
- Illuminated warning lights
- Brake pedal feels soft
- Unresponsive acceleration
- Unexpected engine shutdown
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2013 Kia Forte at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.