134 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Engine · verdict CAUTION 65/100
“Have to replace running lights every 4-6 months on both of my headlights. Happened every 4-6 months since I got the car in 2017”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Kia Forte owner
“The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was discovered that the engine oil level was extremely low. The dealer kept the vehicle for nine months and performed an oil change. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, w”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Kia Forte owner
“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 in the engine. Critically, neither the low oil warning light nor the check engine light had illuminated prior to this fa”NHTSA complaint, 2018 Kia Forte owner
| Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25/01/2022 | Air Bags SAFETY | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board a |
| 09/08/2021 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Latch | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As su |
| 13/04/2021 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Pump | 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. |
On the federal record it scores 65/100: 134 owner complaints (16.75 per year on the road) and 3 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems.
The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Engine, with 57 of 137 categorised reports.
The 2018 Kia Forte scored 65/100 on the federal record.