2017 Kia Forte: engine and transmission complaints
VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
70%
172 of 246 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
70% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Kia Forte are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 92% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 55 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 57%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11/28/2025FIRE2 INJURED
My vehicle caught fire while driving also before fire vehicle started popping and stuttering rattling sound. I was on highway.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM07/09/2023FIRE1 INJURED
At 86575 miles after routine check ups at the dealership and routine maintenance being done regularly my check engine light came on I tried to put gas in my car and it sprayed all over me and the car and the gas tank I can’t put gas in my car and the dealership is expecting me to cover this costs and I’ve seen many oth…
I ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT ON THIS PREVIOUSLY, HOWEVER IN 2020 MY ENGINE FAILED STOP WORKING. AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT OR FIX IT. I LOST MY JOB, I HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR. THE CAR LOST SPEED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT GO ANYMORE..
Three of 172 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (3)
AIR BAGS
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 co…
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, preventin…
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 cau…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2017 Kia Forte
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
3 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.
