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2022 Kia Forte problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
41%
9 of 22 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2022 Kia Forte are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Better than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2022 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 9 of 22 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Forte concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%), and the largest group is filed under engine (4). For comparison, the 2021 scores 48% and the 2023 scores 29%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
9
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
27
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
3 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 33%
ENGINE4 · 15%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE4 · 15%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3 · 11%
STEERING3 · 11%
SUSPENSION3 · 11%

The years either side

2010
57%
100 of 232
2011
57%
69 of 161
2012
73%
190 of 306
2013
72%
128 of 211
2014
63%
228 of 443
2015
76%
172 of 260
2016
68%
78 of 137
2017
70%
173 of 303
2018
58%
68 of 136
2019
64%
85 of 147
2020
51%
35 of 76
2021
48%
29 of 68
2022
41%
9 of 27
2023
29%
16 of 63

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2022 Kia Forte

What one owner reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM09/24/2026
We were told it was the fuel pump. This car has put my son in danger twice. The car stalls out while driving, completely shuts down. He is traumatized due to this occurring in during traffic hour. The car dies and you can’t put it in neutral nor have the hazard light turn on. Complete shut down of car. It has been at…

One of 9 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2022 Kia Forte?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2022 Kia Forte, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
steering: column22V304000 · May 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2022 Kia Forte? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2022 Kia Forte

Does the 2022 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 9 of 22 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Forte concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2022 Kia Forte?

No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2022 Kia Forte, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Kia Forte years are better?

Among the Kia Forte years we track, the 2023 (29%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2022 (41%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2022 Kia Forte?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2022 Kia Forte has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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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.