Kia Forte: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Kia Forte problems by model year, from 2,570 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2015 (76%, 172 drivetrain complaints), 2012 (73%, 190 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (72%, 128 drivetrain complaints). 13 of the 14 Kia Forte years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 7 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2023 (29%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2014 drew the most drivetrain complaints (228 of 1,380 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Kia Forte year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Forte | high | 57% | 100 | 232 | 10/14 | 3 |
| 2011 Forte | high | 57% | 69 | 161 | 9/14 | 3 |
| 2012 Forte | very high | 73% | 190 | 306 | 2/14 | 4 |
| 2013 Forte | very high | 72% | 128 | 211 | 3/14 | 5 |
| 2014 Forte | very high | 63% | 228 | 443 | 7/14 | 3 |
| 2015 Forte | very high | 76% | 172 | 260 | 1/14 | 1 |
| 2016 Forte | very high | 68% | 78 | 137 | 5/14 | 1 |
| 2017 Forte | very high | 70% | 173 | 303 | 4/14 | 3 |
| 2018 Forte | high | 58% | 68 | 136 | 8/14 | 3 |
| 2019 Forte | very high | 64% | 85 | 147 | 6/14 | 2 |
| 2020 Forte | high | 51% | 35 | 76 | 11/14 | 0 |
| 2021 Forte | high | 48% | 29 | 68 | 12/14 | 2 |
| 2022 Forte | high | 41% | 9 | 27 | 13/14 | 1 |
| 2023 Forte | no elevated signal | 29% | 16 | 63 | 14/14 | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Kia Forte years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Kia Forte engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Kia Forte involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 18 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2016 | 16V070000 | power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines | 2011 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V459000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2019 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V750000 | engine | 2012–2015 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V260000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pump | 2017–2018 |
14 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2013 | 13V114000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2010 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V015000 | electrical system | 2014 |
| May 2016 | 16V312000 | seat belts: front: retractor | 2013 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V773000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2012–2014 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V363000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2010–2013 |
| Oct 2018 | 18V771000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2019 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V164000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2021 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V622000 | latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch | 2016–2018 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V031000 | air bags | 2017–2018 |
| May 2022 | 22V304000 | steering: column | 2021–2022 |
| Dec 2022 | 22V906000 | steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm | 2023 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V649000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2023 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V652000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2010–2013 |
| Apr 2024 | 24V244000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Kia Forte
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Kia Forte
What are the worst years for the Kia Forte?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Kia Forte years are the 2015 (76% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2012 (73% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2013 (72% of relevant complaints, very high). 13 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Kia Forte?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Kia Forte years are the 2023 (29%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Kia Forte have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,380 of 2,139 relevant NHTSA complaints (65%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Is the Kia Forte reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 13 of 14 Kia Forte years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 65% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Kia Forte?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Kia Forte years we track, out of 18 in total: 20V459000 (Aug 2020, 2019), 20V750000 (Dec 2020, 2012–2015), 21V260000 (Apr 2021, 2017–2018), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.