Kia

Forte

Midsize Cars · model years 2010 to 2024

See all 52 Forte trims All Kia cars

The verdict

Best year: 2024. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 134; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2012. complaints: 287, about 1.6x this model's typical 179; recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Kia Forte
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	Top complaints
2010	5Gas	28	156	$2,200	3	231	3 (1 open)	ENGINE 24%, AIR BAGS 13%, POWER TRAIN 7%
complaints: 231, above this model's typical 223 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 14 NHTSA advised parking the 2010 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	4Gas	27	161	$2,300	3	160	3 (1 open)	ENGINE 22%, AIR BAGS 16%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 160, below this model's typical 179 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 34 NHTSA advised parking the 2011 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 14 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	4Gas	27	161	$2,300	4	287	4 (1 open)	ENGINE 40%, AIR BAGS 9%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 287, about 1.6x this model's typical 179 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 NHTSA advised parking the 2012 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	4Gas	27	165	$2,300	5	195	5 (1 open)	ENGINE 39%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, SERVICE BRAKES 9%
complaints: 195, above this model's typical 179 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 NHTSA advised parking the 2013 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	4Gas	28	159	$2,200	3	435	1	ENGINE 33%, AIR BAGS 10%, STEERING 10%
complaints: 435, about 2.4x this model's typical 179 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 29 Score: 20 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	3Gas	29	145	$2,150	1	254	2	ENGINE 48%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 254, about 1.9x this model's typical 134 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	3Gas	29	145	$2,150	1	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 134 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 Score: 92 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	3Gas	28	147	$2,200	3	299	0	ENGINE 34%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 299, about 2.2x this model's typical 134 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 21 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	3Gas	28	147	$2,200	3	134	0	ENGINE 31%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, AIR BAGS 9%
complaints: 134, in line with this model's typical 134 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Gas	32.5	147	$1,925	2	144	0	POWER TRAIN 23%, ENGINE 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11%
complaints: 144, about 1.6x this model's typical 89 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 49 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	4Gas	30.5	147	$2,050	0	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 179 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	4Gas	30.5	147	$2,050	2	67	0	ENGINE 24%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, STEERING 10%
complaints: 67, below this model's typical 179 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 Score: 76 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	3Gas	30	174	$2,100	1	22	0	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 11%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11%
complaints: 22, below this model's typical 134 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 88 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	3Gas	30	174	$2,100	3	56	0	STEERING 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10%
complaints: 56, below this model's typical 134 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 NHTSA advised parking the 2023 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 34 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	3Gas	30	174	$2,100	0	0	0	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 134 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2010: 28 to 2024: 30

Owner complaints2010: 231 to 2024: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Kia Forte to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.