MODELYEARINDEX

Kia Forte

1,278 complaints across 12 scored model years and 18 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Kia Forte Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2017 vs model median 2.2×
Model median3× median
Engine 43
Lights & Visibility 31
Electrical 23
Avoid

2014 · 2017

Best

2015 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.07× 99 C
2011
0.77× 44 C
2012
0.91× 60 C
2013
0.52× 45 C
2014
1.99× 153 D
2015
0.92× 70 B
2016
1.18× 90 C
2017
2.23× 187 F
2018
1.04× 78 C
2019
1.52× 126 C
2020
0.76× 60 B
2021
0.96× 84 B
2022 P
0.47× 40 A
2023 P
1.16× 96 C
2024 P
0.64× 46 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG30
City / Highway27 / 35
Engine1.6L, 4 cyl
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$2,050

Recalls

18 campaigns on record, 3 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
23V652000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2010–2013 1,730,192
13V114000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2010 980,377
18V363000 AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE 2010–2013 507,587
22V031000 AIR BAGS 2017, 2018 410,619
20V750000 ENGINE 2012–2015 294,756
21V622000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH 2016–2018 253,074
17V773000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES 2012–2014 134,366
15V015000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2014 86,880

+ 10 further campaigns

Others in Compact Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura ILX
20142016
C
Audi A3
20152017
C
BMW 1 Series
none flagged
C
BMW I3
none flagged
C
Buick Verano
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Bolt EV
2017
C
Chevrolet Cobalt
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Cruze
20112012
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2017 Forte
Complaints in window
187
Severity-weighted
317.5
Model median (weighted)
143
vs model median
2.23×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
3
Open investigations
0
Score 36.8 F