Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 135 safety complaints
about the 2016 Kia Forte with the US government. Of those, 16 describe a crash, 6 mention a fire, 13 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the latches, locks and linkages.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 66 complaints, 49% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 44,500 miles,
the median across the 60
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers June 2016 to August 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
135 complaints on file
135
Complaints
16
Describe a crash
6
Mention fire
13
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
Complaints rose by half year on year: 14 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 9 in the twelve before.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 66 · 49%
66 49%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21 · 16%
21 16%
POWER TRAIN 16 · 12%
16 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15 · 11%
15 11%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14 · 10%
14 10%
AIR BAGS 13 · 10%
13 10%
SERVICE BRAKES 10 · 7%
10 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9 · 7%
9 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 4%
6 4%
WHEELS 6 · 4%
6 4%
STEERING 5 · 4%
5 4%
STRUCTURE 5 · 4%
5 4%
02754
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 135.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2019 at 20.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Kia FORTE, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
4 DR FWD
5 HB FWD
Overall
Not rated
Frontal crash
Not rated
Frontal, driver
Not rated
Frontal, passenger
Not rated
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
10.3%
10.3%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
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, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
The risk
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
Kia Motors America · up to 253,074 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
3 injured · crash · towed · 34,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE THE DRIVER AND STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TROUGH AN INTERSECTION A SECOND VEHICLE T- BONED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH NO AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LEFT HIP INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT STATED A 1 YEAR OLD WAS FASTENED IN CAR SEAT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY WHICH ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. INJURIES TO THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE LOCAL DEAL KIA OF CERRITOS (18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS …
NHTSA complaint 11310562, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
2 injured · crash
We used to have a 2016 Kia Forte5 LX hatchback we been having problems with this vehicle the car would stall and it was having electrical problems like my turn signals not working even when the bulbs were replaced and same thing to the brake lights prior after I noticed the problem with the car was going to take it in to get ot looked at and serviced when exiting my home with the car and turning left the vehicle stalled while in drive I did have my emergency flash on but the other cars didn’t seem to notice the vehicle got t boned and we got in to a accident when trying to get this issue resolved
NHTSA complaint 11619374. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 injured · fire · crash · towed · 125,000 miles
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY ROUTE 50 WHEN SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE AC VENTS. I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED. THEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE FRONT AND BACK, THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO FAIL, I JUMPED FROM THE VEHICLE ON GOING 40MPH, THEN THE CAR EXPLODED.*DT*DT*JB*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT*JB*JB*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT Consumer contacted the dealer and has obtained a case # [XXX] and paid invoice # [xxx]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”
NHTSA complaint 11403582. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1 injured · fire · towed · 60,000 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle caught fire. The vehicle was burning an excessive amount of oil and fuel. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. While his wife was driving, the vehicle was making abnormal engine noises. The contact stated he sustained emotional distress and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to an independent towing lot. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer where it was diagnosed that the pulley needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was …
NHTSA complaint 11465876, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
Im getting denied dued to engine failure but whoever had the vehicle before didn't follow up with the ksds update, I just purchased the vehicle on June 30th,2026, I need this fixed ASAP because I still owe on this car.
NHTSA complaint 11760909. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Insert, Padding
When I have the windows down, I can see the headrest flapping in the wind. I took the cover off and discovered that the styrofoam had broken in half. I used foam adhesive to bind it together. Once again, windows down and the headrest is still flapping in the wind. Look underneath the cover and this time the Styrofoam is broken into multiple pieces.
NHTSA complaint 11758465. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
My 2016 Kia Forte had a recall that was never performed and I was never told anything about the car fax or any recalls from where I got the car from, it needs a engine repair.
NHTSA complaint 11755914. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
Car runs fine at lower speeds. When traveling over 50 mph for ten minutes or more, then decelerating or stopping in traffic or at a stop light it stalls. It cranks right back up after you put it neutral and turn the key. We’ve almost been rear ended twice since this started. The car has only been driven about 3000 miles a year over the past 7 years and only about 45 mph. It has been to two shops and hasn’t been driven since May 15th.
NHTSA complaint 11751429. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Vehicle won't intake gas. Cod P0451, P0456
NHTSA complaint 11750139. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
Unknown it makes a ticking noise check engine light came on and oil isn't low. Recently bought it.
NHTSA complaint 11747849. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed August 9, 2021.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst