Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 136 safety complaints
about the 2018 Kia Forte with the US government. Of those, 13 describe a crash, 3 mention a fire, 9 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 57 complaints, 42% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 33,937 miles,
the median across the 51
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers April 2018 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
136 complaints on file
136
Complaints
13
Describe a crash
3
Mention fire
9
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.
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 57 · 42%
57 42%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 30 · 22%
30 22%
AIR BAGS 16 · 12%
16 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16 · 12%
16 12%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 · 7%
10 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8 · 6%
8 6%
POWER TRAIN 8 · 6%
8 6%
STRUCTURE 7 · 5%
7 5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6 · 4%
6 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 5 · 4%
5 4%
STEERING 5 · 4%
5 4%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 4 · 3%
4 3%
02346
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 136.
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 2024 at 26.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2018 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 2018 Kia FORTE, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
4 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
10.3%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
The risk
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Kia Motors America · up to 410,619 vehicles across all model years covered
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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
The risk
A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Kia Motors America · up to 4,069 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
2 injured · crash · towed · 7,996 miles
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND CRASH HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint 11153084. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 injured · fire · crash
While was driving the car Kia Forte spin out control or someone used an remote and became an hot engine but due to car getting repossession Kia saying can’t do nothing about it , my safety was put as risk due to car spinning out control and yes the car did deployed its airbags only driver side , no inspection due to Kia saying they can’t do nothing . It was 7 warnings lamps afterwards the incident , Made an report on June 3, 2021 14164508 with Kia consumers
NHTSA complaint 11428083. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 184,000 miles
IN LOVED ACCIDENT JUNE17TH 2019 WAS REAR ENDED AND DRIVEN INTO REAR END OF 129000 LBS TRACTOR TRAILER. CAR WAS DEMOLISHED, FRONT END AND REAR SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. WAS EXTRACTED FROM CAR.AIR BAGS DUD NOT DELPLOY. SUSTAINED FRACTURED SKULL AND CONCUSSION
NHTSA complaint 11343873. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 17,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated she was at standstill at a parking space when another vehicle backed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a bulging disc on the neck, vertigo, and a concussion from the whiplash. The contact did not seek medical attention at the moment but did go to the hospital 8 days later. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to the collision shop and had the bumper, the front passenger side headlight, and the steering column repair. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (Air Bags). The vehicle …
NHTSA complaint 11463202, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
There is an issue with the fuel pump where it would stall or shut off while driving or at a stoplight
NHTSA complaint 11761532. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
towed · 100,300 miles
The contact's son owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, with the oil pressure warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but there was white smoke coming from the engine. The contact raised the hood and inspected the engine, and the smoke had ceased. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized due to a lack of engine oil, even though …
NHTSA complaint 11761101, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Have to replace running lights every 4-6 months on both of my headlights. Happened every 4-6 months since I got the car in 2017
NHTSA complaint 11734041. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
104,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was discovered that the engine oil level was extremely low. The dealer kept the vehicle for nine months and performed an oil change. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who replaced the oil gasket cover, but the failure recurred with the engine making knocking sounds. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the …
NHTSA complaint 11726619, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
Recently, while my boyfriend was driving my vehicle, the engine suddenly lost power without warning. He had the accelerator pedal fully depressed, yet the vehicle would barely move. He was fortunate to safely maneuver the vehicle off the road. Upon inspection, he discovered there was no oil present in the engine. Critically, neither the low oil warning light nor the check engine light had illuminated prior to this failure, providing absolutely no warning of a severe mechanical problem. After adding oil and performing a proper oil change, the engine began violently shuddering and shaking upon startup, and only then did the check engine light illuminate. The vehicle was immediately towed to …
NHTSA complaint 11720401, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
While driving the car with the flow of busy traffic, the engine failed and the car stopped. It eventually turn back on (side of the road) but now drives with hesitation, a strange noise, and with the engine light on. This cycle continued until we arrived at the repair shop. And after much research, it seems that this experience is common for other Kia engines. Why was mine not included? Someone could have been badly injured!
NHTSA complaint 11719191. 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 January 25, 2022.
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