Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 76 safety complaints
about the 2020 Kia Forte with the US government. Of those, 9 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 6 people were injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the engine,
named in 18 complaints, 24% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 7,000 miles,
the median across the 21
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers September 2019 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
76 complaints on file
76
Complaints
9
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
6
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: 18 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 11 in the twelve before.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 26 · 34%
26 34%
ENGINE 18 · 24%
18 24%
POWER TRAIN 16 · 21%
16 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11 · 14%
11 14%
AIR BAGS 5 · 7%
5 7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5 · 7%
5 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 · 5%
4 5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 · 4%
3 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 4%
3 4%
LANE DEPARTURE 3 · 4%
3 4%
STEERING 3 · 4%
3 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 1%
1 1%
01223
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 76.
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 2023 at 17.
20 15 10 5
192019202020212021222022232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2019 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 2020 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
10.7%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
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 · 1,000 miles
I WAS TURNING LEFT THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT ONTO A CITY ROAD WHEN A CAR COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE RAN A RED LIGHT GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR IN A 35 MILES AN HOUR ROAD, CRASHING INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR. IT HIT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND DOOR, BUT WAS HIT SO HARD THAT MY CAR MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 8 - 10 FEET. MY CAR IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE SENSOR DIRECTLY WHERE THE OTHER PERSON CAR HIT MINE BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. EVEN THOUGH THIS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS FOR THOSE TYPES OF COLLISIONS.
NHTSA complaint 11318580. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on a bend in the highway, a deer jumped over the barrier and landed on the top of the contact's front windshield. The contact stated that she was knocked unconscious due to the impact. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags did not deploy. The contact was strapped in the driver's seat when she regained consciousness. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The state police were called to the scene of the accident. Days later, after the accident, the contact went to Urgent Care. However, when the contact explained that she was unconscious, the contact was referred to the …
NHTSA complaint 11717259, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed
I was driving a vehicle two cars ahead did and illegal turn the car behind it stopped the truck behind them stopped I stopped behind the truck the car behind me did not stop and slammed me into the back of the truck in my airbags did not deploy
NHTSA complaint 11717285. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
1 injured · crash · 2,553 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND REMOVED THEMSELVES TO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO OPEN THEIR GARAGE DOOR WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE HITTING THE CONTACT AND THE GARAGE DOOR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR LEFT SHOULDER, FACE, ELBOW, LEFT KNEE, RIGHT LEG, AND RIGHT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND TURN ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (MERCHANT LOGO SPITZER KIA CLEVELAND SERVICE CENTER 3414 BROOKPARK RD, CLEVELAND, OH 44134; …
NHTSA complaint 11397278, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
The engine has failed in this vehicle just like it has in other 2.0L kia vehicles 2020-2026. The piston rings have failed and the pistons have all pitted or developed holes in them just like in the recall 25V-099/kia safety recall SC336
NHTSA complaint 11765834. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The infotainment screen is de-laminating.
NHTSA complaint 11763097. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
109,900 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bags warning light illuminated and then went off. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light was again illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,900.
NHTSA complaint 11759556. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
Engine burning excessive oil over a quart in 1000 miles. Catalytic converter code P0420 because of the excessive oil burning. Oil was always changed within the specified dealer milage range.
NHTSA complaint 11758838. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
I experienced a check engine light and had the vehicle diagnosed with codes P0017 and P0014. The vehicle was taken to a Kia dealership, where the technician found that the exhaust camshaft was free-spinning without the phaser and that the pin connecting the two had sheared. The dealership replaced the exhaust camshaft and phaser and released the vehicle as repaired and operating normally. Less than 24 hours after pickup, the check engine light returned during normal driving. While returning the vehicle to the dealership as instructed, the engine lost oil pressure and stalled three times. One stall occurred after exiting the highway and left the vehicle disabled in a high-traffic …
NHTSA complaint 11758381, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
2020 Kia Forte, 2.0L 14F engine, 109,000 miles: On July 3.2026 "check engine" light came on. Drove to local auto parts store to have code downloaded, P0017 cam position sensor. Car was performing fine, except for engine light. Drove car to Kia dealership. While driving, warning light for "front collision system came on and car began performing erratically. Left car at dealership for diagnostics. Yesterday received call from dealer, stating that engine needed total replacement due to "lack of oil". Quoted repair cost estimated at approximately $8,000. Car has been regularly serviced, including oil and filter changes per handbook. I have all records for the services. The were no indications …
NHTSA complaint 11749072, quoted in part. 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, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
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