Enter any Kia Forte VIN below for a free report — factory specifications, open NHTSA safety recalls, and a safety score, decoded instantly from the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number. For a specific vehicle's full history, a $4.99 upgrade adds title status, accident records, odometer history, and prior ownership.
Buying a used Kia Forte? The free check covers recalls, specs and safety. For title brands, accident and damage records, odometer readings and ownership history, get the VIN Pro Plus report: one-time $4.99, no subscription. See a sample report →
Owner complaints, NHTSA recalls and a reliability grade for each model year, from public NHTSA data. Pick a year:
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the Kia Forte are highest for the 2017 model year (305) and lowest for 2024 (26). The worst three-year run in this table is 2015–2017, with 703 complaints. The complaint area that most often tops a year’s list is Engine (5 of 10 years). Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare years of a similar age.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Top complaint area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 | 0 | Unknown or other |
| 2023 | 65 | 3 | Steering |
| 2022 | 28 | 1 | Unknown or other |
| 2021 | 69 | 2 | Engine |
| 2020 | 78 | 0 | Unknown or other |
| 2019 | 149 | 2 | Power Train |
| 2018 | 136 | 3 | Engine |
| 2017 | 305 | 3 | Engine |
| 2016 | 138 | 1 | Engine |
| 2015 | 260 | 1 | Engine |
Counts are a snapshot of NHTSA data from October 2026 (distinct owner complaints and recall campaigns). Open a year for the current numbers, the recalls and the most common problems.
Real vehicles other shoppers have looked up recently. Click any one to see its free recall, safety, and specs report.