Kia Forte — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2014, 2017 · Best bets: 2023, 2021, 2020, 2016, 2018, 2019

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Kia Forte Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2024 highlighted. 2009: 1 complaints 2009 2010: 221 complaints 2011: 152 complaints 2011 2012: 289 complaints 2013: 195 complaints 2013 2014: 437 complaints 2015: 257 complaints 2015 2016: 130 complaints 2017: 300 complaints 2017 2018: 134 complaints 2019: 145 complaints 2019 2020: 71 complaints 2021: 67 complaints 2021 2022: 25 complaints 2023: 56 complaints 2023 2024: 22 complaints 2024
2024: 22 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
20091
2010221
2011152
2012289
2013195
2014437
2015257
2016130
2017300
2018134
2019145
202071
202167
202225
202356
202422

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2024 Not enough data 22 Only 22 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2023 Recommended 56 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 Not enough data 25 Only 25 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2021 Recommended 67 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 Recommended 71 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 Recommended 145 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 Recommended 134 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 Avoid 300 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2016 Recommended 130 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2015 Caution 257 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 Avoid 437 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2013 Caution 195 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 Caution 289 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2011 Recommended 152 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2010 Caution 221 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.