2013 Kia Forte problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2013 Kia Forte include 1 fatality report, 16 crashes and 13 fires across 195 filings.

195
Complaints
5
Recalls
16
Crash reports
13
Fire reports
17
Injuries
128.5
Severity index

Severity index 128.5 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 128.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 8 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 94% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 107 complaints (54.9%)107 55%Service BrakesService Brakes: 38 complaints (19.5%)38 19%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 25 complaints (12.8%)25 13%Air BagsAir Bags: 16 complaints (8.2%)16 8%HydraulicHydraulic: 14 complaints (7.2%)14 7%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 14 complaints (7.2%)14 7%SteeringSteering: 13 complaints (6.7%)13 7%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 13 complaints (6.7%)13 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE10754.9%
SERVICE BRAKES3819.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2512.8%
AIR BAGS168.2%
HYDRAULIC147.2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING147.2%
STEERING136.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER136.7%

Complaints filed per year

014282012: 12013: 52014: 82015: 72016: 82017: 102018: 222019: 232020: 222021: 202022: 132023: 282024: 162025: 82026: 4 (partial year)12131415161718192021222328242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20121
20135
20148
20157
20168
201710
201822
201923
202022
202120
202213
202328
202416
20258
2026 (year to date)4
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (52 against 55).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
20V75000002/12/2020ENGINEKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
18V36300001/06/2018AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt prete
17V77300001/12/2017SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGESKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated
16V31200017/05/2016SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTORKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2013 Forte vehicles manufactured September 10, 2012, to October 31, 2012. The screws that hold the front seatbelt retractor retaining plates may not have been properly tightened, and as a result, the seatbelt retractor ret
23V65200025/09/2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEKia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Con

Other Kia Forte model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 12 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.