2014 Kia Forte: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 437 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
437
Complaints
3
Recalls
32
Crash reports
35
Fire reports
29
Injuries
130.4
Severity index
Severity index 130.4 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 139 2014 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2014 Kia Forte ranks 17 of 139 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 88% of its model-year peers. See the full 2014 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 213 | 48.7% |
| STEERING | 62 | 14.2% |
| AIR BAGS | 62 | 14.2% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 56 | 12.8% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 49 | 11.2% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 28 | 6.4% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 24 | 5.5% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 22 | 5.0% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 213 of 437 complaints (48.7%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 42 |
| 2019 | 60 |
| 2020 | 49 |
| 2021 | 82 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 14 |
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V750000 | 02/12/2020 | ENGINE | Kia 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. |
| 17V773000 | 01/12/2017 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | Kia 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 |
| 15V015000 | 16/01/2015 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.