2015 Kia Forte: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 258 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 1 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
258
Complaints
1
Recalls
16
Crash reports
20
Fire reports
11
Injuries
120.9
Severity index
Severity index 120.9 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 143 2015 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2015 Kia Forte ranks 28 of 143 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 80% of its model-year peers. See the full 2015 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 156 | 60.5% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 31 | 12.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 29 | 11.2% |
| AIR BAGS | 23 | 8.9% |
| POWER TRAIN | 17 | 6.6% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 16 | 6.2% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 13 | 5.0% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 10 | 3.9% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 156 of 258 complaints (60.5%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2021 | 47 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 23 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 7 |
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. |
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.