2015 Kia Forte problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2015 Kia Forte include 1 fatality report, 16 crashes and 20 fires across 260 filings.

260
Complaints
1
Recalls
16
Crash reports
20
Fire reports
11
Injuries
103.6
Severity index

Severity index 103.6 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 103.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 21 of 143 by severity index among 2015 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 85% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2015 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 158 complaints (60.8%)158 61%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 31 complaints (11.9%)31 12%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 29 complaints (11.2%)29 11%Air BagsAir Bags: 23 complaints (8.8%)23 9%Power TrainPower Train: 17 complaints (6.5%)17 7%Service BrakesService Brakes: 16 complaints (6.2%)16 6%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 13 complaints (5.0%)13 5%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 10 complaints (3.8%)10 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE15860.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3111.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2911.2%
AIR BAGS238.8%
POWER TRAIN176.5%
SERVICE BRAKES166.2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING135.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM103.8%

Complaints filed per year

024472014: 12015: 52016: 102017: 72018: 152019: 242020: 432021: 472022: 362023: 212024: 192025: 232026: 9 (partial year)1415161718192021472223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20141
20155
201610
20177
201815
201924
202043
202147
202236
202321
202419
202523
2026 (year to date)9
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (63 against 126).

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.

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 2026-10-05. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.