2018 Kia Forte problems and recalls

Owners filed 61 complaints on the 2018 Kia Forte in the last three full years, out of 136 on record. The most cited component is the Engine.

136
Complaints
3
Recalls
13
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
9
Injuries
86.0
Severity index

Severity index 86.0 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 86.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 19 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 84% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 57 complaints (41.9%)57 42%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 30 complaints (22.1%)30 22%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 16 complaints (11.8%)16 12%Air BagsAir Bags: 16 complaints (11.8%)16 12%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 10 complaints (7.4%)10 7%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 8 complaints (5.9%)8 6%Power TrainPower Train: 8 complaints (5.9%)8 6%StructureStructure: 7 complaints (5.1%)7 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE5741.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3022.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1611.8%
AIR BAGS1611.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL107.4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM85.9%
POWER TRAIN85.9%
STRUCTURE75.1%

Complaints filed per year

013262018: 72019: 152020: 122021: 92022: 222023: 172024: 262025: 182026: 10 (partial year)18192021222324262526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20187
201915
202012
20219
202222
202317
202426
202518
2026 (year to date)10
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (61 against 43).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
22V03100025/01/2022AIR BAGSKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result
21V62200009/08/2021LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCHKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of F
21V26000013/04/2021ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMPKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.

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 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.