Is the Honda Civic more reliable than the KIA Forte?

Yes, the Civic has a clear edge. Independent repair-cost data puts its yearly repair bill lower, and the Forte has a pattern of sudden engine failure with no warning light. The Civic is not trouble free, though. It has more recalls and a higher complaint rate per car sold.

Which has more recalls, the Civic or the Forte?

The Civic has far more. Federal recall records show 37 recalls across 9 model years for the Civic, against 11 across 7 model years for the Forte. Check any car's VIN for open recalls before you buy it.

Which is cheaper to repair?

The Civic. It averages about $368 a year in repairs, while the Forte averages $451. Over five years that adds up to roughly $415 saved. Shop visits are the same at 0.2 per year, and major repairs are about equally likely.

What is the biggest problem with the KIA Forte?

Engine failure. Owners describe stalling, knocking, and loss of power, with failures clustering between 67,000 and 90,000 miles. Many say no warning light came on until after the damage, and mechanics often called for a new engine. Airbag non-deployment in crashes is the other serious complaint.

What is the biggest problem with the Honda Civic?

Steering. Owners report a wheel that turns stiff or sticky at highway speeds, then breaks free and overshoots. It is the Civic's largest complaint area, with 58 crash-linked reports. Owners also describe long dealer waits for parts, and some say the sticky steering continued after repairs.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Honda Civic vs Kia Forte: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Honda Civic

Good

Kia Forte

Good

The Honda Civic comes out clearly ahead of the KIA Forte on reliability, mainly because it costs less to keep running. The Forte's sudden engine failures weigh against it. The Civic has more recalls and steering complaints, so check its repair status before buying.

How Do the Honda Civic and Kia Forte Generations Compare?

Late-cycle tenth-generation cars make up much of the used Civic market: that generation ran from 2016 to 2021, so 2018 through 2021 come from its final years. The eleventh generation began in 2022, and that first year is among the weakest. The generation list in this data ends at 2023, so later Civic years are not placed in a generation here. On the Forte side, the second generation ended in 2018, also one of its weakest years. The third generation started in 2019, another weak year, and a facelift came with the 2022 model. By 2020 the third generation had settled, and that year is among the strongest.

Verdict

The Honda Civic is more reliable than the Kia Forte, scoring 78/100 vs 72/100.

Reliability favors the Civic, and the edge is clear. It costs less per year to repair, and its worst complaints involve steering feel and slow recall repairs more than engines quitting. The Forte's biggest risk is sudden engine failure, mostly between 67,000 and 90,000 miles, often with no warning light. Owners also say second owners and people missing oil-change receipts were denied warranty help. The Civic carries more recalls and a higher complaint rate per car sold, so it is the better pick, not a flawless one.

Key Differences

1Honda Civic costs $83 less per year to repair
2Kia Forte has 26 fewer total recalls
3Honda Civic scores 6 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3Honda Civic

—

3Kia Forte

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Honda Civic vs Kia Forte: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Civic vs Kia Forte at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Civic	Kia Forte
Reliability Score	78/100	72/100
Years Tracked	9	7
Total Recalls	37	11
Complaints per 10k Sold	4.8	3.2
Annual Repair Cost	$368/yr	$451/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk	10%	9%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2024 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Civic and Kia Forte?

Steering dominates the Civic's record. Owners describe a wheel that turns stiff or notchy at highway speeds, then breaks free and overshoots, and 58 of those complaints are crash-linked. Fuel pump trouble adds sudden power loss and stalling. The Forte's pattern is different: engines that knock, stall, and need replacing, plus transmissions stuck in sixth gear or skipping gears. Forte owners also report cars with no immobilizer that can be started with a USB cable. Airbags failing to deploy appear on both, with crash-linked reports for each. The Forte's steering complaints are fewer and mostly about heavy steering after the engine shuts off.

Honda Civic vs Kia Forte common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Civic	Kia Forte
STEERING	2.5Low	0.2Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.3Very Low	0.6Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.1Very Low	0.6Very Low
ENGINE	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None
PARKING BRAKE	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	—None
EQUIPMENT	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Civic or Kia Forte?

Repairs cost less on the Civic, at about $368 a year against $451 for the Forte. That gap is $83 a year, or roughly $415 over five years. Both cars average 0.2 unscheduled shop visits per year, so neither sends you to the shop more often. The chance that a repair is major is 10% for the Civic and 9% for the Forte, a small difference. The Civic's savings come from cheaper repairs, not fewer trips.

How Does Honda Civic vs Kia Forte Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda Civic vs Kia Forte year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Civic	Kia Forte	Edge
2024	81/1005R / 131C	78/1000R / 20C	Honda Civic
2023	74/1007R / 315C	68/1003R / 53C	Honda Civic
2022	66/1003R / 935C	75/1001R / 22C	Kia Forte
2021	81/1003R / 118C	72/1002R / 64C	Honda Civic
2020	78/1008R / 405C	76/1000R / 63C	Honda Civic
2019	75/1002R / 356C	67/1002R / 140C	Honda Civic
2018	71/1004R / 605C	66/1003R / 133C	Honda Civic

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Honda Civic scored 81/100 and the 2024 Kia Forte scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Honda Civic vs the Kia Forte?

Pick the Civic if you want the lower yearly repair bill and plan to keep the car for years. Avoid 2018 and 2022, the weakest Civic years. The 2025 and 2026 models rate best, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven. Before you buy any Civic, confirm that open steering and fuel pump repairs are done, since owners describe long dealer waits for parts. Pick the Forte if the price is right and you are willing to check its history closely. Target 2020 and avoid 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. Ask for full oil-change records, because owners report engine failures with little warning and denied warranty claims when receipts were missing. Treat a Forte near 67,000 miles or more with extra caution. Also ask about anti-theft protection, since owners report break-ins and thefts.

Honda Civic vs Kia Forte: Common Questions

Is the Honda Civic more reliable than the KIA Forte?: Yes, the Civic has a clear edge. Independent repair-cost data puts its yearly repair bill lower, and the Forte has a pattern of sudden engine failure with no warning light. The Civic is not trouble free, though. It has more recalls and a higher complaint rate per car sold.
Which has more recalls, the Civic or the Forte?: The Civic has far more. Federal recall records show 37 recalls across 9 model years for the Civic, against 11 across 7 model years for the Forte. Check any car's VIN for open recalls before you buy it.
Which is cheaper to repair?: The Civic. It averages about $368 a year in repairs, while the Forte averages $451. Over five years that adds up to roughly $415 saved. Shop visits are the same at 0.2 per year, and major repairs are about equally likely.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Forte?: Engine failure. Owners describe stalling, knocking, and loss of power, with failures clustering between 67,000 and 90,000 miles. Many say no warning light came on until after the damage, and mechanics often called for a new engine. Airbag non-deployment in crashes is the other serious complaint.
What is the biggest problem with the Honda Civic?: Steering. Owners report a wheel that turns stiff or sticky at highway speeds, then breaks free and overshoots. It is the Civic's largest complaint area, with 58 crash-linked reports. Owners also describe long dealer waits for parts, and some say the sticky steering continued after repairs.

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More Kia Forte comparisons

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Decided between Honda Civic and Kia Forte? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Honda Civic and Kia Forte

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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