Last updated: 2026-10-10

2024 Kia Forte Reliability Report
The 2024 KIA Forte has a good reliability standing and no recalls, but owners report stalling while driving and airbag faults.
Recalls
0
Complaints
20
Complaint Rate
1.6per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$451
Annual Fuel Cost
$1,750–$2,300
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Final third-generation year and the best of seven scored Forte years, with no recalls, though owners report engine shutoffs and airbag faults.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)
- POWER TRAIN (3)
- SUSPENSION (1)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2024 is the last model year of the Third generation (BD).
- Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
- 3 years after the last refresh (2021).
- 3rd generation Forte (US).
What this means for buyers
Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.
2019: Third generation (BD) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2021: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2024: This Model Year
2024 is the last model year of the Third generation (BD).
Should You Buy the 2024 Kia Forte?
This is the strongest Forte year among the seven scored. It is the last of the third generation, has no federal recalls, and sits above the average 2024 sedan. Owners filed 20 complaints, or 1.6 per 10,000 sold. The 2023 also rates good, but it rates worse, with 53 complaints and 3 recalls.
Electrical faults lead the complaints. Some owners say the car shuts off while driving, once on the freeway, and the dealer could not reproduce it after short test drives. Others report airbag fault codes, a failed airbag sensor or unit, and headlights that go dark at night after a bump. Power train reports include grinding gears, first or reverse refusing to engage, and one car that lost all power at about 11K miles. In one crash report, lane assist steered the car into a guard rail at about 25 MPH.
Ask for dealer records on any shutoff, airbag warning, or headlight repair. Test drive over rough pavement and shift through every gear. Independent data puts yearly repairs at $451, below the $526 class figure.
See also the 2023 Kia Forte for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$75 cheaper to maintain than avg compact cars
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (9%)
Cons
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Sudden acceleration and power loss are the most serious reports here (7 complaints)
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM issues reported (5 complaints)
Compare 2024 Kia Forte With

2024 Honda Civic
Reliability: 81/100

2024 Toyota Corolla
Reliability: 81/100

2024 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability: 85/100

2024 Mazda 3
Reliability: 78/100

2024 Nissan Sentra
Reliability: 79/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
HIGH RISK- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5)
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
No recalls are on record for the 2024 Kia Forte — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
1.6
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 5.4
Safety Incidents
5
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 4/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
Buying a used 2024 Kia Forte? Check its history first
Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2024 Kia Forte, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2024 Kia Forte NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 10.7%
Safety Technologies
Kia ForteRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3Maintenance rating: 3 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$451
vs $526 avg for compact cars
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.2
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
9%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Kia Forte Resale Value
The Kia Forte is estimated to retain about 76.3% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Kia Forte model overall and is not specific to the 2024 model year.
- Value Retained
- 76.3%
- Depreciation
- 23.7%
- Listings Analyzed
- 600
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.
Explore Kia Forte depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
26–34 MPG
Running cost: $2,200–$2,750/yr
Fuel + repair
22–30 city / 31–41 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2024 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forte FE 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 30 | 41 | 34 | $1,750 |
| Forte 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 28 | 39 | 32 | $1,850 |
| Forte 1.6L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM-S7) | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,000 |
| Forte 1.6L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 22 | 31 | 26 | $2,300 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2024 Kia Forte.
Shift through every gear and reverse from a stop, and listen for grinding with the clutch fully pressed.
Accelerate from a stop and on a highway ramp, and feel for jerking, shuddering, or sudden loss of power.
Creep slowly into a parking spot and confirm the car stops firmly when you brake.
Scan for stored codes, especially oxygen sensor, catalytic converter, and emissions faults, and confirm the check engine light stays off.
Check that the airbag warning light turns off after startup, and ask for records of airbag sensor or voltage repairs.
Drive over bumps at night with headlights on and watch for lights cutting out or the screen resetting.
Ask for service records on stalling, water pump, clutch, or front radar calibration work, and test lane assist on a curve.
2024 Kia Forte Common Problems by Component
20 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7 complaintsSafety-relatedSudden acceleration and power loss are the most serious reports here. One car surged forward while parking even with the brake pressed and hit a wall. Others lose power in traffic, with the gas pedal not responding for a time. A check engine light that stays on after an oxygen sensor replacement, with codes pointing to the catalytic converter and emissions system, appears in repeat filings. Other reports describe grinding gears and a transmission stuck in gear, a months-long dealer wait for front radar calibration, and an attempted theft. Two complaints involve crashes.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5 complaintsThe car shuts off while driving, sometimes on the freeway, and in that case the dealer could not reproduce the problem after short test drives. Several filings cite airbag system fault codes, a failed airbag sensor or unit, and a recurring voltage malfunction, with one owner saying the dealer refused the repair. Headlights also go dark at night after the car hits a dip or bump. When that happens the start-up chime sounds and the information screen resets to setup. All of these raise loss-of-control or crash protection concerns.
POWER TRAIN
3 complaintsSafety-relatedShifting failures lead these reports. Gears grind even with the clutch fully down, and first gear or reverse won't engage. The car may also jump into the wrong gear, and the problem continues after repeated clutch, flywheel, and transmission work. Other cars jerk and shudder when accelerating, refuse to start, or lose all power and shut off while driving. One of those came at about 11K miles, after a water pump replacement. One crash report says lane assist steered the car into a guard rail at about 25 MPH. The dealer could not find the cause.
SUSPENSION (1 complaints)
SUSPENSION
1 complaintSuspension noise over bumps
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintPlease see attachment:
AIR BAGS (1 complaints)
AIR BAGS
1 complaintSafety-relatedDate of Incident: [XXX] Location: [XXX] To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this letter to report a potential airbag malfunction involving my 2024 Kia Forte GT. On [XXX], I was the driver and sole occupant of my vehicle when I was T-boned on the driver’s side while traveling [XXX] on [XXX] at the intersection of [XXX] . The collision was severe enough to spin my vehicle and resulted in significant damage to the driver-side door and frame. Despite the force and nature of the crash, none of the airbags in my vehicle deployed—including side airbags that should have been triggered by the impact. I was later diagnosed with a concussion and sustained other physical and emotional injuries from the crash. As of the date of this complaint, the vehicle has not been repaired, and I have photos documenting the damage. Given the potential risk to other drivers who may experience similar failures, I am requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this vehicle for airbag deployment defects. I am willing to provide photos, medical records, and further details as needed. Also, the seatbelts sometime freeze when pulling them out to get secured in the car, you have to release and then pull again to gain full access to the seat belt. There is a police report done on this matter but I do not have access to it yet because it has yet to be approved by the LRPD sergeant. We checked on July 5th, 2025. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintSafety-relatedThe lane assist stopped working properly and pulled me into the guardrail
STRUCTURE (1 complaints)
STRUCTURE
1 complaintIn order for the drivers door to shut, you have to nearly slam it shut. If you don’t, you’re still able to lock the vehicle which results and trapping the door. This means that if you attempt to unlock the vehicle, it will not let you you have to force the door open with your bodyweight. I am driving a loaner vehicle from a Kia dealership and this happened to me several times it’s quite disturbing especially if something has been left in the car and you don’t have access to it like my medication. The vehicle locks will still lock even though the doors are not shut this causes the doors to jam.
Best & Worst Kia Forte Years
Best Kia Forte Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
(Current Model)
2020
2022
Kia Forte Years to Avoid
Kia Forte Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 66/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 67/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 75/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 78/100 | Good |
Kia Forte Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2024 KIA Forte reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2024 KIA Forte?
Does the 2024 KIA Forte have recalls?
Does the 2024 KIA Forte have airbag problems?
Is the 2024 KIA Forte better than the 2023?
Don’t buy a 2024 Kia Forte without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2024 Kia Forte
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2024 Kia Forte does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on repair costs (60/100). 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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