Is the KIA Forte more reliable than the Nissan Versa?

Based on our data, the Nissan Versa is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 72/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the KIA Forte or the Nissan Versa?

Both have 11 recalls across their tracked years. Review individual year pages for details on what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the KIA Forte or the Nissan Versa?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Versa has a lower complaint rate at 1.5 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 3.2 for the KIA Forte. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the KIA Forte or the Nissan Versa?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Forte is cheaper to maintain at $451/year versus $456/year for the Nissan Versa.

Is the KIA Forte or Nissan Versa safer?

Based on NHTSA crash test ratings, the Nissan Versa has a higher overall safety rating of 5/5 stars compared to 4/5 for the KIA Forte. Check sub-ratings (frontal, side, rollover) above for a more detailed safety comparison.

Last updated: 2026-05-15

KIA Forte vs Nissan Versa: Reliability Compared

KIA Forte

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Versa

Good

Choosing between the KIA Forte and the Nissan Versa? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact sedans.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Nissan Versa currently leads with an average score of 76/100 compared to 72/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the KIA Forte and Nissan Versa Generations Compare?

As of 2026, the Kia Forte is in its third generation, which began in 2019. This generation received a facelift in 2021 for the 2022 model year, reflecting a mid-cycle refresh that often addresses early model issues. Being later in its generation cycle, the Forte's platform is likely well-sorted, with most reliability issues resolved over time. The Nissan Versa is currently in its third generation, which started in 2019 and was refreshed for the 2024 model year. This facelift suggests improvements and updates to address any initial issues. Since the Versa's generation is nearing its end, it benefits from accumulated refinements, enhancing its reliability profile.

Verdict

The Nissan Versa is more reliable than the KIA Forte, scoring 76/100 vs 72/100.

The Nissan Versa edges out the KIA Forte in reliability, with a slightly higher average reliability score of 76 compared to 72. The Versa also has a lower owner complaint rate at 1.5 per 10,000 sold versus the Forte's 3.2, despite both models having 11 recalls. Independent repair cost estimates are nearly identical, with the Forte at $451 annually and the Versa at $456. The key differentiator is the lower complaint rate for the Versa, making it a more reliable choice overall.

Key Differences

1KIA Forte costs $5 less per year to repair
2Nissan Versa scores 4 points higher in reliability
3Nissan Versa has 1.7 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3KIA Forte

—

3Nissan Versa

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

KIA Forte vs Nissan Versa: Which Is More Reliable?

KIA Forte vs Nissan Versa at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	KIA Forte	Nissan Versa
Reliability Score	72/100	76/100
Years Tracked	7	5
Total Recalls	11	11
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.2	1.5
Annual Repair Cost	$451/yr	$456/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.4/yr
Major Repair Risk	9%	10%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2024 NHTSA	2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	2

What Are the Common Problems With the KIA Forte and Nissan Versa?

The KIA Forte and Nissan Versa exhibit distinct problem profiles with notable differences in complaint distribution and severity. The Forte has a higher total number of complaints, particularly in categories like "UNKNOWN OR OTHER" and "POWER TRAIN," each with 85 complaints, and significant issues in the "AIR BAGS" category, which are highly crash-linked with 22 out of 29 complaints. Conversely, the Nissan Versa shows a concentration of issues in the "POWER TRAIN" and "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM" categories, with 63 and 37 complaints, respectively, but fewer crash-linked incidents overall. Both models have significant airbag-related complaints, but the Forte's higher crash-linkage rate suggests a more impactful safety concern in this area compared to the Versa.

KIA Forte vs Nissan Versa common problem areas comparison
Component	KIA Forte	Nissan Versa
POWER TRAIN	0.6Very Low	0.4Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.6Very Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
EQUIPMENT	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
WHEELS	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: KIA Forte or Nissan Versa?

According to industry estimates, the KIA Forte and Nissan Versa have similar annual repair costs, with the Forte at $451 and the Versa at $456. Over five years, this difference amounts to a modest $25 in favor of the Forte. However, the Forte has a lower repair frequency of 0.2 visits per year compared to the Versa's 0.4 visits, potentially saving time and hassle for owners. Additionally, the Forte has a slightly lower major repair risk at 9% versus the Versa's 10%. For cost-conscious buyers, the KIA Forte may offer better value due to its lower repair frequency and marginally reduced risk of major repairs.

How Does KIA Forte vs Nissan Versa Reliability Compare by Year?

KIA Forte vs Nissan Versa year-by-year reliability scores
Year	KIA Forte	Nissan Versa	Edge
2024	78/1000R / 20C	73/1001R / 91C	KIA Forte
2021	72/1002R / 64C	77/1003R / 29C	Nissan Versa
2020	76/1000R / 63C	74/1002R / 60C	KIA Forte
2018	66/1003R / 133C	76/1005R / 55C	Nissan Versa

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 KIA Forte scored 78/100 and the 2021 Nissan Versa scored 77/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the KIA Forte vs the Nissan Versa?

If you prioritize overall reliability and fewer owner complaints, the Nissan Versa might be the better choice for you. With a reliability score of 76/100 and only 1.5 complaints per 10,000 sold, it edges out the KIA Forte in these areas. However, it does have a slightly higher estimated annual repair cost at $456 and a repair frequency of 0.4 times per year, reflecting a minor trade-off for its higher reliability rating. On the other hand, if minimizing repair frequency is your main concern, the KIA Forte is worth considering. Despite its lower reliability score of 72/100, it boasts a lower repair frequency of 0.2 times per year and a marginally reduced annual repair cost of $451. With a major repair risk of 9%, slightly lower than the Versa's 10%, it offers peace of mind in terms of unexpected major repairs. Choose the Forte if you value fewer trips to the mechanic and slightly lower maintenance costs.

KIA Forte vs Nissan Versa: Common Questions

Is the KIA Forte more reliable than the Nissan Versa?: Based on our data, the Nissan Versa is more reliable with an average score of 76/100 compared to 72/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the KIA Forte or the Nissan Versa?: Both have 11 recalls across their tracked years. Review individual year pages for details on what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the KIA Forte or the Nissan Versa?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Versa has a lower complaint rate at 1.5 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 3.2 for the KIA Forte. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the KIA Forte or the Nissan Versa?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the KIA Forte is cheaper to maintain at $451/year versus $456/year for the Nissan Versa.
Is the KIA Forte or Nissan Versa safer?: Based on NHTSA crash test ratings, the Nissan Versa has a higher overall safety rating of 5/5 stars compared to 4/5 for the KIA Forte. Check sub-ratings (frontal, side, rollover) above for a more detailed safety comparison.

More KIA Forte comparisons

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More Nissan Versa comparisons

Nissan Versa vs Toyota Corolla reliability Nissan Versa vs Hyundai Elantra reliability Nissan Versa vs Honda Civic reliability Nissan Versa vs Mazda 3 reliability Nissan Versa reliability by year Nissan Versa years to avoid

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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