Last updated: 2026-10-10

Kia Forte

Kia Forte Years to Avoid

7 scored model years (2018–2024) · model average 72/100

Skip the 2018 model year. Owners report sudden engine failure, and airbag complaints add a serious safety concern. The 2024 is the year to buy, since it has far fewer complaints and no recalls in federal records.

Verdict

Avoid
2018 66/100
Buy
2024 78/100
Model average
72/100
See years to avoid ↓See best year ↓See all years ranked ↓

Kia Forte Years to Avoid

These model years score significantly below the Kia Forte average of 72/100.

#YearScoreRatingRecallsComplaintsTop Issue
1201866/100Good3133Engine (38)

Why These Years Should Be Avoided

66
GoodReliability score: 66 out of 100, rated Good

2018 Kia Forte

Engines are the main trouble. Owners describe stalling at stops, power loss while merging, and knocking before the engine quits. Many say oil ran low with no warning light. Failures cluster between 67,000 and 90,000 miles. Airbag reports, including cases where bags did not deploy in crashes, make this year riskier still.

3 recalls133 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Engine (38), Unknown Or Other (22), Electrical System (14), Air Bags (14), Power Train (8), Vehicle Speed Control (6)

View full 2018reliability report →

What Are Common Kia Forte Problems?

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

85 complaints

Most reported in 2020, 2018, 2019

2020: Theft makes up most of these complaints.

POWER TRAIN

85 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2020, 2018

2019: Transmission failure often comes without warning, usually within the first few thousand miles.

ENGINE

81 complaints

Most reported in 2018, 2019, 2021

2018: Sudden engine failure is the dominant pattern.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

56 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2018, 2020

2019: Lighting circuits fail again and again.

STEERING

38 complaints

Most reported in 2023, 2021, 2019

2023: Pulling to the right is the main pattern.

AIR BAGS

29 complaints

Most reported in 2018, 2021, 2020

2018: Airbags failing to deploy in crashes is the main complaint, and it is serious.

Best Kia Forte Year to Buy Instead

78
GoodReliability score: 78 out of 100, rated Good

2024 Kia Forte

Compared with 2018, the 2024 has far fewer owner complaints and no recalls in federal records, and its filings do not center on engine failure. It has also had less time on the road, so its record is still short. Electrical shutoffs while driving are worth checking on any 2024 you consider.

Score: 78/100 (Good)0 recalls20 complaints
View full 2024reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car

Even the 2024 Kia Forte has 0 recalls on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

All Kia Forte Years by Generation

Kia Forte Reliability Scores by Year

Excellent Good Mixed Risky

Frequently Asked Questions

Which KIA Forte years should I avoid?
Avoid the 2018. Site analysis puts it well below the model's own average. It has the most engine complaints of any year, three recalls, and serious airbag reports. The 2019 also rates among the lowest, so inspect it closely if you consider one.
Which KIA Forte years have transmission problems?
The 2019 has the heaviest load, with power train as its top complaint category. The 2020 also lists power train among its leading categories. Reports describe skipped gears, a transmission that will not shift into second, and weak acceleration. Test drive any Forte and watch the shifting closely.
Why is the 2018 KIA Forte a year to avoid?
Engine failure is the main reason. Owners describe stalling, power loss at highway speed, and knocking before the engine dies. Airbag complaints add to it, including crashes where the bags did not deploy. The year also carries three recalls and three fire reports in the data.
Is the 2024 KIA Forte a safe used buy?
It is the site's pick, with no recalls and the lowest complaint rate of any year. Still, owners report the car shutting off while driving and airbag system fault codes. Have a dealer check for open service work and fault codes before you buy.
Do newer KIA Forte years have fewer problems?
Generally yes, but the gap is partly timing. The 2022 and 2024 have the fewest complaints, yet newer cars have had less time to collect them. The 2023 has more steering complaints and three recalls, so a newer year is not automatically safer.

How we score every Kia Forte model year

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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