2011 Kia Forte.

The 2011 Kia Forte is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 25 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 28, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 26 to 30 mpg combined. The best Kia Forte year is 2022.

28Lemon Index · 100 = average car

One of the most reliable. 3.6× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2022 · Worst year 2019

Photo shows a Kia Forte. Dinkun Chen, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.

Most common problemTransmission & drivetrain28% of owner complaints Recalls3Free fix at any dealer Better year to buy20226.7× fewer complaints than average Government investigation1 openOwners reported enough to trigger one

Owner complaints25first 3 years

Fuel economy26–30 mpgcombined, EPA

Crash test★★★★☆NHTSA overall

How serious. Out of 162 owner complaints, owners reported:

28crashes

21injuries

13fires

18tows

Under government investigation 80 repair notes from Kia

Every Kia Forte year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.

2010651.5× fewer complaints 2011283.6× fewer complaints 2012402.5× fewer complaints 2013342.9× fewer complaints 2014821.2× fewer complaints 2015502× fewer complaints 2016502× fewer complaints 2017801.2× fewer complaints 2018402.5× fewer complaints 2019841.2× fewer complaints 2020452.2× fewer complaints 2021442.3× fewer complaints 2022156.7× fewer complaints 202344early read · 2.3× fewer complaints 202422early read · 4.5× fewer complaints

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

transmission & drivetrain28%

airbags24%

speed control24%

brakes12%

tires8%

Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.

Transmission problems in every Kia Forte year →

When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.

half by 77K

0K50K100K150K200K

Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 30K to 112K miles on the car (105 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.

engine complaints mostly came at 79K–142K miles
airbags complaints mostly came at 17K–94K miles
transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 22K–102K miles

Recalls 3

brakes 2023
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
airbags 2018
In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
transmission & drivetrain 2016
The affected vehicles have a transmission fluid cooler hose that may have been improperly manufactured, resulting in a transmission fluid leak.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Problems Kia told dealers about

Kia sent dealers 80 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:

Some vehicles experiencing no crank or start, mil lamp, harsh shifting, depressing the start/stop
6 spd a/t solenoid replacement multiple dtcs - this bulletin provides information relating

Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.

Government investigations

OpenHyundai and kia abs module fires2023
ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
ClosedAir bags may be disabled during crash2018–2019

NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.

Safety

Stability controlStandard

Collision warningNot offered

Lane departure warningNot offered

NHTSA front crash test of the 2011 Kia Forte — Front crash test · NHTSA

Crash test details

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
Kia Forte 4 DR FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Kia Forte SW FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Kia Forte Koup 2 DR FWD	not rated	not rated	not rated	not rated

Fuel cost and engines

About $2150–2450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.

Quick answers

Is the 2011 Kia Forte reliable?

Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 3.6× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 28; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Forte year by this measure is 2022.

What are the most common 2011 Kia Forte problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (28%), airbags (24%) and speed control (24%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2011 Kia Forte have?

3 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Kia Forte get?

26 to 30 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

Is the 2011 Kia Forte safe?

NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.

At what mileage do 2011 Kia Forte problems start?

Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,400 and 112,000 miles. The middle report was at 77,700 miles, from 105 complaints.

Does the 2011 Kia Forte have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 28% of its owner complaints.

How much does the 2011 Kia Forte cost in fuel a year?

About $2150 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2011 Kia Forte have?

2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.

What Kia Forte year is better than the 2011?

By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2011 and 2013.

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works