The Lemon Index2017 Kia Forte.
The 2017 Kia Forte is better than average by owner complaints: 99 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 80, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 25 to 32 mpg combined. The best Kia Forte year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 305 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Forte year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
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.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 20K to 82K miles on the car (135 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 29K–103K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 9K–49K miles
- lights complaints mostly came at 21K–52K miles
Recalls 3
- airbags 2022
The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit.
- latches/locks/linkages 2021
The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside.
- engine 2021
Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 140 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information…
- PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake…
- Technical service bulletin: excessive oil consumption nu/gamma/theta/kappa engines - this…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Forte Koup 2 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2000–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
I have had to replace the rear brake lights 2 times in less than 2 years. The keep going out.
2017 Kia Forte owner · NHTSA complaint 11268840
More owner reports
While driving smoke started to come from under the hood.... I stopped and had a person stop and he looked under hood to see a gas line broke and was making its way on the motor
NHTSA complaint 11316407
Low beam headlights burn out every 2-3 months, one after the other. Sometimes one will go out and be out for a couple days and then come back on, but usually they go out and stay out until the bulb is replaced.
NHTSA complaint 11326043
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Kia Forte reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 80; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Forte year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2017 Kia Forte problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (27%), lights (24%) and electrical (21%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Forte have?
3 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Kia Forte get?
25 to 32 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Kia Forte safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 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 2017 Kia Forte problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,000 and 82,000 miles. The middle report was at 40,000 miles, from 135 complaints.
Does the 2017 Kia Forte have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2017 Kia Forte cost in fuel a year?
About $2000 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Kia Forte have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Kia Forte year is better than the 2017?
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