The Lemon Index2018 Kia Forte. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM7) | FWD | 25 / 30 / 27 | Regular | $2,300 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 23 / 29 / 25 | Regular | $2,500 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Auto (S6) | FWD | 29 / 37 / 32 | Regular | $1,950 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 25 / 34 / 28 | Regular | $2,200 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,000 and 79,000 miles. Median 33,900, from 51 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 67,000 | 37,500–127,000 | 17 |
| Airbags | 40,500 | 6,700–127,700 | 6 |
| Electrical | 41,000 | 15,500–114,500 | 5 |
| Speed control | 9,600 | 1,500–23,700 | 7 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 23,300 | 200–87,100 | 6 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 26% |
| Speed control | 16% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 14% |
| Electrical | 12% |
| Airbags | 7% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 15 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 3
22V031000 Jan 2022 Air Bags
Defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Risk. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
21V622000 Aug 2021 Latches/Locks/Linkages / Trunk Lid / Latch
Defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
21V260000 Apr 2021 Engine And Engine Cooling / Engine / Oil/Lubrication / Pump
Defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Risk. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Manufacturer communications 100
Kia filed 100 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- 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…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Forte 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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