Kia Forte: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
2,563 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Kia Forte, model years 2009 to 2024. 10 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2014 (engine 10×); 2017 (engine 7.1×); 2012 (engine 7.6×); 2015 (engine 7.3×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2018, 2016, 2019. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 ForteFEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 0 | |
| 2010 Forte | 221 | engine 3.7× | 3 | |
| 2011 Forte | 154 | engine 2.2× | 3 | |
| 2012 Forte | 293 | engine 7.6× | 4 | |
| 2013 Forte | 195 | engine 5× | 5 | |
| 2014 Forte | 444 | engine 10× | 3 | |
| 2015 Forte | 261 | engine 7.3× | 1 | |
| 2016 ForteFEW REPORTS | 137 | engine 3× | 1 | |
| 2017 Forte | 305 | engine 7.1× | 3 | |
| 2018 ForteFEW REPORTS | 136 | engine 2.8× | 3 | |
| 2019 Forte | 150 | transmission 4.8× | 2 | |
| 2020 ForteFEW REPORTS | 78 | — | 0 | |
| 2021 ForteFEW REPORTS | 69 | — | 2 | |
| 2022 ForteFEW REPORTS | 28 | — | 1 | |
| 2023 ForteFEW REPORTS | 66 | — | 3 | |
| 2024 ForteFEW REPORTS | 25 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Kia models
Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Sedona · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Soul · Kia Spectra · Kia Sportage · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 20102011201220132014201520172019