Is the 2019 Kia Forte a bad year?
150 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 48, 4.8× a quiet Forte year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 3k–23k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2019 Forte owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 6,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 48 (32%) | 3k–23k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 42 (28%) | 29k–103k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 23 (15%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 17 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 7 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 6,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 150 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 5 report an injury · 14 say the car was towed.
21 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The CVT transmission failed. Car had to be towed. I owned the car for less than 3 months.
On 9/6/19, on my way back from a trip to dallas, my 2019 Kia Forte (Launch edition) started to randomly rev up on the highway.
I purchased this car in december for 2018. In october of 2019, it started having issues with the rpms bouncing.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 6,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2019 Kia Forte: 2
The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break. A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 51
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2019 Kia Forte. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ivt oil pressure sensor replacement
Ivt software logic improvement and/or ivt replacement
7-SPEED DCT judder inspection and dual clutch assembly replacement
Nu 2.0L mpi sulev logic improvement (SA462)
Neighbouring years
2018 Forte: 136 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2020 Forte: 78 complaints, keep it.
Every Kia Forte year
2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · All Forte years side by side
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.
Questions
Is the 2019 Kia Forte a bad year?
150 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 48, 4.8× a quiet Forte year. At 6,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 3k–23k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Kia Forte?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (48), engine (42), electrical system (23), collision avoidance (17), exterior lighting (15). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 3k–23k miles.
How many recalls does the 2019 Kia Forte have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-459), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 18V-771). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.