KIA / Forte / 2020

2020 KIA Forte problems

Owners have filed 100 complaints about the 2020 KIA Forte with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 16% of them, narrowly the most common, ahead of power train at 16%. A further 25.0% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints100

Crashes12

Fires2

Injuries6

Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Unknown or other 25.0% · 25

Engine 16.0% · 16

Power train 16.0% · 16

Electrical system 11.0% · 11

Forward collision avoidance 5.0% · 5

Air bags 4.0% · 4

Vehicle speed control 4.0% · 4

Engine and engine cooling 3.0% · 3

Severity

Of those complaints, 12 describe a crash, 2 describe a fire and 6 report an injury.

Reading the numbers

Across the 11 model years of the KIA Forte in this data, 2020 draws comparatively few complaints; 2014 is the outlier year.

Filings are rising, 49 in the last three years against 41 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 7,000 miles.

In owners' own words

While driving I heard a pop then the lights on my dash lit up my car came to a stop i.e cut off tried to start back up the engine caught fire burned the whole front end off total loss Engine

The engine light went on and engine is burning oil mechanic said it needs to be rebuilt itâs currently under financing from kia and not sure if they cover this Engine

Water leaking into trunk causing malfunction to security alarm system auto trunk release and trunk lid open symbol trunk malfunction warnig symbols and alarm stayed on could not here any saftey alarms water in trunk damaged sensor could not lock or unlock trunk remotly could not here alarm on blind spot warning could not read any readings like speed, tire pressurer could not here seat belt lock chime Electrical system · reported at 7,000 miles

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other KIA Forte years

2014 644 complaints · 33.2% engine 2015 325 complaints · 48.0% engine 2016 201 complaints · 32.3% engine 2017 432 complaints · 33.3% engine 2018 188 complaints · 30.3% engine 2019 216 complaints · 21.8% power train

Compare all 11 model years →