2011 Kia Forte: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 213 complaints
213
Total Complaints
81,300mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
44
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

37,250 25th Percentile
81,300 Median Mileage
110,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
45
AIR BAGS
34
POWER TRAIN
17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
16
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
16
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13
SERVICE BRAKES
11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
8
STRUCTURE:BODY
7

Severity Assessment

44
Crashes
22
Fires
48
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA MOTOR FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPL..."
"MY MOTHER PURCHASED A NEW KIA FORTE A FEW DAYS AGO. CAME HOME FROM FOOD SHOPPING OPENED THE TRUNK TO TAKE OUT HER GROCERIES. SHE BENT OVER REACHED IN THE TRUNK TO REMOVE A BAG AND THE TRUNK SLAMMED DOWN ON THE BACK OF HER NECK CAUSING SEVERE BRUISING. I WENT OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG . THE CAR WAS..."
"CAR WILL NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY UNDER MANUAL."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28