2016 Kia Forte: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 192 complaints
192
Total Complaints
37,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
20
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

15,950 25th Percentile
37,000 Median Mileage
60,112 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
61
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
18
POWER TRAIN
16
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
14
AIR BAGS
13
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13
SERVICE BRAKES
10
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
9
WHEELS
6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
5

Severity Assessment

20
Crashes
13
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"NOTICE MY LIGHTS WOULD GO ON & OFF ON DASH BOARD DURING G DAY TIMES THINKING CAR HAD DIMMING EFFECTS, THEN NOTICE WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF & LIGHTS SHOULD BE OFF THEY WOULD STAY ON. THEN I WOULD BE SITTING OUTSIDE LOOK AT CAR & LIGHTS WOULD JUST COME ON BY THEMSELVES. THE WORST I WAS TRYING & HEADLIGHTS..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE TISSUE DAMAGE TO THE LEG, BACK, AND THIGH..."
"I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW KIA FORTE 2016 ON 5/27/2016. SINCE DAY ONE, I'VE BEEN FACING A PROBLEM THAT I THINK IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT REGULAR SPEEDS, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ACCELERATION AND EVEN IF I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 2-3 SECONDS AND AFTER 2-3 SECONDS, THE G..."

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