2021 Kia Forte: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 92 complaints
92
Total Complaints
21,234mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
13
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

2,775 25th Percentile
21,234 Median Mileage
50,114 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
20
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
17
STEERING
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
AIR BAGS
6
POWER TRAIN
6
TIRES
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
STRUCTURE:BODY
3
SEAT BELTS
3

Severity Assessment

13
Crashes
0
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DECEMBER 2,2020 I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 33 WEST AND EXITED THE EXIT AT CANAL WINCHESTER. I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS THE LEFT SIDE OF RAMP AND THE STEERING WHEEL TOOK CONTROL AND SLAMMED ME INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. WEATHER WAS 44 DEGREES AND AT 4 PM IN THE EVENING.*DT*JB*JB*DT*DT*JB*JB*DT*JB*JB"
"IN NORMAL DRIVING AND LIGHTING CONDITIONS MY AUTO GLASS APPEARS CLEAR AND NO VISIBLE ISSUES. HOWEVER, AS SOON AS THE SUN IS SHINING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE GLASS, THEN THOUSANDS OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE MICRO BUBBLES APPEAR AND SEVERELY IMPACTS THE DRIVERS VISION ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. ..."
"6/20/2021 Miles when purchased: 18. I bought my Kia Forte and drove it home to Livermore from San Jose without any problem. 6/21/2021 & 6/22/2021 I did not drive anywhere. 6/23/2021 I drove to Dublin Bowl from Livermore. When I returned home (Livermore) and was pulling into my driveway, as I pres..."

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