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2016 Kia Forte

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Forte do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 141.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

60 reports with mileage · 75 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports6 fire reports10 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

4 reports
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30,000 miles · Apr 11, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TAKATA RECALL WHEN TURNING MY VEHICLE OFF THERE IS A TICKING COMING FROM THE COMPUTER WHEN SITTING STILL IT WILL CAR WILL AISLE UP IN TRY TO TAKE OFF A LITTLE WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT ALSO SHAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND L I HAVE REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE AND THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE MOTOR ON T…

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TAKATA RECALL WHEN TURNING MY VEHICLE OFF THERE IS A TICKING COMING FROM THE COMPUTER WHEN SITTING STILL IT WILL CAR WILL AISLE UP IN TRY TO TAKE OFF A LITTLE WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT ALSO SHAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND L I HAVE REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE AND THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE MOTOR ON THE VEHICLE A LITTLE AFTER THE WARRANTY REPLACEMENT WAS DONE THE TICKING BEGIN AGAIN UNDER THE HOOD AND THE SHAKING AND EVERYTHING IS STARTING OVER AGAIN AND I KEEP TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WHICH IS EXACTLY LIKE THE FIRST TIME WHEN I WAS START TAKING IT BEFORE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET IN MY MOTOR

NHTSA ODI #11195684

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAMS ARE DULL NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IN THE DARK. ESTIMATED SIGHT DISTANCE OF LOW BEAM LIGHTS 200 FT. PASSENGERS IN MY CAR ASK IF I HAVE MY LIGHTS ON. ON COMING CARS FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AS A SIGNAL TO TURN ON MY LIGHTS. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGHBEAMS AFTER DUSK FOR VIABILITY AND FOR CARS ON THE ROAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE MY LIGHTS. …

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LOW BEAMS ARE DULL NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IN THE DARK. ESTIMATED SIGHT DISTANCE OF LOW BEAM LIGHTS 200 FT. PASSENGERS IN MY CAR ASK IF I HAVE MY LIGHTS ON. ON COMING CARS FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AS A SIGNAL TO TURN ON MY LIGHTS. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGHBEAMS AFTER DUSK FOR VIABILITY AND FOR CARS ON THE ROAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE MY LIGHTS. THE ELECTRIC DASH BOARD WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AT TIMES; HAVING TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN BACK ON MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE DASHBOARD TO LIGHT UP. THE LOW BEAMS ARE CONSENT EVERY TIME I AM STATIONARY, IN MOTION, REVERSE, PARKED. THE ELECTRIC DASHBOARD IS WHEN STARTING THE CAR, STATIONARY WHEN AT RED LIGHTS WITH THE BREAK ON.

NHTSA ODI #11175758

37,000 miles · Aug 17, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FLICKERING/CUTTING OFF AND ON. I"VE TALKED TO KIA MOTORS SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED. I KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11120726

16,901 miles · Jul 17, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

WHILE SETTING IN PARKING LOT WITH CAR IN PARK AND ENGINE RUNNING, MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTATION FAILURE, ANTI SLIP, TIRE PRESSURE, A.B.S. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, REGULAR BRAKING LIGHT, ENGINE MISS FIRING... ROUGH SHIFTING, WAS ABLE TO LIMP CAR TO CLOSED KIA DEALER.. ON A SUNDAY NIGHT.. THEY KEPT CAR 3 DAYS.. COULD NOT FIND WHY CAR HAS M…

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WHILE SETTING IN PARKING LOT WITH CAR IN PARK AND ENGINE RUNNING, MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTATION FAILURE, ANTI SLIP, TIRE PRESSURE, A.B.S. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, REGULAR BRAKING LIGHT, ENGINE MISS FIRING... ROUGH SHIFTING, WAS ABLE TO LIMP CAR TO CLOSED KIA DEALER.. ON A SUNDAY NIGHT.. THEY KEPT CAR 3 DAYS.. COULD NOT FIND WHY CAR HAS MULTIPLE FAILURES..THEY CALLED KIA ENGINEER .. STILL HAD NO CLUE AS TO PROBLEM.. FINALLY..SAID THEY CLEARED 2 CODES FROM COMPUTER.. CAR RAN GOOD .. FOR 2 DAYS..THEN WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN LUTHERVILLE MD. AGAIN MULTIPLE FAILURES.. SHE HAD ALMOST NO BRAKING .. HAD TO DRIFT CAR INTO NATIONWIDE KIA.. PARKING LOT A FEW BLOCKS FROM HER WORK.. THEY HAD CAR FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS.. WITH NO CLUE AS TO WHY FOR SECOND TIME IN A FEW DAYS.SAME FAILURES AGAIN.. TRANSMISSION FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING OUT OF CAR...THEY SAID LATER THEY STARTED IT.. AND ONLY A.B.S. WAS LIT.. AND WHEN THEY RESTARTED CAR A.B.S. LIGHT WAS OFF.. WITH STILL NO ANSWER WHY IT IS FAILING.. CAR IS VERY VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.. WE HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN VEHICLE, .. IT IS A DANGER TO MY WIFE AND PUBLIC...WE HAVE NOTIFIED.. HAGERSTOWN KIA.. ALSO KIA CORP. HAGERTOWN KIA.. SAID IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM.. WITH NO REGARD FOR THE SAFTY OF MY WIFE.. OR THE PUBLIC..

NHTSA ODI #11006028

Official recalls

1

21V622000 · Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch

Aug 9, 2021

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.