← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

135 reports
15,000 miles · Aug 10, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE DASH BOARD WENT BLACK AND THE CAR POWERED COMPLETELY DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10894766

1,674 miles · Jul 13, 2016
Electrical SystemSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD A DENT WHERE THE SENSOR WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD A DENT WHERE THE SENSOR WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE HAD A MOLD ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,674.

NHTSA ODI #10884639

100 miles · Jun 24, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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 GAS PEDAL STARTS TO RESPOND. TH…

Read full complaint

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 GAS PEDAL STARTS TO RESPOND. THIS HAS LANDED ME INTO PROBLEMS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND I ALMOST WENT TO AN ACCIDENT. 1. ONCE I WAS CHANGING LANES WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR DROPPED AND I FELT CERTAIN THAT SOMEBODY WOULD HIT ME FROM THE SIDE BECAUSE MY CAR JUST WON'T ACCELERATE. 2. ONCE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED ACCELERATION AND THE CAR BEHIND ME CAME SO CLOSE THAT I FEARED THAT IT WOULD HIT ME. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER CAR DRIVER REALISED MY DROPPED ACCLERATION AND SLOWED DOWN. INCIDENTS LIKE #2 HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP (GERALD KIA OF NAPERVILLE, IL) BUT THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND I DON'T KNOW OF A SURE FIRE WAY TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO BELIEVE ME THAT IT HAPPENS ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND IT REALLY SCARES THE HECK OUT OF ME. SINCE THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT HELPING ME AT ALL, I WANT TO BRING THIS PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE US GOVERNMENT. I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. I SPENT MY MONEY ON A BRAND NEW CAR BUT THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE NOT READY TO HELP ME. MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE ALSO DRIVEN THIS CAR AND THEY CAN ALSO TESTIFY. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10876374

1,500 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

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 THIGHS ON BOTH SIDES. MEDICAL ATTEN…

Read full complaint

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 THIGHS ON BOTH SIDES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500.

NHTSA ODI #10875650

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2016
Exterior Lighting

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 & INSIDES LIGHTS WENT OFF WHI…

Read full complaint

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 & INSIDES LIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. I'M SCARED FOR ME AND MY FAMILY SAFETY. I DONT EVEN WANT THE CAR ANYMORE AND SOMETIMES SMELLS LIKE THERE'S ELECTRICAL BURNING OR SOMETHING DONT KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.

NHTSA ODI #10872288

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.