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2017 Kia Forte

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forte years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Kia Forte are substantially higher than the model-year median of 141.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

135 reports with mileage · 166 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 144 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports9 fire reports14 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

43 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2023
Exterior Lighting

Driving at night and low beam headlights both went out at the same time. The only way to drive safely was to use high beams. Opened hood and passenger's side light came back on, very dimly, and then went out again as soon as the left turn signal was initiated. Even the high beam lights flicker when the left turn signal is used. …

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Driving at night and low beam headlights both went out at the same time. The only way to drive safely was to use high beams. Opened hood and passenger's side light came back on, very dimly, and then went out again as soon as the left turn signal was initiated. Even the high beam lights flicker when the left turn signal is used. This is completely unsafe because there is no way to see without blinding everyone else on the road with high beams. Headlight bulbs were replaced less than 6 months ago.

NHTSA ODI #11504650

Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 2022
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

The trunk seal is not functioning properly. Water gets into lighting and causes mold in truck.

NHTSA ODI #11498793

24,000 miles · Jun 1, 2022
Exterior Lighting

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while an independent mechanic was performing an inspection, the contact was informed that the passenger’s side rear taillight was faulty and needed to be replaced. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was informed that the failure was due to water intrusio…

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The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while an independent mechanic was performing an inspection, the contact was informed that the passenger’s side rear taillight was faulty and needed to be replaced. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was informed that the failure was due to water intrusion into the taillight housing. Additionally, the contact stated that the wheels were rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #11466938

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2022
Exterior Lighting

When it rain, both rear taillight accumulate water inside of taillight lenses causing lights to blow. Dealership has replaced gaskets and it still happens. lights go out and no warning light indication on dash. Concerned this might contribute to rear end accident. This is a one owner car and no know accident to vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11455440

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2022
Exterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

1st incident, 10/09/20 water intail lights smells of mildew 2nd " 11/1/20 water is leaking in trunk installed new gaskets to the tail lights 3rd " 6/9/21 removed drivers seat and gas/trunk latch lever and fuel door lever cable cable was found to be stretched and n…

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1st incident, 10/09/20 water intail lights smells of mildew 2nd " 11/1/20 water is leaking in trunk installed new gaskets to the tail lights 3rd " 6/9/21 removed drivers seat and gas/trunk latch lever and fuel door lever cable cable was found to be stretched and needs replaced. Parts were ordered 01/10/22 parts never came in because according to Kia they don't know how to fix it. I'am so sorry I bought this car with 2,992.31 still owed you should compensate by paying this off

NHTSA ODI #11447059

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2021
Exterior Lighting

Both low beams stopped working. High beams and all other lights work I replaced the bulbs and the low beams don't work at all and there's no relay or fuse and I can't find the problem

NHTSA ODI #11441520

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2021
Exterior LightingCrash

My head lights keep shutting off and stop working, they have replace it twice already and again today Oct 7th 2021ir stopped working again, now I just replaced the bulbs on Sept 15th 2021 there shouldn't be any reason to change it out this soon. I keep calling the dealership about it and nothing back from them. Today I ended up…

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My head lights keep shutting off and stop working, they have replace it twice already and again today Oct 7th 2021ir stopped working again, now I just replaced the bulbs on Sept 15th 2021 there shouldn't be any reason to change it out this soon. I keep calling the dealership about it and nothing back from them. Today I ended up not seeing and hit into a curb and smashed up the side by my tire on the passenger side, I'm very upset with kia they are putting my family in danger by not fixing it correctly.

NHTSA ODI #11435839

60,000 miles · Apr 29, 2021
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS 3 TIMES. I WAS DRIVING ONE NIGHT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THAT WAS MY SECOND SET OF HEADLIGHTS NOW I'M ON MY 3RD SET AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WENT OUT. I PAI…

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THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS 3 TIMES. I WAS DRIVING ONE NIGHT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THAT WAS MY SECOND SET OF HEADLIGHTS NOW I'M ON MY 3RD SET AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WENT OUT. I PAID EXTRA FOR THE BEST SET OF HEADLIGHTS AUTOZONE HAD TO OFFER AT THE TIME AS I WAS IN DESPERATE NEED SO I COULD DRIVE HOME AND IT STILL LASTED THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, PURCHASED ON 1/22/2021. ALSO, THEY'RE ALWAYS DIM. FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE SET OF LIGHTS I EXPECTED MORE. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND SEEN THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE. WHY IS THIS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE? SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS AND SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE TWO OTHER VEHICLES. A 2017 DODGE JOURNEY THAT HAS NEVER NEEDED A HEADLIGHT CHANGE AND A 2007 FORD ESCAPE THAT HAS ONLY NEEDED A FEW HEADLIGHTS IN ITS ENTIRE EXISTENCE. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11414386

40,577 miles · Feb 18, 2021
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AT THE END OF 2017. I HAVE TAKEN EXTREMELY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET SOMETHING COSMETIC FIXED ON THE INTERIOR. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND WHEN I GOT HOME I REALIZED BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND ONE BRAKE LIGHT WERE NOT WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK IN AND T…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AT THE END OF 2017. I HAVE TAKEN EXTREMELY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET SOMETHING COSMETIC FIXED ON THE INTERIOR. I PICKED UP MY CAR AND WHEN I GOT HOME I REALIZED BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND ONE BRAKE LIGHT WERE NOT WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK IN AND THEY INSISTED THAT WHEN ONE LIGHT GOES OUT, THEY ALL GO OUT WHICH ISN'T TRUE. I INSISTED THAT THERE MUST BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THAT I WANTED A TECHNICIAN TO CHECK IT SINCE MY LIGHTS WERE WORKING JUST FINE WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN. AFTER MANY DIFFERENT APPOINTMENTS AND INSPECTIONS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS MY WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS BROKEN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER IT. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE LEFT SIDE, WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER IT. THE TECHNICIAN EVEN STATED THAT THE ENGINE GOT TOO HOT AND MELTED THE WIRES. HE WAS SURPRISED WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER THIS ISSUE SINCE IT HAPPENED ON BOTH SIDES WITHIN A YEAR TO A CAR THAT IS FAIRLY NEW AND REALLY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. HAVING BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHT NOT WORKING IS VERY DANGEROUS. ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN A DARK AND RAINY AREA. HOW HAS THIS HAPPENED TO SO MANY PEOPLE AND THIS VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN RECALLED? I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA AND THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR RECOURSE. AFTER READING ALL OF THESE COMPLAINS THAT ARE THE SAME, I AM SHOCKED KIA HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ODI #11396868

48,000 miles · Dec 29, 2020
Exterior Lighting

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HID HAVE GONE IN AND OUT WHILE DIVING AT NIGHT..THEN THEY HAVE NOW BLOWN OUT TWICE.AT $100 DOLLARS A PIECE..THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE..!! THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHOT CIRCUIT IN THE LIGHT SWITCH ITSELF..IT HAS BLINKED OFF WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL AS WELL WHICH LEADS ME TO COME TO THIS CONCLUSION..

NHTSA ODI #11385418

Official recalls

3

22V031000 · Air Bags

Jan 25, 2022

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

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.

21V260000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump

Apr 13, 2021

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.

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.