IllustrationBOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I CHECKED THE BULBS WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE FINE. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IN THE WIRING. I HAVE RESEARCHED IT AND IT IS FAIRLY COMMON. UPON CONTACTING KIA THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forte years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
430–25K
3425–50K
1850–75K
1875–100K
16100–150K
6150K+
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 reportsWHEN I BRAKE, THE BRAKING LIGHTS DON'T TURN ON. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND THE LIGHTS BULBS AND THEY ARE FINE. YET WHEN I BRAKE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T TURN ON.
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS 2 TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THE KEEP GOING OUT.
GOT IN MY CAR TONIGHT TO GO TO THE STORE AND MY HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON. CHECL HIGH BEAM IT WORKED. I WAS IN MY DRIVE WAY AND JUST STARTED MY CAR TURNED ON LIGHTS AND NOTHING HAPPEN PARKING LIGHTS AND HIGHBEAM WPRKED.
IT STARTED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT REGULARLY AND THEN I NOTICED WATER STARTED ACCUMULATING IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS AND I CANNOT KEEP MY LIGHTS WORKING I HAVE RECEIVED TICKETS FOR LIGHTNING ISSUES AND I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE ON BULBS ALREADY AND IT STARTED WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS OF BUYING TH…
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IT STARTED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT REGULARLY AND THEN I NOTICED WATER STARTED ACCUMULATING IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS AND I CANNOT KEEP MY LIGHTS WORKING I HAVE RECEIVED TICKETS FOR LIGHTNING ISSUES AND I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE ON BULBS ALREADY AND IT STARTED WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS OF BUYING THIS CAR BRAND NEW
MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THEM AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 13, 2019 BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AT LEAST …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 13, 2019 BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AT LEAST FIFTEEN TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 18, 2017. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,729.
HAS GONE THROUGH 5 SETS OF HEADLAMPS IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF CARS LIFE. USUALLY A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL OCCURS WHEN BULBS BURN OUT. HAVE ASKED DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE ONLY TO GET CONFUSED LOOKS OR INSURED EXCUSES. ONLY SEEMS TO EFFECT THE FRONT HEADLAMPS AND LED LIGHTS STILL ON ORIGINAL F…
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HAS GONE THROUGH 5 SETS OF HEADLAMPS IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF CARS LIFE. USUALLY A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL OCCURS WHEN BULBS BURN OUT. HAVE ASKED DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE ONLY TO GET CONFUSED LOOKS OR INSURED EXCUSES. ONLY SEEMS TO EFFECT THE FRONT HEADLAMPS AND LED LIGHTS STILL ON ORIGINAL FACTORY REAR LAMPS. HAVE LEFT 6 MESSAGES WITH DEALERSHIP AFTER LAST INCIDENT WITH NO CALL BACK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE AND THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. SHAWNEE MISSION FORD (11501 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, SHAWNEE, KS 66203) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE AND THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. SHAWNEE MISSION FORD (11501 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, SHAWNEE, KS 66203) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE LIGHTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
LEAKING OIL IN THE IN THE OIL PAN GASKET, ALSO A NOTORIOUS CORROSION IN THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK, THE KIA HAVE LESS THAN YEAR, WHEN I TAKE INTO THE OIL CHANGE, THE DEALER DID A INSPECTION IN THE CAR, BUT NEVER MENTIONED THE LEAKING OIL FROM THE OIL GASKET PAN. THE SECOND PROBLEMS THE BREAK LIGHTS BULBS CONSTANTLY KEEP BURNING…
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LEAKING OIL IN THE IN THE OIL PAN GASKET, ALSO A NOTORIOUS CORROSION IN THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK, THE KIA HAVE LESS THAN YEAR, WHEN I TAKE INTO THE OIL CHANGE, THE DEALER DID A INSPECTION IN THE CAR, BUT NEVER MENTIONED THE LEAKING OIL FROM THE OIL GASKET PAN. THE SECOND PROBLEMS THE BREAK LIGHTS BULBS CONSTANTLY KEEP BURNING IN THE BACK DRIVER SIDE A THE PASSENGERS SIDE. IN ONE YEAR I REPLACED 5 LIGHT BULBS.
Official recalls
322V031000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.