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2018 Kia Forte

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Kia Forte do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 141.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

51 reports with mileage · 85 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 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

13 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

136 reports
40 miles · Jun 24, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

TRUNK IS CONSTANTLY POPPING OPEN, ALTHOUGH NO ONE IS HITTING THE BUTTON ON THE KEYS NOR PULLING THE LEVER. I CAN BE IN THE HOUSE WITH MY KEYS ON THE COUNTER AND IT WILL POP OPEN. ACTUALLY HAD STUFF STOLEN BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHETHER IT IS STOPPED, WHEN I'M DRIVING, ANYWHERE. I DON'T HAVE TO HIT A BUMP OR ANYTHING. …

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TRUNK IS CONSTANTLY POPPING OPEN, ALTHOUGH NO ONE IS HITTING THE BUTTON ON THE KEYS NOR PULLING THE LEVER. I CAN BE IN THE HOUSE WITH MY KEYS ON THE COUNTER AND IT WILL POP OPEN. ACTUALLY HAD STUFF STOLEN BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHETHER IT IS STOPPED, WHEN I'M DRIVING, ANYWHERE. I DON'T HAVE TO HIT A BUMP OR ANYTHING. RADIO IS CRACKLY AND CUTS OUT AND BEEPS BUT ONLY WHEN PLAYING BLUETOOTH. WHEN I USE AN AUX OR JUST FM IT WORKS PERFECT.

NHTSA ODI #11222215

40,000 miles · Jun 17, 2019
Unknown Or Other

MY CAR HAS NO ECO BUTTON OR SPORT BUTTON. THEY BOTH COME ON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON

NHTSA ODI #11220727

19,000 miles · May 30, 2019
Unknown Or OtherWheels

APRIL 2018, I PURCHASED THE KIA FORTE FROM BULLDOG KIA-ATHENS GA. TWO WEEKS LATER THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE KIA WAS DRIVEN TO THE BULLDOG CONSTANTLY. AIR PRESSURE CHECKED EACH TIME. APTIL 10, 2019 THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT AND DAMAGED RIM WHILE IN MOTION.THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM WINDER HW…

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APRIL 2018, I PURCHASED THE KIA FORTE FROM BULLDOG KIA-ATHENS GA. TWO WEEKS LATER THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE KIA WAS DRIVEN TO THE BULLDOG CONSTANTLY. AIR PRESSURE CHECKED EACH TIME. APTIL 10, 2019 THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT AND DAMAGED RIM WHILE IN MOTION.THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM WINDER HWY: WINDER GA TO BULLDOG KIA. THR CAR SET OVER 30 DAYS. I INVOLVED GAINSCO MY AUTO INSURANCE ON APRIL 24, 2018. THERE WAS DAMAGED DONE TO MY CAR PRIOR TO FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM. WHEN THE GAINSCO ADJUSTER CALLED ON APRIL 27, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HE COULDN'T LOCATE MY CAR. THE ADJUSTER ARRIVED AT BULLDOG KIA. THE ADJUSTER SAID THAT MY CAR WAS IN A WRECK BECAUSE THE ADDED DAMAGE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN BULLDOG KIA'S LOT. MAY. 1ST, I PERSONALLY HAD MY CAR TOWED FROM BULLDOG KIA. COST ONE WAS $533 PAID AT BULLDOG KIA MAY 1ST, 2019. UPON REMOVAL, THE REAR PASSENGER RIM WAS BENT AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE TIRE. 76 AUTO REPAIR REPAIRED PASSENGER REAR RIM AND TIRE: TEST DRIVEN KIA, SRNSOR CAME ON: CHECKED DRIVER RIM AND TIRE-REAR FRONT RIM WAS CRACKED-AND WAS REPAIRED. COST TWO $434.00 PAID MAY 26, 2019. I WAS WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION OVER 30 DAYS AND HAVE PHOTOS AND RECEIPTS.

NHTSA ODI #11210784

6,800 miles · Apr 19, 2019
SteeringStructureUnknown Or OtherCrash

I WAS ENTERING AN ONRAMP AT ABOUT 15MPH; A CAR YIELDED IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY BRAKES AND YET SLID INTO THE REAR OF THE FRONT CAR. I DID NOT STOP, EVEN WITH BRAKES APPLIED, AND SLID IN TO THE FRONT ACRE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY KIA WAS TOTALED AND UNDRIVABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11197280

33,937 miles · Apr 8, 2019
Exterior Lighting

DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A RURAL ROAD, WITHOUT STREET LIGHTS (OR OTHER AMBIENT LIGHTING), THE LOW BEAMS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD ADEQUATELY. ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DRIVERS HANDBOOK IT STATES THAT LOW BEAMS SHOULD ILLUMINATE 250 FEET. ONCE SAFELY OFF THE ROADWAY, IN THE SAME DARK CONDITIONS, I ACTUALLY MEASURED THE DISTANCE THAT W…

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DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A RURAL ROAD, WITHOUT STREET LIGHTS (OR OTHER AMBIENT LIGHTING), THE LOW BEAMS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD ADEQUATELY. ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DRIVERS HANDBOOK IT STATES THAT LOW BEAMS SHOULD ILLUMINATE 250 FEET. ONCE SAFELY OFF THE ROADWAY, IN THE SAME DARK CONDITIONS, I ACTUALLY MEASURED THE DISTANCE THAT WAS LIT BY THE LOW BEAMS AND IT ONLY MEASURED 85 FEET...WAY LESS THAN REQUIRED BY LAW.. THE LOW BEAMS ARE CONSISTENTLY DIM YET THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY ARE "WORKING PROPERLY". THIS IS NOT SAFE!

NHTSA ODI #11194754

5,929 miles · Apr 8, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE #11186351... AS INDICATED IN THAT ORIGINAL COMPLAINT I TOOK MY FORTE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT SERVICED (OIL & FILTER CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION) AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT THE ISSUE I WAS EXPERIENCING; THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING (NOT SURPRISED) HOWEVER THERE WA…

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THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE #11186351... AS INDICATED IN THAT ORIGINAL COMPLAINT I TOOK MY FORTE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT SERVICED (OIL & FILTER CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION) AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT THE ISSUE I WAS EXPERIENCING; THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING (NOT SURPRISED) HOWEVER THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF KIA SERVICE ALERT TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS 'AGAIN'... I HAVE HAD THIS 2018 FORTE EXACTLY ONE YEAR NOW AND I AM ON THE SECOND SET OF SPARK PLUGS WHICH I FIND QUITE UNUSUAL TO PUT IT POLITELY.. I HAVE OWNED MANY, MANY NEW CARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD SPARK PLUGS REPLACED AT THIS RATE SO IMO THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO DO THE WAIT AND SEE.. AS FAR AS THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM I STILL HAVE IT DRIVING ALONG AND IT FEELS LIKE I RAN OUT OF GAS WHICH IS NOT TRUE I HAVE ALMOST A FULL TANK OF GAS AND I KEEP AN ELECTRONIC FUEL LOG TO MONITOR GAS USAGE AND THE VEHICLE IS GETTING ABOUT 29 MPH AROUND TOWN ON REGULAR GAS..

NHTSA ODI #11194520

22,000 miles · Mar 26, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHEN ACCELERATING THERE IS NO POWER AND IT IS GOING TO CAUSE THE ACCIDENT I WAS ON THE FREEWAY I WENT TO SWITCH LANES I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE JUST STOOD THERE AND RP M'S GOING UP

NHTSA ODI #11191632

5,660 miles · Mar 13, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED 2 TIMES THIS WEEK & ON 2 SEPARATE DAYS WHILE I WAS DRIVING & SINCE I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK THIS HAS ME CONCERNED.. THE CAR STARTED OK AND DROVE FOR A COUPLE OF MILES JUST FINE WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR FELT LIKE I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL & EVEN WITH MY FOOT WAS ON THE…

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THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED 2 TIMES THIS WEEK & ON 2 SEPARATE DAYS WHILE I WAS DRIVING & SINCE I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK THIS HAS ME CONCERNED.. THE CAR STARTED OK AND DROVE FOR A COUPLE OF MILES JUST FINE WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR FELT LIKE I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL & EVEN WITH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE.. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO GET OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC & TRIED TO PUT THE SHIFT LEVER IN A DIFFERENT GEAR BUT IT WAS STUCK IN DRIVE EVEN WHEN MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, SO I TRIED TO 'JIGGLE' IT A LITTLE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BUT THE SHIFT LEVER WOULDN'T REALLY MOVE SO I JUST SAT THERE.. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I MADE AN ATTEMPT TO SAFELY PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC & THE CAR HESITATED A LITTLE BUT THEN DROVE FINE.. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK I IGNORED IT AND TREATED IT AS A 'ONE TIME ONLY' ISSUE, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME SO I GOT CONCERNED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH CITRUS KIA FOR 3/15/19 TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT.. I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE ELSE IS EXPERIENCING THIS BUT FELT I SHOULD REPORT IT AND WILL UPDATE THIS AFTER THE KIA DEALER HAS A LOOK AT IT..

NHTSA ODI #11186351

16,575 miles · Jan 5, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

I HAVE HAD MY BRAND NEW KIA FORTE FOR 8 MONTHS STARTING IN APRIL. I CURRENTLY HAVE 16,581 MILES ON THE CAR. ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY ECO LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF SO I HAD TO TAKE IT TO KIA WHERE THEY UNSCREWED MY BATTERY AND IT WENT OFF. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT WANTING TO TURN ON A…

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I HAVE HAD MY BRAND NEW KIA FORTE FOR 8 MONTHS STARTING IN APRIL. I CURRENTLY HAVE 16,581 MILES ON THE CAR. ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY ECO LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF SO I HAD TO TAKE IT TO KIA WHERE THEY UNSCREWED MY BATTERY AND IT WENT OFF. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT WANTING TO TURN ON AND AFTER TAKING A TRIP TO AUTO ZONE WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE 'CRANK SHAFT'. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A BRAND NEW CAR THAT I HAVE ONLY HAD FOR EIGHT MONTHS. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I BECAME REALLY CONCERNED AND THAT'S WHAT FORCED ME TO HAVE TO GO TO AUTO ZONE TO SEE WHY MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.

NHTSA ODI #11165436

7,996 miles · Nov 21, 2018
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND CRASH HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #11153084

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.