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2019 Kia Forte

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2019 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

68 reports with mileage · 79 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

147 reports
3,100 miles · Sep 7, 2019
Power Train

ON 9/6/19, ON MY WAY BACK FROM A TRIP TO DALLAS, MY 2019 KIA FORTE (LAUNCH EDITION) STARTED TO RANDOMLY REV UP ON THE HIGHWAY. AT FIRST, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, BUT THEN IT STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION. I TRIED TO USE THE MANUAL SHIFTING, BUT NO HELP. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF IN HOPES OF "RESETTING" IT AND IT SEEM…

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ON 9/6/19, ON MY WAY BACK FROM A TRIP TO DALLAS, MY 2019 KIA FORTE (LAUNCH EDITION) STARTED TO RANDOMLY REV UP ON THE HIGHWAY. AT FIRST, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, BUT THEN IT STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION. I TRIED TO USE THE MANUAL SHIFTING, BUT NO HELP. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF IN HOPES OF "RESETTING" IT AND IT SEEMED TO WORK, BUT WHEN I PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AGAIN IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO REV TO 6-7 K AND WENT NOWHERE. ULTIMATELY, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP 5 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS NOT VERY MUCH HELP! MY FORTE IS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD WITH 3,100 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS CAR!

NHTSA ODI #11253798

2,600 miles · May 30, 2019
Power Train

WHILE HAVING MY CAR FOR TWO MONTHS MY, 2019 KIA FORTE TRANSMISSION WENT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT KEPT STALLING. IT WAS REVING ALL THE WAY UP TO 7/8 RPMS WITH ME GENTLY TAPPING ON THE GAS. I HAD MY GRANDMOTHER WITH ME AND RIGHT WHEN WE GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY MY CAR JUST STOPPING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY MAIN ROAD. I…

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WHILE HAVING MY CAR FOR TWO MONTHS MY, 2019 KIA FORTE TRANSMISSION WENT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT KEPT STALLING. IT WAS REVING ALL THE WAY UP TO 7/8 RPMS WITH ME GENTLY TAPPING ON THE GAS. I HAD MY GRANDMOTHER WITH ME AND RIGHT WHEN WE GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY MY CAR JUST STOPPING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY MAIN ROAD. I WAITED A MOMENT AND TOOK MY KEYS OUT OF THE EGNISION. AFTER 3 MINUTES MY CAR TURNED BACK ON AND I WAS SLOWLY ABLE TO GET IT TO THE GAS STATION WITH IT STILL REVING. I HAD MY CAR TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT THE CAR AND THEY ENDED UP FIXING IT. THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECT. I'M STILL VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THEY PUT THE SAME ONE BACK IN. IT'S A CVT TRANSMISSION. I DON'T FEEL SAFE AFTER EXPERIENCING THAT ISSUE. IT COULD OF CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I THINK THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD HAVE A REGULAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PUT BACK INTO THEM. JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THIS ISSUE I HAD AND LET YOU KNOW HOW CONCERNED I AM ABOUT IT. THANKS

NHTSA ODI #11217006

2,300 miles · May 11, 2019
Air BagsCrash

THE DIVER OF HE VEHICLE HAD FRONT IMPACT DAMAGE AT 40 MPH AND HIT THE SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR. THE ENTIRE FRONT END INCLUDING THE STEEL FRAME WAS BENT IN BUT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #11206997

1,995 miles · Apr 22, 2019
Power Train

CAR IS A COUPLE OF MONTHS OLD WITH 2001 MILES SHOWING ON THE ODOMETER. THE RPMS WOULD SURGE WHILE DRIVING, EVEN AT CONSTANT SPEED THEY WOULD JUMP 500 RPM OR SO THEN DROP BACK DOWN. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THAT IS NORMAL FOR A CVT. A WEEK LATER IT WAS STILL DOING THAT THEN IT WOULD FELL LIKE IT WAS STUMBLING WHILE …

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CAR IS A COUPLE OF MONTHS OLD WITH 2001 MILES SHOWING ON THE ODOMETER. THE RPMS WOULD SURGE WHILE DRIVING, EVEN AT CONSTANT SPEED THEY WOULD JUMP 500 RPM OR SO THEN DROP BACK DOWN. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THAT IS NORMAL FOR A CVT. A WEEK LATER IT WAS STILL DOING THAT THEN IT WOULD FELL LIKE IT WAS STUMBLING WHILE STARTING UP FROM A STOP. THE NEXT DAY IT HAD NO POWER, ACCELERATOR ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND IT WOULD BARELY MOVE, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY HEADED FOR THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I GOT THERE I HAD TO WAIT A BIT AND THE SERVICE TECH CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT WHEN THEY CALLED THE CODES INTO KIA THAT WERE IN THE COMPUTER THEY SAID TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD HAVE THE TRANSMISSION OVERNIGHTED WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT WAS A LIE, AND THAT TECH IS NO LONGER AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE A RENTAL VEHICLE IN ITS PLACE. I HAVE STARTED A CLAIM WITH KIA.

NHTSA ODI #11202985

2,800 miles · Apr 17, 2019
Power Train

CAR WAS MAKING WEIRD NOISES AND JUMPY ACCELERATION, TOOK IT IN AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS AND THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL NOT IN AT THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD IT'S ON BACKORDER AND NOBODY KNOWS WHEN I WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE IT. MY CAR IS NOW BARLEY ACCELERATING UNLESS I FLOOR IT. CALL…

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CAR WAS MAKING WEIRD NOISES AND JUMPY ACCELERATION, TOOK IT IN AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS AND THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL NOT IN AT THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD IT'S ON BACKORDER AND NOBODY KNOWS WHEN I WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE IT. MY CAR IS NOW BARLEY ACCELERATING UNLESS I FLOOR IT. CALLED KIA AND THE DEALER AND NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE

NHTSA ODI #11196970

3,150 miles · Apr 13, 2019
Power TrainSteering

CAR WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED. THIS WAS AROUND 3000 MILES. TOOK IT IN CONFIRMED THE GRINDING NOISE BUT DID NOT NOTE DOWN WHAT IT WAS ON RECEIPT. A MONTH LATER DEALERSHIP TOOK CAR BACK AND GAVE ME A RENTAL AND HAD SPECIALIST LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION SAID NOTHING WRONG WIT…

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CAR WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED. THIS WAS AROUND 3000 MILES. TOOK IT IN CONFIRMED THE GRINDING NOISE BUT DID NOT NOTE DOWN WHAT IT WAS ON RECEIPT. A MONTH LATER DEALERSHIP TOOK CAR BACK AND GAVE ME A RENTAL AND HAD SPECIALIST LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT STILL HAS SOME LOST OF POWER FROM TIME TO TIME AND GRINDING NOISES..

NHTSA ODI #11195988

2,811 miles · Apr 3, 2019
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND IT STOPPED ACCELERATING WHEN I EXITED THE HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THE NEXT DAY THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2.5 MONTHS AND 2811 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11193725

4,700 miles · Apr 3, 2019
Power Train

2019 FORTE WITH 4000 MILES AND LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. HAD TO BE TOWNES FROM MY JOB AS THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERSHIP ONE MONTH EARLIER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND CAR DIED LESS THAN A MONTH LATER. WAS ALSO TOLD 'THINGS HAPPEN', HOWEVER MY COWORKER WITH A 2019 SORRENTO JUST FOUND OUT HER TRANSMIS…

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2019 FORTE WITH 4000 MILES AND LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. HAD TO BE TOWNES FROM MY JOB AS THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERSHIP ONE MONTH EARLIER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND CAR DIED LESS THAN A MONTH LATER. WAS ALSO TOLD 'THINGS HAPPEN', HOWEVER MY COWORKER WITH A 2019 SORRENTO JUST FOUND OUT HER TRANSMISSION IS GONE. HMMM...

NHTSA ODI #11193628

3,000 miles · Apr 2, 2019
Power Train

THE CAR SEEMED TO BE LOSING POWER, CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 3000 MILES ON IT & WE HAVE ONLY HAD IT 2.5 MONTHS. THE DEALER SERVICE PERSON SAID THIS IS THE 3RD 2019 KIA FORTE THEY'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN! WE …

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THE CAR SEEMED TO BE LOSING POWER, CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 3000 MILES ON IT & WE HAVE ONLY HAD IT 2.5 MONTHS. THE DEALER SERVICE PERSON SAID THIS IS THE 3RD 2019 KIA FORTE THEY'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN! WE WERE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11193449

200 miles · Mar 9, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THO THE RPMS WOULD, AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI #11185549

Official recalls

2

20V459000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Aug 5, 2020

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles. The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.

18V771000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Oct 31, 2018

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.

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.