IllustrationThe forward collision warning system stopped working and the warning lights lit up saying the camera was obstructed, even though it was a clear day, and the car was clean (it had literally just been cleaned). This has happened previously at random times.
2020 Kia Forte
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2020 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
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
120–25K
125–50K
150–75K
275–100K
4100–150K
1150K+
21 reports with mileage · 54 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 17 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 →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
75 reportsI leased car 2020 Illinois. No problems. I had car transported to in 2022 to Los Angeles, and after a few months, the car would check engine light ALL lights I believe, and car suddenly stops and dies out at each stop light. This happened 3 times and frightened me. It happened every couple months and the repair people NEVER …
Read full complaint
I leased car 2020 Illinois. No problems. I had car transported to in 2022 to Los Angeles, and after a few months, the car would check engine light ALL lights I believe, and car suddenly stops and dies out at each stop light. This happened 3 times and frightened me. It happened every couple months and the repair people NEVER put notes on the repair invoice!! About exactly why I was bringing car in for repair, even if nothing on computer showed up, almost like the defect was bypassing (tricking computer) inspection. Have to restart and it would lost all power seconds later and on rainy days, passenger floor soaked. NOTHING on repair places nor dealership would show any problem to fix?? However, when brought back to Illinois, no problem with car, so far since January. So car did not like California OR their emission gasoline no good. Plus even in heavy snow and rain last 3-months in Illinois, passenger carpet never got wet.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side headlight became inoperable and no longer illuminated as needed. The light bulb was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of…
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side headlight became inoperable and no longer illuminated as needed. The light bulb was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 100.
On highway at 65mph engine began revving, accelerating higher on its own then speed would drop down 10-15 mph, erratic tachometer going up to max 6 at 65 mph, slipping gears and took total control of speed and then dropped down to 10mph at 6 tachometer and then wouldn’t go past 5 mph. No warning lights, no check engine.
While I am driving it is hard shifting and idling high, sometimes it doesn't want to pick up speed when starting from a stop. The wheels locked up going down a off ramp. There are no warning lights or anything on the dash. I will have it checked Monday but this started out of the blue. I have had regular maintenance on the vehic…
Read full complaint
While I am driving it is hard shifting and idling high, sometimes it doesn't want to pick up speed when starting from a stop. The wheels locked up going down a off ramp. There are no warning lights or anything on the dash. I will have it checked Monday but this started out of the blue. I have had regular maintenance on the vehicle and have all my receipts for proof. This is a serious issue especially with the wheels not functioning right and speed control is fluctuating.
I took my car for transmission service before 60k miles Wallace kia of Bristol I was told they couldn’t drain fluids and sent home 12/20/21 in feb/March 2022 my trans went out it was taken to Kia dealership in Clarksville tn replaced again brought back 4/22 with same issues emailed videos nothin was done said couldn’t find a pr…
Read full complaint
I took my car for transmission service before 60k miles Wallace kia of Bristol I was told they couldn’t drain fluids and sent home 12/20/21 in feb/March 2022 my trans went out it was taken to Kia dealership in Clarksville tn replaced again brought back 4/22 with same issues emailed videos nothin was done said couldn’t find a problem at around 73 k is when it was replaced mentioned it again to Bristol kia dealership when I brought my car back in for the second time to have batting’s replaced in steering column was told they didn’t have time to check it out 12/27/22 my car is leaking some type of fluid my trains goes out the same day it’s now over powertrain warranty as well as transmission warranty 12,000 miles /but not 12 month warranty the transmission itself has 33,000 miles since being replaced my issue is I’m stuck with a car I can’t drive and still continue to pay for and both of these dealerships were well informed of the issues I had prior to warranty expiring this is a safety hazard as I have children and the first time it went out I was on the interstate in Nashville with my 5 yr old son and was barely able to safely make it off the road way well prior knowledge of this problem it should have been addressed long before now . My car has been serviced maintained as well as tire rotation proper oil changes and and fuel injection cleaner done when transmission was replaced these transmissions need to be recalled there is no way a new transmission less than a year old user 40k miles should have failed like this twice so if I can’t get some help with this issue I will be given no other choice but to keep letting everyone know about this problem I have contacted Kia customer service they are if no help I have contacted both dealerships told nothin can be done I have contacted Kia and no response or call back this is a serious and on going issue with the 2020 Kia Forte as well as the bar rings in the steering column which my son has same car and also had replace
While driving I heard a pop then the lights on my dash lit up my car came to a stop i.e cut off tried to start back up the engine caught fire burned the whole front end off total loss
My Kia has been stolen once and vandalized and almost stolen a second time because Kia doesn’t have the alarm connected to the back windows and Kia has made the car easy to steal. I have even been denied renewal of my car insurance because of this!
Two massive safety/security flaws led to theft: break-in through rear window didn’t trigger alarm AND lack of immobilization system. They KNOW this is a problem.
The back windows won't go up or down they jam. You try to roll the passenger windows up or down & they won't do anything. Sometimes you have to turn on & off the car a few times open & closing the driver side door so the windows will work. Also the break lights Sometimes have a late response when you hit the breaks the lights do…
Read full complaint
The back windows won't go up or down they jam. You try to roll the passenger windows up or down & they won't do anything. Sometimes you have to turn on & off the car a few times open & closing the driver side door so the windows will work. Also the break lights Sometimes have a late response when you hit the breaks the lights don't respond has a delayed response
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.