2017 Kia Forte

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 302 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 302

Of the 2017 reports, 23 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 4 people died.

Primary concernEngine145 reports · 48% of complaints
Owner complaints302Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine145
  2. Other or unspecified49
  3. Electrical system46
  4. Exterior lighting43
  5. Fuel/propulsion system29
  6. Air bags18
  7. Vehicle speed control17
  8. Engine and engine cooling14

Recalls and investigations

  1. Air bagsJan 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.

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

    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.

    Campaign 22V031000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Latches/locks/linkages, trunk lid, latchAug 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."

    A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

    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.

    Campaign 21V622000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Engine and engine cooling, engine, oil/lubrication, pumpApr 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.

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

    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.

    Campaign 21V260000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: fuel/propulsion system

29 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Visibility/wiper, Mar 14, 2019

    IGNITIONS COIL SPRINGS PART KIA 27303 2E601QQK WAS REPLACED BY KIA DELALER AS PART OF A RECALL ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ARRIVED , SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT I WAS THERE FOR OIL CHANGE AND TWO RECALLS. I SET APPT. FOR OIL CHANGE, WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL TILL DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED. WHEN I CHECKED WITH NHTSA NO RECALL IS LISTED. KIA NEVER SENT LETTER REQUESTING WE BRING IN CAR FOR RECALL PARTS. IN ADDITION THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO 2ND PART REPLACEMENT DUE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. YDM REAR COMBINATION LAMP.

  2. Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 17, 2019

    HELLO: FORTE HAS INTERMITTENT STRONG GAS SMELL THRU VENTS. IS AT DEALER FOR SECOND TIME. TO ME HTTPS://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/RECALLS#VEHICLE PLEASE CONTACT US AND DEALER AS TO NEXT STEP FOR OUR SAFETY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

  3. Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 18, 2018

    MY CAR THE GAS SHOOTS OUT ,I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS WITH A NEW CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT BEEN ON FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT THIS CAR GAVE ME PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I BRING IT BACK THEY SAID JUST DROP IT OFF SO WE CAN TRY FIXING IT IT TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS ARE MORE PLUS THEY DON'T GIVE OUT LOANER CAR AT ALL SO HOW I SUPPOSE TO GET TO WORK SO I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT LIKE THAT.I DON'T KNOW WHY I BROUGHT THIS CAR. IT WASTED MY MONEY AND TIME.

  4. Air bags, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 28, 2017, crash

    I WAS PARKING MY CAR YESTERDAY AT 7/11 AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT PILLAR. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE SEEN A BLOG WHERE DOZENS OF FORTE OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, SOMETIMES MORE THAN ONCE. I WAS INJURED AND THE CAR NEEDS $9000 IN REPAIRS, ALSO I AM SURE MY INSURANCE WILL INCREASE.