2018 Kia Forte
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 136 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 13 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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: other or unspecified
30 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 24, 2019
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.
Other or unspecified, Jun 17, 2019
MY CAR HAS NO ECO BUTTON OR SPORT BUTTON. THEY BOTH COME ON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON
Wheels, Other or unspecified, May 30, 2019
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.
Steering, Structure, Other or unspecified, Apr 19, 2019, crash
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.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 5, 2019
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.