Kia Forte 2014–2018
2nd generation (YD)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20261,789 complaints, 923 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 923
- Median of reported failures
- 62,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Engine (35.6%)
- Recalls
- 6
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 25,000 and 99,179 miles.
Figure 1 · Kia Forte 2014–2018 · 923 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 137 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 5,000
- 25%
- 25,000
- Median
- 62,500
- 75%
- 99,179
- 90%
- 136,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 137 | 14.8% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 63 | 6.8% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 59 | 6.4% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 61 | 6.6% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 57 | 6.2% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 54 | 5.9% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 75 | 8.1% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 71 | 7.7% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 71 | 7.7% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 46 | 5.0% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 39 | 4.2% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 35 | 3.8% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 38 | 4.1% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 34 | 3.7% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 24 | 2.6% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 24 | 2.6% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 13 | 1.4% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 6 | 0.7% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 7 | 0.8% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,789 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2018 Kia Forte, and 923 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 25,000 and 99,179 miles. The median is 62,500 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (35.6% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (9.8% of complaints, typically around 48,000 miles), the electrical system (9.4% of complaints, typically around 51,000 miles).
6 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2014–2018 Kia Forte last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2014–2018 Kia Forte were filed by 62,000 miles and 90% by 136,000 miles — figures drawn from 923 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
7 reports (0.8%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Forte reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2014–2018 Forte: the 3-minute check
Generated from 923 mileage-tagged complaints, 6 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 6 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine on 2014–2018 cars. 2.0L Nu connecting rod bearing wear. Kia's remedy is the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software campaign, which monitors engine vibration for the onset of excessive rod bearing wear and alerts the driver at an…
- Check anti-theft/security on 2014–2018 cars. Keyed-ignition trims lack an engine immobilizer, leaving them vulnerable to the same steering-column hot-wire theft method as the first generation. Eligible for Kia's anti-theft software upgrade.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 25,000 and 99,000 miles, with a median of 62,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 48,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Kia Forte 2014–2018
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system76 reports38,00011,000–88,000Fuel and propulsion system: 76 reports, median 38,000 miles, middle half 11,000 to 88,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise175 reports48,00019,000–75,000Problems owners could not categorise: 175 reports, median 48,000 miles, middle half 19,000 to 75,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting93 reports50,00035,000–75,000Exterior lighting: 93 reports, median 50,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 75,000 miles.
- Steering85 reports51,00012,000–76,000Steering: 85 reports, median 51,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 76,000 miles.
- Electrical system168 reports51,00027,000–89,000Electrical system: 168 reports, median 51,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 89,000 miles.
- Airbag system133 reports64,00028,000–98,000Airbag system: 133 reports, median 64,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 98,000 miles.
- Engine636 reports86,00057,000–120,000Engine: 636 reports, median 86,000 miles, middle half 57,000 to 120,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 636 | 35.6% | 86,000 | 57,000–120,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 175 | 9.8% | 48,000 | 19,000–75,000 |
| Electrical system | 168 | 9.4% | 51,000 | 27,000–89,000 |
| Airbag system | 133 | 7.4% | 64,000 | 28,000–98,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 93 | 5.2% | 50,000 | 35,000–75,000 |
| Steering | 85 | 4.8% | 51,000 | 12,000–76,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 76 | 4.2% | 38,000 | 11,000–88,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 71 | 4.0% | 58,000 | 10,000–88,000 |
| Brakes | 62 | 3.5% | 58,000 | 9,500–118,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 61 | 3.4% | 25,000 | 5,500–90,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Kia Forte 2014–2018 · 923 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 47% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 70% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 83% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.8% of reports (7) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
47% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Engine — middle half 57,000–120,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — middle half 19,000–75,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 27,000–89,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 28,000–98,000 mi
- Exterior lighting — middle half 35,000–75,000 mi
- Steering — middle half 12,000–76,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 11,000–88,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
70% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 48,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 51,000 mi
- Exterior lighting — median 50,000 mi
- Steering — median 51,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — median 38,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Engine — middle half 57,000–120,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 28,000–98,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
83% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Engine — median 86,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 48,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 51,000 mi
- Airbag system — median 64,000 mi
- Exterior lighting — median 50,000 mi
- Steering — median 51,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — median 38,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 62,500 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 35.6% of complaints (636 reports, 306 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 57,000 and 120,000 miles.
A single system taking 35.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.8% of complaints (175 reports, 67 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 48,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 75,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 9.4% of complaints (168 reports, 85 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,000 and 89,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 7.4% of complaints (133 reports, 84 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 64,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 98,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 5.2% of complaints (93 reports, 45 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 75,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 4.8% of complaints (85 reports, 40 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 76,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2014 model year drew the most — 644 complaints — while 2018 drew the fewest at 188. The median year sits at 325.
The first year of the generation, 2014, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,789 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 159 (8.9%)
- Fires
- 105
- Injury reports
- 95
- Fatality reports
- 6
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Engine 2014–2018
2.0L Nu connecting rod bearing wear. Kia's remedy is the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software campaign, which monitors engine vibration for the onset of excessive rod bearing wear and alerts the driver at an early stage — before bearing failure progresses to seizure or an engine compartment fire. Delivered as a free dealer software update.
Anti-Theft/Security 2014–2018
Keyed-ignition trims lack an engine immobilizer, leaving them vulnerable to the same steering-column hot-wire theft method as the first generation. Eligible for Kia's anti-theft software upgrade.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 644 | 392 |
| 2015 | 325 | 180 |
| 2016 | 201 | 91 |
| 2017 | 431 | 193 |
| 2018 | 188 | 67 |
Recalls (6) — is your car included?
Mar 2022 · 2017–2018 · Air BagsAir bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Feb 2022 · 2016–2018 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The defect. 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."
What can happen. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The free fix. 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.
Aug 2021 · 2017–2018 · Engine and Engine CoolingA damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Jan 2021 · 2014–2015 · EngineAn engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
What can happen. An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Jan 2018 · 2014 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIf the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed…
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
What can happen. If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
Feb 2015 · 2014 · Electrical SystemIf the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.
What can happen. If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and for vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014, dealers will replace the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit. For vehicles produced from January 28, 2014 to April 17, 2014, dealers will replace the multi-fuse unit only. Owners of vehicles with a 1.8L engine will also have the engine control unit software updated. The recall began on February 20, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC113.
What owners reported
I have a 2014 Kia Forte since september 2013 acquired several days the unit is started having a vibration in the engine. These vibrations are felt throughout the car and when in low or stopped. I took him to the service center where you buy and service technicians always tell me that no faults everything is working…
2014 · 30 miles · Engine
This is our 2nd 2014 Kia Forte ex with navigation everything top of the line... Well the first one had a knock in the motor so the dealership "exchanged" it and this one the seat takes about 5 min to lock into place after you adjust it and you have to be driving for it to lock in. There is a knock when you turn the…
2014 · 90 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Built from 923 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page