Kia Forte 2019–2024
3rd generation (BD)
NHTSA data through 13 August 2026591 complaints, 148 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
- Reports with mileage
- 148
- Median of reported failures
- 11,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Engine (15.6%)
- Recalls
- 7
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, 52% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 1 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000.
Figure 1 · Kia Forte 2019–2024 · 148 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 20,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 91 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 52% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 1 complaints (0.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 375
- 25%
- 2,811
- Median
- 11,454
- 75%
- 35,642
- 90%
- 100,900
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20,000 | 91 | 61.5% |
| 20,000–40,000 | 24 | 16.2% |
| 40,000–60,000 | 9 | 6.1% |
| 60,000–80,000 | 6 | 4.1% |
| 80,000–100,000 | 3 | 2.0% |
| 100,000–120,000 | 11 | 7.4% |
| 120,000–140,000 | 2 | 1.4% |
| 140,000–160,000 | 1 | 0.7% |
| 200,000+ | 1 | 0.7% |
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 591 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019–2024 Kia Forte, and 148 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
52% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 1 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the engine (15.6% of complaints, typically around 39,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (14.7% of complaints, typically around 7,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (13.7% of complaints, typically around 9,000 miles).
7 recall campaigns cover this generation. 2 of them carry a severe NHTSA advisory.
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 2019–2024 Kia Forte last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2019–2024 Kia Forte were filed by 11,000 miles and 90% by 101,000 miles — figures drawn from 148 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
1 report (0.7%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Forte reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2019–2024 Forte: the 3-minute check
Generated from 148 mileage-tagged complaints, 7 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation. Run the VIN before you drive it home — the fix is free at any dealer.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for problems owners could not categorise repair records. This area fails at a median of 7,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Ask for transmission and driveline repair records. This area fails at a median of 9,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check anti-theft/security on 2019–2021 cars. Keyed-ignition trims through MY2021 lack an engine immobilizer and are within the Kia theft-vulnerability population; immobilizers became standard equipment from MY2022, so 2022-2024 Fortes are not affected.
- Check transmission on 2019–2020 cars. IVT (Kia's continuously variable transmission, introduced on this generation) draws hesitation, shudder and delayed-engagement complaints, concentrated in the early years before calibration revisions.
- 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, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 52% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
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 7,000, 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 2019–2024
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.
- Problems owners could not categorise87 reports7,000600–16,000Problems owners could not categorise: 87 reports, median 7,000 miles, middle half 600 to 16,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline81 reports9,0003,000–25,000Transmission and driveline: 81 reports, median 9,000 miles, middle half 3,000 to 25,000 miles.
- Electrical system58 reports9,0002,000–50,000Electrical system: 58 reports, median 9,000 miles, middle half 2,000 to 50,000 miles.
- Steering37 reports10,0003,000–14,000Steering: 37 reports, median 10,000 miles, middle half 3,000 to 14,000 miles.
- Engine92 reports39,00013,000–73,000Engine: 92 reports, median 39,000 miles, middle half 13,000 to 73,000 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 | 92 | 15.6% | 39,000 | 13,000–73,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 87 | 14.7% | 7,000 | 600–16,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 81 | 13.7% | 9,000 | 3,000–25,000 |
| Electrical system | 58 | 9.8% | 9,000 | 2,000–50,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 48 | 8.1% | — | — |
| Steering | 37 | 6.3% | 10,000 | 3,000–14,000 |
| Airbag system | 30 | 5.1% | — | — |
| Exterior lighting | 25 | 4.2% | — | — |
| Lane departure | 18 | 3.0% | — | — |
| Throttle and speed control | 15 | 2.5% | — | — |
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 2019–2024 · 148 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 — 84% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 97% 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 0.7% of reports (1) 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
84% 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 7,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 9,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 9,000 mi
- Steering — median 10,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Engine — middle half 13,000–73,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
89% 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 39,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 7,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 9,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 9,000 mi
- Steering — median 10,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
97% 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 39,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 7,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 9,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 9,000 mi
- Steering — median 10,000 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 11,454 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 15.6% of complaints (92 reports, 17 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 39,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 13,000 and 73,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 14.7% of complaints (87 reports, 15 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 7,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 600 and 16,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 13.7% of complaints (81 reports, 37 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 9,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 25,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 9.8% of complaints (58 reports, 12 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 9,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 50,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 6.3% of complaints (37 reports, 11 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 10,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 14,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2019 model year drew the most — 216 complaints — while 2022 drew the fewest at 40. The median year sits at 96.
That makes 2019 an outlier: roughly 2.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 7 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.
2 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around the suspension (2), the steering (2), the airbag system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
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 591 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 80 (13.5%)
- Fires
- 14
- Injury reports
- 38
- Fatality reports
- 3
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
Anti-Theft/Security 2019–2021
Keyed-ignition trims through MY2021 lack an engine immobilizer and are within the Kia theft-vulnerability population; immobilizers became standard equipment from MY2022, so 2022-2024 Fortes are not affected.
Transmission 2019–2020
IVT (Kia's continuously variable transmission, introduced on this generation) draws hesitation, shudder and delayed-engagement complaints, concentrated in the early years before calibration revisions.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 216 | 93 |
| 2020 | 97 | 31 |
| 2021 | 95 | 9 |
| 2022 | 40 | 5 |
| 2023 | 97 | 7 |
| 2024 | 46 | 3 |
Recalls (7) — is your car included?
Apr 2024 · 2023 · Suspension do not driveFront lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
What can happen. Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC306. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 23V-649.
Sep 2023 · 2023 · Suspension do not driveFront lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
What can happen. Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC283.
Jan 2023 · 2023 · SteeringA loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front left steering knuckle may crack, which can result in a loss of steering control.
What can happen. A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the front left steering knuckle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2023. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC259.
May 2022 · 2021–2022 · SteeringLoss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
What can happen. Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.
Mar 2021 · 2021 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase…
The defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
What can happen. In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.
The free fix. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.
Sep 2020 · 2019 · Power TrainA broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Nov 2018 · 2019 · Exterior LightingIf the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. 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."
What can happen. If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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.
What owners reported
Ivt transmission failure. Car has about 27k miles, purchased at 22k used. After driving off the highway from 70mph to a near stop at the feeder road stop sign, the car would barely move, seems like the gear ratio did not adjust back down. Then noticed severe jerks when transmission tries to change the gear rations…
2019 · Transmission and driveline
I was on my way to work and my car started shaking and going really slow until it got to the 3rd gear and it would drive a little faster.I took my car to the dealership where i purchased it they took it to Kia dec.26,2020 And it's still there they said my gas contaminated and charged 620.00 Then when i give them the…
2019 · 57 miles · Fuel and propulsion system
I have lost power pulling out into traffic, car has lost all function when pulling out into traffic, 1 time when pulling out of a parking lot the car locked the wheels and slammed it onto a curb. Every time the screen display in the car glitches. I have been going down the road and the emergency braking applied for no…
2019 · 375 miles · Body structure
Built from 148 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page