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2016 Kia Forte

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Forte do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 141.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

60 reports with mileage · 75 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 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports6 fire reports10 injury reports

Suspension complaints

3 reports
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118,167 miles · Dec 31, 2020
EngineService BrakesSuspension

I PURCHASED MY 2016 KIA FORTE IN MARCH 2017 USED AND SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN HAVING SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. MAY 2017 I HAD 3 ALIGNMENTS AND I CONSTANTLY BEEN GETTING ALIGNMENTS AND REPLACING MY BRAKES AND TIRES. AUGUST 2020 MY CAR STARTED TO CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ACCELERATE WHEN I TRIED TO STOP. MY CHECK ENGINE CODE AN I…

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I PURCHASED MY 2016 KIA FORTE IN MARCH 2017 USED AND SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN HAVING SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. MAY 2017 I HAD 3 ALIGNMENTS AND I CONSTANTLY BEEN GETTING ALIGNMENTS AND REPLACING MY BRAKES AND TIRES. AUGUST 2020 MY CAR STARTED TO CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ACCELERATE WHEN I TRIED TO STOP. MY CHECK ENGINE CODE AN IGNITION COILS PROBLEM SO I DID A FULL TUNE-UP AND OIL CHANGE IN SEPTEMBER. BUT IT DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM SO AFTER THAT MY CAR CODE AN INTAKE FAILURE. I HAD IT REPAIRED IN OCTOBER BUT IT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND ON TOP OF THAT THE PISTONS IN THE ENGINE STARTED GRINDING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT I NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. NOW MY CAR BEEN SITTING EVERY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.

NHTSA ODI #11385722

60,000 miles · Nov 17, 2017
Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FAIRLY SERIOUS FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS AT THE RIGHT FRONT FRAME RAIL AND CORNER. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO PUSH A FULL SIZED CHEVROLET PICK UP SIDEWAYS APPROX. 6 FEET. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 35-40 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THE TRUCK PULLED OUT STRAIGHT ACROSS TH…

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I WAS INVOLVED IN A FAIRLY SERIOUS FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS AT THE RIGHT FRONT FRAME RAIL AND CORNER. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO PUSH A FULL SIZED CHEVROLET PICK UP SIDEWAYS APPROX. 6 FEET. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 35-40 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THE TRUCK PULLED OUT STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH IT BROADSIDE AT THE TRUCKS LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA.

NHTSA ODI #11046922

19,000 miles · Mar 15, 2017
SuspensionVehicle Speed Control

AFTER MY 5K MILE OIL CHANGE, THIS WAS THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE OF A LOUD TICKING SOUND. I OVERHEARD THE SERVICE SUPRV SAY THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT ON FORTES. BUT, HE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I TOLD HIM WHAT I HEARD HIM SAY OVER THE WALKIE. THEN, THEY KEPT THE CAR AND CHANGED THE P…

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AFTER MY 5K MILE OIL CHANGE, THIS WAS THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE OF A LOUD TICKING SOUND. I OVERHEARD THE SERVICE SUPRV SAY THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT ON FORTES. BUT, HE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I TOLD HIM WHAT I HEARD HIM SAY OVER THE WALKIE. THEN, THEY KEPT THE CAR AND CHANGED THE PULLEY SYSTEM. NOW, HERE'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED TO THE PULLEY ISSUE. 1ST TIME, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY GOING ABOUT 70MPH IN 6THGEAR AND IT POPPED OUT OF 6TH TO NEUTRAL. I LOOKED DOWN BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I QUICKLY PUT IT BACK INTO 6TH. 2ND TIME. FEBRUARY 23RD 2017 I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH ON I-20 PASSING REDOAK, TX AND THE GEAR POPPED OUT OF 6TH INTO NEUTRAL. SCARED ME, I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED IT BACK TO 6TH. I MADE AN APPT THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT AND WAD TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IF IT GETS WORSE TO BRING IT BACK. IT DID IT AGAIN ON THAT SUNDAY, MARCH 5TH 2017 WHILE I WAS DRIVING 75 - 80 MPH TO LOUISIANA. NOW, I HAVE A LOG AND WILL LOG EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS AND IM GOING TO TAKE THE LOG WITH ME WHEN I GO BACK TO KIA SERVICE DEPT.

NHTSA ODI #10966009

Official recalls

1

21V622000 · Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch

Aug 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."

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.