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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

What owners actually said

135 reports
17,310 miles · Feb 7, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

THE VEHICLE OF CONCERN REPORTEDLY HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY IN A PARKING LOT AT WORK WITH THE DOORS LOCKED AND IN PARK. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS REMOTE STARTED FROM INSIDE THE BUILDING APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AWAY. THE VEHICLE STARTED AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATTER IT APPARENTLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THEN ACCELERATED IN…

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THE VEHICLE OF CONCERN REPORTEDLY HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY IN A PARKING LOT AT WORK WITH THE DOORS LOCKED AND IN PARK. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS REMOTE STARTED FROM INSIDE THE BUILDING APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AWAY. THE VEHICLE STARTED AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATTER IT APPARENTLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THEN ACCELERATED INTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY. THE INCIDENT WAS RECORDED ON THE BUILDING SECURITY VIDEO WHICH SHOWS THAT NO ONE ENTERED OR EXITED THE VEHICLE BEFORE OR AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED AND THEN ROLLED FORWARD INTO THE BUILDING. THE EDR WAS IMAGED BY THE E-N-K-01-00-0027 TOOL AND NO EVENTS WERE RECORDED.

NHTSA ODI #11175024

55,000 miles · Feb 1, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVER RAN RED LIGHT AT HIGH SPEED AND T BONED ME AT INTERSECTION OF 83RD COTTAGE GROVE (CHICAGO). ACCIDENT RIPPED MY ENTIRE FRONT END OFF MY CAR AND SPINNER MY AN ENTIRE 360 DEGREES AND NOT ONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I ALSO HAVE 2 VIDEOS THAT CAN DETAIL THE RATE OF SPEED AT IMPACT FROM A NEIGHBORING ESTABLISHMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11173477

103,000 miles · Jan 9, 2019
Engine

I PURCHASED T A KIA FORTE SEPTEMBER OF 2017. I ALSO BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS SO I BROUGHT IT INTO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD HER THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. I THEN CALLED KIA (GARY LANG - IN MCHENRY) WHOM TOLD HER TO BRING IT IN AND THAT ACCORDING TO THE VIN# THEY WOULD COVER IT. WHEN I GOT THERE, THEY …

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I PURCHASED T A KIA FORTE SEPTEMBER OF 2017. I ALSO BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS SO I BROUGHT IT INTO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD HER THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. I THEN CALLED KIA (GARY LANG - IN MCHENRY) WHOM TOLD HER TO BRING IT IN AND THAT ACCORDING TO THE VIN# THEY WOULD COVER IT. WHEN I GOT THERE, THEY TOLD ME AGAIN IT WOULD BE COVERED AND EVEN GAVE ME A LOANER TO DRIVE. 3 DAYS LATER THEY CALLED HER WITH BAD NEWS AND SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNLESS COULD PROVE THAT IT WASN'T FROM NEGLECT. I THEN PRODUCED 7 OIL CHANGES FROM TWO DIFFERENT SHOPS AS WELL AS MY YEARLY UBER INSPECTIONS (DONE BY JIFFY LUBE). I HAS BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH KIA'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION AS WELL. AGAIN I GAVE THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTATION AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THE SAME THING - THEY WILL NOT HELP WITH ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI #11166052

28,000 miles · Oct 22, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire

THE KIA FORTE CAUGHT FIRE AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE (THE CAR WAS IN MOTION). WE HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR JUST OVER A YEAR. I AM UNSURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE REVIEWER ADVISE THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND BARLEY MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE THE INSIDE WAS COMPLETELY ENG…

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THE KIA FORTE CAUGHT FIRE AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE (THE CAR WAS IN MOTION). WE HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR JUST OVER A YEAR. I AM UNSURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE REVIEWER ADVISE THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND BARLEY MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE THE INSIDE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS IT WAS HARDLY RECOGNIZABLE ONCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET THE FIRE OUT.

NHTSA ODI #11141847

30,000 miles · Aug 31, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE DOESN'T ACCELERATE, IT SLOWS DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO HAVE TO DECELERATE OR GO AROUND TO AVOID HITTING ME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY KIA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE A COLLISION HAPPENS WIT…

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VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE DOESN'T ACCELERATE, IT SLOWS DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING OTHER VEHICLES TO HAVE TO DECELERATE OR GO AROUND TO AVOID HITTING ME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY KIA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE A COLLISION HAPPENS WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11123873

37,000 miles · Aug 17, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FLICKERING/CUTTING OFF AND ON. I"VE TALKED TO KIA MOTORS SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED. I KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11120726

50,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Electrical SystemFire

I WENT HUNTING AND WENT TO GO BACK TO MY CAR AT THE END OF THE EVENING. MY CAR WAS PARKED ON A GRASS LANE BY A WOODS WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE EGNITION. WHEN I GOT TO THE CAR IT WAS DARK SO I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING AT FIRST, BUT WHEN I WENT TO UNLOCK MY DOOR AND MY KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK. BUT MY BUDDY NOTICED THAT MY LIGHT…

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I WENT HUNTING AND WENT TO GO BACK TO MY CAR AT THE END OF THE EVENING. MY CAR WAS PARKED ON A GRASS LANE BY A WOODS WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE EGNITION. WHEN I GOT TO THE CAR IT WAS DARK SO I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING AT FIRST, BUT WHEN I WENT TO UNLOCK MY DOOR AND MY KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK. BUT MY BUDDY NOTICED THAT MY LIGHTS FLASHED AS IF IT WAS WORKING. I USED MY KEY TO OPEN MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND WAS HIT BY A CLOUD OF SMOKE. MY WHOLE DOOR PANEL WAS MELTED ALONG THE SPEAKER AND HALF OF THE DOOR. THE FIRE WAS OUT BY THE TIME I ARRIVED. KIA IN LIMA WOULDN'T TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VEHICLE AFTER A LONG DRAWN OUT PROCESS AND POOR COMMUNICATION FROM THEM, BUT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DEAMED IT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I DO NOT HAVE THE PAPERWORK AT THE MOMENT BUT CAN HAVE IT AVAILABLE ASAP.

NHTSA ODI #11113694

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2018
Unknown Or Other

CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING ALL WARNING LIGHTS WILL CUT ON THE CAR SLOWS DOWN THEN COMES TO A STOP. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN CAR IS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. DOES NOT LOSE POWER BUT WONT LET ME ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON MAIN ROADS AND STREETS, FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE STARTS BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIPS …

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CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING ALL WARNING LIGHTS WILL CUT ON THE CAR SLOWS DOWN THEN COMES TO A STOP. THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN CAR IS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. DOES NOT LOSE POWER BUT WONT LET ME ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON MAIN ROADS AND STREETS, FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE STARTS BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIPS THERE IS NOTHING REGISTERING THAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN PLACED ON THERE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE.

NHTSA ODI #11105012

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2018
Power Train

2016 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI #11092948

50,000 miles · May 12, 2018
Air BagsCrash

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, IN WHICH HER AIR BAGS ON HER FORTE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT THE BUMPER WAS SPLIT AND THE RIGHT SIDE UNDER BODY (FRAME) THAT MEETS THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS BENT! LUCKILY, MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED, AS THE IMPACT WAS MORE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IF SHE W…

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MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, IN WHICH HER AIR BAGS ON HER FORTE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT THE BUMPER WAS SPLIT AND THE RIGHT SIDE UNDER BODY (FRAME) THAT MEETS THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS BENT! LUCKILY, MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED, AS THE IMPACT WAS MORE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IF SHE WOULD'VE HAD A PASSENGER TO BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED GREAT INJURY. MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH, WHEN SHE CAME UPON A 96 JEEP GRANDE CHEROKEE WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS, STOPPED FOR A TURNING VEHICLE. SHE APPLIED HER BRAKES BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME. HER KIA FORTE, THEN WENT UNDER THE JEEP GRANDE CHEROKEE CAUSING DAMAGES IN WHICH TOTALED HER CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11093443

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.