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2017 Kia Forte

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forte years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Kia Forte are substantially higher than the model-year median of 141.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

135 reports with mileage · 166 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 144 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports9 fire reports14 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

43 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

KIA FORTE DRIVERSIDE FRONT HEAD LIGHT ON LOW BEAMS WILL NOT COME ON. DEALER STATES PART IS ON BACK ORDER WHEN HAVING OIL CHANGE DONE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. IN THREE WEEKS WILL NEED CAR TO DRIVE POSSIBLE AT NIGHT TO CHILD COLLEGE GRADUATION THROUGH MOUNTAINS. DO NOT KNOW IF OTHER HEAD LAMP WILL MALFUNCTION AND STOP WORKING. THE DRIVE…

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KIA FORTE DRIVERSIDE FRONT HEAD LIGHT ON LOW BEAMS WILL NOT COME ON. DEALER STATES PART IS ON BACK ORDER WHEN HAVING OIL CHANGE DONE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. IN THREE WEEKS WILL NEED CAR TO DRIVE POSSIBLE AT NIGHT TO CHILD COLLEGE GRADUATION THROUGH MOUNTAINS. DO NOT KNOW IF OTHER HEAD LAMP WILL MALFUNCTION AND STOP WORKING. THE DRIVERSIDE WAS GOING AND OUT NOW STAYS OFF. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11202593

26,000 miles · Mar 27, 2018
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER KOONS KIA OF WOODBRIDGE (14208 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE REC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER KOONS KIA OF WOODBRIDGE (14208 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD LIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD COVER THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11081467

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

MY CAR THE GAS SHOOTS OUT ,I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS WITH A NEW CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT BEEN ON FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT THIS CAR GAVE ME PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I BRING IT BACK THEY SAID JUST DROP IT OFF SO WE CAN TRY FIXING IT IT TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS ARE MORE PLUS THEY DON'T GIVE OUT LOANER CAR AT ALL SO HOW I SUPPOSE TO GET TO…

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MY CAR THE GAS SHOOTS OUT ,I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS WITH A NEW CAR MY ENGINE LIGHT BEEN ON FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT THIS CAR GAVE ME PROBLEMS EVERY TIME I BRING IT BACK THEY SAID JUST DROP IT OFF SO WE CAN TRY FIXING IT IT TAKE UP TO THREE DAYS ARE MORE PLUS THEY DON'T GIVE OUT LOANER CAR AT ALL SO HOW I SUPPOSE TO GET TO WORK SO I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT LIKE THAT.I DON'T KNOW WHY I BROUGHT THIS CAR. IT WASTED MY MONEY AND TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11073460

Official recalls

3

22V031000 · Air Bags

Jan 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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.

21V260000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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.