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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

Structure complaints

9 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2025
Electrical SystemStructure

Unknown

NHTSA ODI #11664251

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2023
Structure

When I arrived at my destination after driving through rain my paint peeled back on my hood.

NHTSA ODI #11510784

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2021
StructureUnknown Or Other

The trunk of my 2017 Kia Forte wouldn’t open in the morning. I checked for a solution online and saw there was an active recall (SC216) on the latching mechanism of the trunk which was causing it to get stuck. Took it to the dealership to get it fixed. They fixed it but then told me I needed to pay for it. When I told them it wa…

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The trunk of my 2017 Kia Forte wouldn’t open in the morning. I checked for a solution online and saw there was an active recall (SC216) on the latching mechanism of the trunk which was causing it to get stuck. Took it to the dealership to get it fixed. They fixed it but then told me I needed to pay for it. When I told them it was a recall issue they took the new part off and told me to leave. Now my trunk doesn’t close and it’s being held in place with a piece of string.

NHTSA ODI #11444822

24,000 miles · Mar 27, 2021
StructureUnknown Or Other

TRUNK LID OPENS WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11405134

39,400 miles · Dec 16, 2020
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRUNK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KARP BUICK (400 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TW…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRUNK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KARP BUICK (400 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 39,400.

NHTSA ODI #11383680

35,000 miles · Jun 8, 2020
Air BagsEngineStructureCrash

THE 2017 KIA FORTE MY CLIENT WAS DRIVING WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN MODERATE TO HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE, APPROXIMATE SPEED OF IMPACT WAS 20-25MPH, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327763

60,000 miles · Sep 25, 2019
StructureUnknown Or Other

THE TRUNK LOCK LATCH BROKE, WHEN I WENT TO KIA ABOUT THE PART THEY KNEW THE MAKE MAKE AND MODEL SAYING IT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO A LOT OF THOSE CARS .

NHTSA ODI #11257989

3,600 miles · Aug 22, 2018
StructureVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS, THEIR FOOT WAS BLOCKED BY SOME KIND OF PARTITION ON THE FLOOR. THE PARTITION WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM BRAKING OR ACCELERATING IN A TIMELY MANOR. THERE WERE NO WARN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS, THEIR FOOT WAS BLOCKED BY SOME KIND OF PARTITION ON THE FLOOR. THE PARTITION WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM BRAKING OR ACCELERATING IN A TIMELY MANOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO EXPRESS KIA (10320 WATTSBURG RD, ERIE, PA 16509, (814) 825-4747), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,600. *TT CONSUMER STATED YOU AGENT COULD NOT HAVE TAKEN MY REPORT ANY MORE INCORRECT. THE PROBLEM AND DANGER IS ABOVE THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS. WHEN CHANGING FROM GAS TO BRAKES MY FOOT (TOES) IS COMING IN CONTACT WITH AN AIR BAFFLE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS GANG FROM GAS TO BREAKS. THIS NEEDS LOOKED INTO BY YOUR AGENCY AND CORRECTED. UPDATED 10/19/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #11121649

6,900 miles · Jul 22, 2018
Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED THE LIENHOLDER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS POSSIBLY A TOTAL LOSS AND THE LIENHOLDER IGNORED THEM AND SOLD THE VEHICLE TO A PUBLIC AUCTION WITHOUT CONTACTING THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR TO PAY ON THE VEHICLE EITHER. THE OWNER OF THE CAR WAS INJURED IN THE VEHICLE I…

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THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED THE LIENHOLDER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS POSSIBLY A TOTAL LOSS AND THE LIENHOLDER IGNORED THEM AND SOLD THE VEHICLE TO A PUBLIC AUCTION WITHOUT CONTACTING THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR TO PAY ON THE VEHICLE EITHER. THE OWNER OF THE CAR WAS INJURED IN THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION AS WELL AS A PASSENGER AND THE LIENHOLDER IS AWARE AND STILL SOLD WITHOUT PROPER NOTICE AND THEY CHANGED THE LOCKS OF THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THE INSURANCE COMPANY FROM DOING A PROPER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY AND SHAKES AT 30 MILES AT AN IN LESS THAN 10 MINS. THE VEHICLE ALSO OPERATES ON ITS OWN. THE LIENHOLDER HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUE SINCE APRIL 2018. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11112914

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.