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2019 Kia Forte

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2019 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

68 reports with mileage · 79 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

147 reports
23,000 miles · May 7, 2020
Power Train

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN DECEMBER FOR 2018. IN OCTOBER OF 2019, IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE RPMS BOUNCING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO WAIT FOR 3 MONTHS TO GET MY CAR BACK AS WE WAITED ON A TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED THE RPM BOUNCING WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. ON 5/7/2020, I WAS INFORMED THAT…

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN DECEMBER FOR 2018. IN OCTOBER OF 2019, IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE RPMS BOUNCING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO WAIT FOR 3 MONTHS TO GET MY CAR BACK AS WE WAITED ON A TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED THE RPM BOUNCING WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. ON 5/7/2020, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I VOICED MY CONCERNS ABOUT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE SAME MODEL THAT HAD ISSUES. I REQUESTED THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FIND OUT WHAT MODEL THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS SO WE DO NOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11323682

8,865 miles · Apr 11, 2020
Power Train

I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I FELT IT STRUGGLING TO ACCELERATE AND OVERALL BEING "JERKY" DRIVING 30-40MPH ON A CITY STREET WITH MINIMAL HILLS. DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING WRONG AS NO CODES WERE SHOWING ANY ERRORS. NO MORE THAN 2-3 WEEKS LATER, TRANSMISSION DIED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY WITH ONLY 8,800 MILE…

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I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I FELT IT STRUGGLING TO ACCELERATE AND OVERALL BEING "JERKY" DRIVING 30-40MPH ON A CITY STREET WITH MINIMAL HILLS. DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING WRONG AS NO CODES WERE SHOWING ANY ERRORS. NO MORE THAN 2-3 WEEKS LATER, TRANSMISSION DIED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY WITH ONLY 8,800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE THE CAR WITHOUT THE RPM HITTING THE RED LINE EVEN THOUGH I WAS BARELY PRESSING ON THE GAS. I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T GET RAMMED BY THE TRUCK THAT WAS COMING BEHIND ME AS I QUICKLY ENGAGED MY EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHTS AND PULLED OVER WHEN A SAFE OPPORTUNITY AROSE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW (NO PRIOR OWNERS). I DID SOME RESEARCH, AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE FIRST COMPLAINT OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #11320814

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2020
Air BagsExterior LightingUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, LIGHTING WAS LIMITED, THE SENSORS DID NOT WORK

NHTSA ODI #11307414

62 miles · Feb 3, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

PROBLEM 1, LONG CRANK HARD START. HAVE TO CYCLE THE IGNITION KEY SEVERAL TIMES TO GET ENGINE STARTED. NO PCM CODES. HAD TO KIA DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. CANNOT DUPLICATE ISSUE. PROBLEM 2, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES BLANK, RADIO GOES BLANK AND ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #11306811

10,000 miles · Jan 28, 2020
Forward Collision AvoidanceSteeringSuspension

WHILE DRIVING THE CRASH RESPONSE SYSTEMS TURNS ON & SHOWS ERROR CODES WHICH HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP BY IT SELF. ALSO THE DRIVER ASSIST HAS PULLED MY WHEEL OUT OF MY HAND & JERKED HAD TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES.... THE LEFT STRUT MOUNT BEARING IS ALSO DEFECTIVE ON THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11302528

24,000 miles · Jan 13, 2020
Power Train

HAD CAR FOR JUST ONE MONTH. I PURCHASED A FLEET CAR WITH 20K MILES. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 24K MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, AND THE CAR STARTED REVVING VERY HIGH 6-7K WHEN ACCELERATING, WHERE IT'S USUALLY 2-3K. THE CAR FINALLY GAVE OUT (SHAKING AND SPUTTERING) AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE ANY LONGER. HAD TO PULL OVER …

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HAD CAR FOR JUST ONE MONTH. I PURCHASED A FLEET CAR WITH 20K MILES. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 24K MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, AND THE CAR STARTED REVVING VERY HIGH 6-7K WHEN ACCELERATING, WHERE IT'S USUALLY 2-3K. THE CAR FINALLY GAVE OUT (SHAKING AND SPUTTERING) AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE ANY LONGER. HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON, AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO MY PARENTS HOUSE CLOSE BY AT LOW SPEED TRYING TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM RED-LINING. I KNEW IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE OF THE SYMPTOMS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS A NEW MODEL, AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR WILL GET FIXED BECAUSE IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT REALLY GIVES ME RESERVATION ABOUT DRIVING IT GOING FORWARD. SUCH A CRITICAL FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND WILL STAY ON THE BACK OF MY MIND ALWAYS. I CALLED KIA AND THEY TOWED IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I AM GETTING A RENTAL FROM THEM.

NHTSA ODI #11299025

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2020
Forward Collision Avoidance

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE 'CAMERA OBSTRUCTED' WARNING SYMBOL STARTED TO FLASH. ALSO, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM WARNING INDICAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE 'CAMERA OBSTRUCTED' WARNING SYMBOL STARTED TO FLASH. ALSO, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED FLASHING. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JT'S KIA OF COLUMBIA (230 KILLIAN COMMONS PARKWAY, COLUMBIA, SC 29203) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, IT WAS ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DEALER'S CUSTODY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11297478

10,000 miles · Jan 2, 2020
Power Train

ON A TRIP THE CAR BEGAN JERKING AND LOSING ACCELERATION WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT HIGH REVS (5-6K) ON THE HIGHWAY. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN READING, PA, 150 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. AFTER 3 DAYS OF EVALUATION, I WAS …

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ON A TRIP THE CAR BEGAN JERKING AND LOSING ACCELERATION WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT HIGH REVS (5-6K) ON THE HIGHWAY. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN READING, PA, 150 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. AFTER 3 DAYS OF EVALUATION, I WAS INFORMED THE CAR WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE EXPECTED TIME TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR IS 6 WEEKS. THE CAR HAS 10K MILES ON IT AND DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11296658

10,000 miles · Dec 3, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND IT RESUMED NORMAL OPER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALL STAR KIA OF SAN BERNARDINO (735 SHOW CASE DR N, SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92408, (888) 480-0418) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTELLIGENT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #11286723

16,400 miles · Dec 2, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN APRIL 2019. I HAD IT'S 15,000 MILE CHECK UP ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME I NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED, MY CAR WOULD JUMP. THE RPM WOULD BOUNCE BETWEEN 1-2 RPMS AND WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND EVEN TEST DRO…

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I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN APRIL 2019. I HAD IT'S 15,000 MILE CHECK UP ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME I NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED, MY CAR WOULD JUMP. THE RPM WOULD BOUNCE BETWEEN 1-2 RPMS AND WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND EVEN TEST DROVE IT. I WAS SURE SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND WE WENT OUT ON ANOTHER TEST DRIVE AND SURE ENOUGH IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THE NEXT DAY THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND THAT IT DIDN'T TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING A NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11286449

Official recalls

2

20V459000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Aug 5, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

18V771000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Oct 31, 2018

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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.