Kia Forte 2014–2018
2nd generation (YD)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,786 complaints, 923 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 25,000 and 99,179 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 5,000
- 25%
- 25,000
- Median
- 62,500
- 75%
- 99,179
- 90%
- 136,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 137 | 14.8% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 63 | 6.8% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 59 | 6.4% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 61 | 6.6% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 57 | 6.2% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 54 | 5.9% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 75 | 8.1% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 71 | 7.7% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 71 | 7.7% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 46 | 5.0% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 39 | 4.2% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 35 | 3.8% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 38 | 4.1% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 34 | 3.7% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 24 | 2.6% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 24 | 2.6% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 13 | 1.4% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 6 | 0.7% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 7 | 0.8% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 0.8% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,786 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2018 Kia Forte, and 923 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 25,000 and 99,179 miles. The median is 62,500 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (35.6% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (9.8% of complaints, typically around 48,000 miles), the electrical system (9.4% of complaints, typically around 51,000 miles).
6 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine86,000median 85,511 miles, middle half 57,000 to 120,000
- Problems owners could not categorise48,000median 47,528 miles, middle half 19,000 to 75,000
- Electrical system51,000median 51,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 89,000
- Airbag system64,000median 63,766 miles, middle half 28,000 to 98,000
- Exterior lighting50,000median 50,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 75,000
- Steering51,000median 50,938 miles, middle half 12,000 to 76,000
- Fuel and propulsion system38,000median 38,000 miles, middle half 11,000 to 88,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 635 | 35.6% | 86,000 | 57,000–120,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 175 | 9.8% | 48,000 | 19,000–75,000 |
| Electrical system | 168 | 9.4% | 51,000 | 27,000–89,000 |
| Airbag system | 133 | 7.4% | 64,000 | 28,000–98,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 93 | 5.2% | 50,000 | 35,000–75,000 |
| Steering | 85 | 4.8% | 51,000 | 12,000–76,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 76 | 4.3% | 38,000 | 11,000–88,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 70 | 3.9% | 58,000 | 10,000–88,000 |
| Brakes | 62 | 3.5% | 58,000 | 9,500–118,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 60 | 3.4% | 25,000 | 5,500–90,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 62,500 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 35.6% of complaints (635 reports, 306 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,511 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 57,000 and 120,000 miles.
A single system taking 35.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.8% of complaints (175 reports, 67 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 47,528 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,044 and 75,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 9.4% of complaints (168 reports, 85 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,000 and 88,824 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 7.4% of complaints (133 reports, 84 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 63,766 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 98,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 5.2% of complaints (93 reports, 45 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 75,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 4.8% of complaints (85 reports, 40 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,938 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 11,503 and 76,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2014 model year drew the most — 641 complaints — while 2018 drew the fewest at 188. The median year sits at 325.
The first year of the generation, 2014, sits above the median. That is a common pattern — early production of a redesigned vehicle tends to surface problems that later years do not repeat — and it is worth weighing when choosing between years.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 1,786 complaints filed against this generation, 159 reported a crash; 105 reported a fire; 131 reported an injury; 9 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 25,000 and 99,179 miles, with a median of 62,500. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 47,528, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine 2014–2018
2.0L Nu connecting rod bearing wear. Kia's remedy is the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software campaign, which monitors engine vibration for the onset of excessive rod bearing wear and alerts the driver at an early stage — before bearing failure progresses to seizure or an engine compartment fire. Delivered as a free dealer software update.
Anti-Theft/Security 2014–2018
Keyed-ignition trims lack an engine immobilizer, leaving them vulnerable to the same steering-column hot-wire theft method as the first generation. Eligible for Kia's anti-theft software upgrade.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 641 | 392 |
| 2015 | 325 | 180 |
| 2016 | 201 | 91 |
| 2017 | 431 | 193 |
| 2018 | 188 | 67 |
Recalls (6)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 22V031000 | 2022-03-21 | Air Bags |
| 21V622000 | 2022-02-10 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:trunk Lid:latch |
| 21V260000 | 2021-08-16 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine:oil/Lubrication:pump |
| 20V750000 | 2021-01-25 | Engine |
| 17V773000 | 2018-01-30 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals and Linkages |
| 15V015000 | 2015-02-20 | Electrical System |
What owners reported
I have a 2014 Kia Forte since september 2013 acquired several days the unit is started having a vibration in the engine. These vibrations are felt throughout the car and when in low or stopped. I took him to the service center where you buy and service technicians always tell me that no faults everything is working…
2014 · 30 miles · Engine
Vehicle lacks a spare tire, and it was not disclosed at time of purchase, nor does it state this fact in any of its published sales literature or web site publications. Kia customer service was contacted (800-333-4542. Lonnie, ext. 45804, [Xxx]) on numerous occasions and claimed there was not any need for a spare.…
2014 · 82 miles · Wheels
This is our 2nd 2014 Kia Forte ex with navigation everything top of the line... Well the first one had a knock in the motor so the dealership "exchanged" it and this one the seat takes about 5 min to lock into place after you adjust it and you have to be driving for it to lock in. There is a knock when you turn the…
2014 · 90 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Built from 923 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page