Reliable Auto DB

2012 Kia Forte reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Kia Forte holds 292 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 8 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Forte years here — under the median of the other years, which is 10. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Engine, and Air bag control module.

2012 Kia Forte
Photo by Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
Complaints

292

Per year

8

Recalls

4

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (161 of 292), then Air bags (37) and Electrical system (32). Those filings include 20 that report a crash, 23 that report a fire, 16 that report an injury, and 3 that report a death.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Forte has 195 complaints, 7 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Kia Forte. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V652000
Summary Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Recall Engine 2020-12-02 · NHTSA campaign 20V750000
Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Recall air bags, air bag control module 2018-06-01 · NHTSA campaign 18V363000
Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Remedy Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Recall hydraulic brakes, pedals and linkages 2017-12-01 · NHTSA campaign 17V773000
Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
Remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.

Complaints by component (292 total)

Engine
161
Air bags
37
Electrical system
32
Service brakes
30
Exterior lighting
23
Hydraulic brakes
21
Speed control
14
Powertrain
11
Fuel and propulsion system
9
Steering
9
Structure
9
Engine and engine cooling
5
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
Seat belts
3
Suspension
3
Visibility
3
Wheels
3
Fuel system, gasoline
2
Tires
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Air brakes
1
Equipment
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Traction control
1
Show 17 more Show less
Crash-flagged

20

Fire-flagged

23

Injury reports

16

Death reports

3

Complaints filed per year

32012920131120141120159201616201726201835201931202044202117202234202323202415202582026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "VEHICLE & INCIDENT DETAILS * Vehicle: 2012 Kia Forte Hatchback * VIN: KNAFU5A26C5641380 * Incident Date: August 21, 2026 * Relevant Recalls: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Recall SC284) & NHTSA Campaign 20V750000 (Recall…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-18
  • "Airbag light came on August 21, 2026. I tried several steps to troubleshoot with no resolution. I took it to the local Kia dealership for further inspection. I was terrified to drive the vehicle because of the airbag…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-08-28
  • "The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed an abnormal sound for approximately five minutes, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact…"
    Hydraulic brakes · filed 2026-08-26
  • "My vehicle is a 2012 Kia Forte EX. The vehicle experienced a corrosion-related brake line failure that affected braking performance and created a safety concern. The brake pedal became soft/sank, and the vehicle had…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-07-02
  • "Vehicle: 2012 Kia Forte Recall: NHTSA 23V-652 (Kia SC284) – HECU/ABS fuse recall My vehicle underwent this safety recall in 2025. The dealership replaced the HECU fuse. Immediately upon leaving the dealership after the…"
    Electrical system, Speed control, Engine · filed 2026-06-22

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars
2012 Kia Forte 5 HB FWD 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars
2012 Kia Forte Koup 2 DR FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Forte 2.4L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 31 26 MPG $2500
Forte 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 25 35 29 MPG $2250
Forte 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 23 31 26 MPG $2500
Forte 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 25 34 28 MPG $2300
Forte Eco 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 35 30 MPG $2150
Forte Koup 2.4L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 31 26 MPG $2500
Forte Koup 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 32 27 MPG $2400
Forte Koup 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 23 30 26 MPG $2500
Forte Koup 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 25 34 28 MPG $2300

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (YD), 2012–2018
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-20 or 0W-20 (1.8L and 2.0L) , 4.2 qt capacity
Tire size 195/65R15 to 225/40R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 21V622000. 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." A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury. 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.

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Next year 2013 Kia Forte See every Kia Forte model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Kia Forte reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Kia Forte holds 292 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 8 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Forte years here — under the median of the other years, which is 10. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Engine, and Air bag control module.

What are common problems with a 2012 Kia Forte?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (161 of 292), then Air bags (37) and Electrical system (32). Those filings include 20 that report a crash, 23 that report a fire, 16 that report an injury, and 3 that report a death.

Is the 2012 Kia Forte more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Forte has 195 complaints, 7 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

Has the 2012 Kia Forte been recalled?

The 2012 Kia Forte has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Kia Forte?

Owners have filed 292 complaints about the 2012 Kia Forte with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Kia Forte get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Kia Forte is 27.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Forte take?

Viscosity and capacity depend on engine and model year; use the generation specs here and confirm in the owner’s manual.

What generation is the 2020 Kia Forte?

4th generation / BD (2019-on).

What tire sizes does a Kia Forte use?

US Forte fits commonly run about 195/65R15 to 225/40R18 depending on trim.