Reliable Auto DB

2015 Kia Forte reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2015 Kia Forte holds 259 complaints after 12 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 1 recall on file, including Engine.

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

259

Per year

8

Recalls

1

Years on the road

12

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (157 of 259), then Electrical system (29) and Air bags (23). Those filings include 16 that report a crash, 20 that report a fire, 9 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2014 and 2016

The 2014 Forte has 442 complaints, 19 per year, and the 2016 has 3 complaints, 0 per year. The 2015 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

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 2015 Kia Forte. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

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.

Complaints by component (259 total)

Engine
157
Electrical system
29
Air bags
23
Powertrain
17
Service brakes
15
Exterior lighting
13
Fuel and propulsion system
10
Speed control
5
Engine and engine cooling
4
Steering
4
Structure
4
Seat belts
3
Forward collision avoidance
2
Tires
2
Visibility
2
Wheels
2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

16

Fire-flagged

20

Injury reports

9

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

12014520151020167201715201824201943202047202136202221202319202423202582026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "While driving my 2015 Kia Forte5 at approximately 80 mph on GA-400, I was traveling in the far-left lane when the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lost acceleration and engine power. Pressing the accelerator produced…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-10
  • "Recently had oil change . Right after B oil change engine light came on, a solid yellow light car is driving rough it’s a 2015 Kia Forte. Have an appointment Monday 7/13/2026 to have dealer to do a B diagnostic. The…"
    Engine · filed 2026-07-12
  • "respectfully submit this correspondence to request formal assistance regarding my 2015 Kia Forte EX, a vehicle covered under the class settlement. The vehicle is exhibiting severe symptoms consistent with KSDS‑related…"
    Engine · filed 2026-07-06
  • "The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that an anti-theft protection software update was performed in 2024. After the update was performed, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly turned…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-06-29
  • "The car is jerking while driving. It's caused the car to overheat. It's hard to start up and usually stalls out. It has stalled out while driving almost causing a accident. The engine light came on. I took it for a…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-06-15

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2015 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2015 Kia Forte 5 HB FWD Not rated Not rated 5 stars 4 stars
2015 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 1.8L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 26 37 30 MPG $2150
Forte 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 25 36 29 MPG $2250
Forte 1.8L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 25 36 29 MPG $2250
Forte 5 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 25 33 28 MPG $2300
Forte 5 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $2700
Forte 5 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 21 29 24 MPG $2700
Forte Koup 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 33 27 MPG $2400
Forte Koup 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 25 34 28 MPG $2300
Forte Koup 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 22 29 25 MPG $2600
Forte Koup 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 29 24 MPG $2700

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.

Compare

Previous year 2014 Kia Forte See every Kia Forte model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Kia Forte reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2015 Kia Forte holds 259 complaints after 12 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 1 recall on file, including Engine.

What are common problems with a 2015 Kia Forte?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (157 of 259), then Electrical system (29) and Air bags (23). Those filings include 16 that report a crash, 20 that report a fire, 9 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2015 Kia Forte more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 Forte has 442 complaints, 19 per year, and the 2016 has 3 complaints, 0 per year. The 2015 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

Has the 2015 Kia Forte been recalled?

The 2015 Kia Forte has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2015 Kia Forte?

Owners have filed 259 complaints about the 2015 Kia Forte with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2015 Kia Forte get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2015 Kia Forte is 26.8 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.