Reliable Auto DB

2019 Kia Forte reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2019 Kia Forte has 147 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 24 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Forte years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Axle shaft and Headlights.

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

147

Per year

24

Recalls

2

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (47 of 147), then Engine (36) and Electrical system (22). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 Forte has 136 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2020 has 76 complaints, 6 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

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 2019 Kia Forte. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall powertrain, axle assembly, axle shaft 2020-08-05 · NHTSA campaign 20V459000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall exterior lighting, headlights 2018-10-31 · NHTSA campaign 18V771000
Summary 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."
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.

Complaints by component (147 total)

Powertrain
47
Engine
36
Electrical system
22
Forward collision avoidance
17
Exterior lighting
15
Steering
8
Speed control
7
Air bags
6
Lane departure
5
Engine and engine cooling
4
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Structure
4
Service brakes
3
Suspension
2
Wheels
2
Back-over prevention
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Seats
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Show 12 more Show less
Crash-flagged

11

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

5

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

22018272019222020212021112022132023192024152025172026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "recommended engine replacement at 111,000 miles"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-26
  • "Power loss, engine failure. Will not start"
    Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine · filed 2026-07-13
  • "The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that after driving to the local store and turning off the vehicle, after returning to the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-06-16
  • "While driving, the Forward Collision Warning system activated unexpectedly without any apparent hazard or obstruction in front of my vehicle. Immediately after the warning appeared, the vehicle suddenly lost speed and…"
    Electrical system, Fuel and propulsion system, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-06-01
  • "The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 70 MPH, the contact had exited when the oil and battery warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle rolled over to the side of…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-05-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2019 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

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 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 30 40 34 MPG $1900
Forte 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 37 31 MPG $2100
Forte FE 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 31 41 35 MPG $1850

Specs and fitment

4th generation (BD), 2019–present
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 (2.0L and 1.6L turbo where equipped) , 4 qt capacity
Tire size 195/65R15 to 225/40R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 21V164000. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCS/ODS unit, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC207.

Compare

Previous year 2018 Kia Forte Next year 2020 Kia Forte See every Kia Forte model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Kia Forte reliable?

The 2019 Kia Forte has 147 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 24 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Forte years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Axle shaft and Headlights.

What are common problems with a 2019 Kia Forte?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (47 of 147), then Engine (36) and Electrical system (22). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2019 Kia Forte more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 Forte has 136 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2020 has 76 complaints, 6 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Kia Forte been recalled?

The 2019 Kia Forte has 2 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 2019 Kia Forte?

Owners have filed 147 complaints about the 2019 Kia Forte with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2019 Kia Forte get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2019 Kia Forte is 33.3 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.