Reliable Auto DB

2022 Kia Forte reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2022 Kia Forte has 27 complaints with NHTSA after 5 years, or 5 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 Column.

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

27

Per year

5

Recalls

1

Years on the road

5

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (4 of 27), then Forward collision avoidance (4) and Electrical system (3). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2021 and 2023

The 2021 Forte has 68 complaints, 12 per year, and the 2023 has 62 complaints, 16 per year. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

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 2022 Kia Forte. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall steering, column 2022-05-05 · NHTSA campaign 22V304000
Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
Remedy Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.

Complaints by component (27 total)

Engine
4
Forward collision avoidance
4
Electrical system
3
Steering
3
Suspension
3
Air bags
2
Engine and engine cooling
2
Powertrain
2
Seat belts
2
Service brakes
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Back-over prevention
1
Exterior lighting
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Speed control
1
Tires
1
Show 9 more Show less
Crash-flagged

3

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220212202272023420245202572026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "We were told it was the fuel pump. This car has put my son in danger twice. The car stalls out while driving, completely shuts down. He is traumatized due to this occurring in during traffic hour. The car dies and you…"
    Electrical system, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-24
  • "AC is not blowing cold air even after replacing refrigerant. Mechanic says the compressor has failed, even though the car is only a few years old and has never been involved in any major incidents."
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-20
  • "Air compressor broken Backup camera not working"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-07-07
  • "Vehicle: 2022 Kia Forte LXS I am filing this complaint regarding a complete air conditioning system failure on my 2022 Kia Forte LXS, which is fully covered under Kia's 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. The…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-06-12
  • "At low and moderate speeds, engine intermittently and slightly stalls? A rapid alarm sounds and no signal lights up on dashboard. This is corrected by tapping on the gas. This has been an ongoing issue since 2022. The…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-06-11

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2022 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 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) Front-wheel drive 27 35 30 MPG $2150
Forte 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 29 39 33 MPG $1950
Forte 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 31 26 MPG $2500
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 2021 Kia Forte Next year 2023 Kia Forte See every Kia Forte model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Kia Forte reliable?

The 2022 Kia Forte has 27 complaints with NHTSA after 5 years, or 5 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 Column.

What are common problems with a 2022 Kia Forte?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (4 of 27), then Forward collision avoidance (4) and Electrical system (3). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2022 Kia Forte more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2021 Forte has 68 complaints, 12 per year, and the 2023 has 62 complaints, 16 per year. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

Has the 2022 Kia Forte been recalled?

The 2022 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 2022 Kia Forte?

Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 2022 Kia Forte with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2022 Kia Forte get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2022 Kia Forte is 31 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.