Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2018 Kia Forte has 3 recalls, 133 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
3
Recalls
133
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 7, 2026
22V031000
AIR BAGS
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Uni...
21V622000
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
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 becom...
21V260000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil...
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2018 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Engine would run fast and then sound like was going to stop and then it would start shaking and rumb... |
| Jan 27, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I went to Kia dealership in Groton CT 06340 for an oil change. They also fixed a recent recall, and ... |
| Jan 24, 2026 | ENGINE | No warning lights/ indicators at all. Well taken care of vehicle 84,400 miles on the vehicle second ... |
| Jan 4, 2026 | ENGINE | Recently, while my boyfriend was driving my vehicle, the engine suddenly lost power without warning.... |
| Nov 4, 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | Right break light fills up with water. Consistently changing break light bulbs due to moisture in th... |
| Oct 29, 2025 | ENGINE | MY VEHICLE IS USING ALOT OF OIL AND WILL NOT START THE WARNING COMES UP IS CONCERNING THE OIL PUMP. |
| Oct 12, 2025 | ENGINE | While driving on U.S. 69 highway in Overland Park, Kansas, the engine in my 2018 Kia Forte suddenly ... |
| Oct 1, 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | The car turn off while driving it. This creates a serious safety concern. We took the car to a mecha... |
| Oct 1, 2025 | ENGINE | the engine was burning oil unknown to me. You had an oil change completed at 101k miles and 106k mil... |
| Aug 15, 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the veh... |
| Jul 25, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | ABS light, parking break light, tire pressure light, ESC light, and outdoor temperature and climate ... |
| Jul 7, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Unknown. Fire was located under in the engine compartment area and fire was visible from below the e... |
| Jul 7, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Timing, VVT sensor. Oil pressure |
| Jun 27, 2025 | ENGINE | Same defective engine issue as other saftey recalls for other vehicles. |
| May 30, 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | About a week ago, I noticed small chips in the Pearl White paint on the hood of my Kia Forte 5. One ... |
| May 27, 2025 | ENGINE | Oil pressure problems blew the engines. Yes it’s available to look at at this time Car stalled mult... |
| Apr 15, 2025 | ENGINE | While I was driving, the check engine light, oil pressure light and battery light came on and my eng... |
| Mar 29, 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | While driving the car with the flow of busy traffic, the engine failed and the car stopped. It event... |
| Mar 25, 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 4... |
| Mar 24, 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE | Part of the subframe is corroded already and the engine cradle has begun to break, the control arm h... |