repaired · 2025 Q4
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2012 Kia ForteProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 293 owner complaints about the 2012 Kia Forte, most often about the engine. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-652 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 29, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Kia Forte has problems
293 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
161Engine19 crash/fire/injury
37Air bags17 crash/fire/injury
32Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
30Service brakes3 crash/fire/injury
23Exterior lighting
21Service brakes, hydraulic
14Vehicle speed control
11Power train
9Fuel/propulsion system
5016 other systems9 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 161 | 19 |
| Air bags | 37 | 17 |
| Electrical system | 32 | 6 |
| Service brakes | 30 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 23 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 21 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 3 |
| Power train | 11 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 3 |
| 16 other systems | 50 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2012 Kia Forte recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Engine
Risk. An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Risk. If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash…
repaired · 2019 Q2
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
Risk. If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
100kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 104 engine complaints. 49% were reported before 100,000 miles.
10under 30k miles51under 100k miles53100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$2,700median
Middle half: $188 – $5,400
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Forte year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Forte median. How we score
'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Kia Forte safety ratings
2012 Kia Forte 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Kia Forte, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
- Air bags may be disabled during crashLed to recall 18V-137
In owners' words
What Forte owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
VEHICLE & INCIDENT DETAILS * Vehicle: 2012 Kia Forte Hatchback * VIN: [VIN] * Incident Date: August 21, 2026 * Relevant Recalls: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Recall SC284) & NHTSA Campaign 20V750000 (Recall SC200) * Kia Corporate Case Number: 26367714 * Dealership: AllStar Kia San Bernardino, CA…
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 recall repair, the same warning lights returned. I contacted the dealership…
While driving, the engine suddenly shut off without warning. The vehicle lost power in traffic, creating a safety risk. There were no warning signs before the failure. The oil level was properly maintained and oil changes were performed regularly. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle and stated…
Own a 2012 Forte?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.