repaired · 2022 Q4
Engine
Risk. An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
2014 Kia ForteProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 444 owner complaints about the 2014 Kia Forte, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-773 the manufacturer reports only 47% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 5, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2014 Kia Forte has problems
444 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
216Engine26 crash/fire/injury
64Steering4 crash/fire/injury
63Air bags21 crash/fire/injury
57Electrical system13 crash/fire/injury
26Service brakes
24Fuel/propulsion system
22Exterior lighting
18Structure
18Power train
9117 other systems16 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 216 | 26 |
| Steering | 64 | 4 |
| Air bags | 63 | 21 |
| Electrical system | 57 | 13 |
| Service brakes | 26 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | 2 |
| Structure | 18 | 4 |
| Power train | 18 | 3 |
| 17 other systems | 91 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2014 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 · 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…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system
Risk. If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
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?
94kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 132 engine complaints. 52% were reported before 100,000 miles.
9under 30k miles69under 100k miles63100k 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.
Steering
9 owners mentioned a cost$500median
Middle half: $400 – $500
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$7,332median
Middle half: $3,725 – $8,500
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
2014 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
2014 Kia Forte safety ratings
2014 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
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2014 Kia Forte, and the recalls they led to.
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
In owners' words
What Forte owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Forte. The contact stated that oil was leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that at start-up the check engine and low oil pressure warning light remained illuminated with an abnormal burned oil odor. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and…
Airbag warning light has came on had a mechanic run codes and it says all air bags unresponsive. Now my car is refusing to start. If continue to try it eventually starts. Major oil leak and consumption along with knocking. Along with my break lights not working occasionally along with my head…
The systems affected appear to be engine, powertrain, and vehicle speed control. My 2014 Kia Forte, VIN [XXX] has approximately 118,000 miles. Since purchase in November2025 from Wondries Toyota, the vehicle has had repeated high RPM, poor acceleration, and loss of power when entering freeway…
Own a 2014 Forte?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.