repaired · 2024 Q3
Air bags
Risk. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
2017 Kia ForteProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 305 owner complaints about the 2017 Kia Forte, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-622 the manufacturer reports only 43% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2017 Kia Forte has problems
305 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
145Engine8 crash/fire/injury
47Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
44Exterior lighting4 crash/fire/injury
29Fuel/propulsion system4 crash/fire/injury
18Air bags
17Vehicle speed control
14Engine and engine cooling
12Power train
10Structure
5012 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 145 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 47 | 6 |
| Exterior lighting | 44 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 29 | 4 |
| Air bags | 18 | 13 |
| Vehicle speed control | 17 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 0 |
| Power train | 12 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 2 |
| 12 other systems | 50 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2017 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 · 2024 Q3
Trunk lid: latch
Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Oil/lubrication: pump
Risk. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
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?
70kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 48 engine complaints. 73% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 44% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
12under 30k miles35under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2017 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
2017 Kia Forte safety ratings
2017 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Forte owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
There was a rod failure in the engine. The vehicle is currently at the repair facility. This rod failure caused the vehicle to die while traveling down the road, so it was a safety risk. The rod failure was diagnosed by a certified mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. This failure…
The vehicle exhibits a chronic, systemic electrical failure characterized by the intermittent loss of critical lighting systems, including turn signals and brake lights. This failur5e has persisted over several years and thousands of miles, independent of battery replacements or specific usage…
The contact owns a 2017 KIA Forte. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was misfiring, severely shaking and was losing motive power suddenly while operating on multiple constantly for about 3 weeks, and state she noticed a check engine warning light…
Own a 2017 Forte?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.