repaired · 2024 Q3
Air bags
Risk. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
2018 Kia ForteProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 136 owner complaints about the 2018 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 September 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Kia Forte has problems
136 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
57Engine3 crash/fire/injury
16Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
16Air bags8 crash/fire/injury
10Vehicle speed control
8Power train
8Fuel/propulsion system
7Structure
6Exterior lighting
5Engine and engine cooling
2511 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 57 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 16 | 3 |
| Air bags | 16 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 0 |
| Power train | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 25 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2018 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.
Best & worst years
2018 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
2018 Kia Forte safety ratings
2018 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: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Forte owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Recently, while my boyfriend was driving my vehicle, the engine suddenly lost power without warning. He had the accelerator pedal fully depressed, yet the vehicle would barely move. He was fortunate to safely maneuver the vehicle off the road. Upon inspection, he discovered there was no oil present…
While driving the car with the flow of busy traffic, the engine failed and the car stopped. It eventually turn back on (side of the road) but now drives with hesitation, a strange noise, and with the engine light on. This cycle continued until we arrived at the repair shop. And after much research,…
Engine would run fast and then sound like was going to stop and then it would start shaking and rumbling while driving on highway and in town. Car would stall while at a stop. Gas smells inside the car. Did not feel safe driving. Had the car towed to an independent garage on February 7th and They…
Own a 2018 Forte?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.