repaired · 2022 Q2
Axle assembly: axle shaft
Risk. A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
2019 Kia ForteProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 150 owner complaints about the 2019 Kia Forte, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-459 the manufacturer reports only 63% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 23, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2019 Kia Forte has problems
150 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
48Power train
38Engine3 crash/fire/injury
23Electrical system5 crash/fire/injury
17Forward collision avoidance
15Exterior lighting2 crash/fire/injury
9Steering
7Vehicle speed control
6Air bags
5Lane departure
2411 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 48 | 0 |
| Engine | 38 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 23 | 5 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 17 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 2 |
| Steering | 9 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 1 |
| Air bags | 6 | 6 |
| Lane departure | 5 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 24 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2019 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 · 2020 Q1
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, 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 power train problems start?
5kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 29 power train complaints. 97% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 46% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
25under 30k miles28under 100k miles1100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2019 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
2019 Kia Forte safety ratings
2019 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Forte owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at 70-75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the check engine warning light illuminated, causing the contact and her daughter to be stranded on the highway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the…
The transmission had a recall 2 years ago and they gave me a new one (KIA). I am having issues with my transmission again
Transmission was getting stuck in gear and slipping intermittently would cause the car to not accelerate over 20mph especially in the cold unless you switched it to the manual mode and manually shifted up two gears ans then back down two gears. If you looked at the tach while it did this is would…
Own a 2019 Forte?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.