2020 KIA FORTE

0 recalls — 88 complaints — 4/5 safety rating

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

88 total complaints 12 crashes 2 fires 6 injuries

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
UNKNOWN OR OTHER24
POWER TRAIN13
ENGINE11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
AIR BAGS4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS2
STEERING2
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Mar 22, 2026
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
While driving a 2020 Kia Forte on the expressway at normal speed, the vehicle was operating normally with no prior warning lights or known issues. Suddenly, the brakes began to feel weak, as if they were failing. Immediately after, a popping sound was heard from the vehicle, followed by smoke coming... Read more
Fire
TIRES Mar 19, 2026
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
Two sets of Kumho Solus TA 31's (195/65 R15 91T) experienced rapid tread wear issues. The problem and safety issue has been confirmed by Fred Beans Kia of Mechanicsburg, PA, but with hassles to do so. I believe this matter actually effects consumers nationwide, which leads to additional high repl... Read more
AIR BAGS Feb 11, 2026
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on a bend in the highway, a deer jumped over the barrier and landed on the top of the contact's front windshield. The contact stated that she was knocked unconscious due to the impact. The driver’s and passenger’s si... Read more
Crash 1 injured
AIR BAGS Feb 11, 2026
Incident date: Feb 7, 2026
I was driving a vehicle two cars ahead did and illegal turn the car behind it stopped the truck behind them stopped I stopped behind the truck the car behind me did not stop and slammed me into the back of the truck in my airbags did not deploy
Crash 1 injured
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS Nov 13, 2025
Incident date: Mar 3, 2024
The crankshaft position sensor keeps going bad and it make the forward collision trigger and it loses power and the dash stops working and causes the car to shut off
ENGINE Nov 13, 2025
Incident date: Mar 3, 2024
The crankshaft position sensor keeps going bad and it make the forward collision trigger and it loses power and the dash stops working and causes the car to shut off
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Nov 13, 2025
Incident date: Mar 3, 2024
The crankshaft position sensor keeps going bad and it make the forward collision trigger and it loses power and the dash stops working and causes the car to shut off
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Sep 28, 2025
Incident date: Sep 27, 2025
Trunk open alone. Also trunk open when driver door open.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Sep 18, 2025
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Equipment premature failure. Dashboard screen bubbling and separation. Beyond 36 months warranty but early failure 2020 vehicle with 28,000 miles
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST Sep 12, 2025
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
The lane assist malfunction and periodically jerks. Very unsafe I no longer use this feature . To keep control of the vehicle. I never got it inspected. As the lane assist was in use and it would jerk it would alert me of a lane departure . I mention this to include every known problem I have experi... Read more
ENGINE Sep 12, 2025
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
The lane assist malfunction and periodically jerks. Very unsafe I no longer use this feature . To keep control of the vehicle. I never got it inspected. As the lane assist was in use and it would jerk it would alert me of a lane departure . I mention this to include every known problem I have experi... Read more
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Sep 12, 2025
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
The lane assist malfunction and periodically jerks. Very unsafe I no longer use this feature . To keep control of the vehicle. I never got it inspected. As the lane assist was in use and it would jerk it would alert me of a lane departure . I mention this to include every known problem I have experi... Read more
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Aug 21, 2025
Incident date: Aug 11, 2025
I own a 2020 Kia Forte LXS with approximately 136,000 miles. The check engine light came on with code P0420 (“catalyst system efficiency below threshold”), and an Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers location confirmed the catalytic converter is failing. The back pressure was measured and is with... Read more
ENGINE Aug 21, 2025
Incident date: Aug 11, 2025
I own a 2020 Kia Forte LXS with approximately 136,000 miles. The check engine light came on with code P0420 (“catalyst system efficiency below threshold”), and an Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers location confirmed the catalytic converter is failing. The back pressure was measured and is with... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Aug 10, 2025
Incident date: May 14, 2025
Kia is lying to a judge in Lancaster county PA and federal court by stating I did not opt out of class action when they know I opted out end of 2023. Kia also knows these cars are still being stolen and have taken no action to prevent thefts or damage to vehicles. The "upgrade" does not work. M... Read more
ENGINE Jul 1, 2025
Incident date: Jun 30, 2025
The engine light went on and engine is burning oil mechanic said it needs to be rebuilt it’s currently under financing from kia and not sure if they cover this
ENGINE Jun 30, 2025
Incident date: Jun 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance camera activated, causing the brakes to stop the vehicle unintendedly. The Forward Collision Avoidance system activated without a vehicle or person nearby. The contact pulled ove... Read more
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE Jun 30, 2025
Incident date: Jun 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance camera activated, causing the brakes to stop the vehicle unintendedly. The Forward Collision Avoidance system activated without a vehicle or person nearby. The contact pulled ove... Read more
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Jun 30, 2025
Incident date: Jun 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance camera activated, causing the brakes to stop the vehicle unintendedly. The Forward Collision Avoidance system activated without a vehicle or person nearby. The contact pulled ove... Read more
POWER TRAIN Jun 24, 2025
Incident date: Jun 15, 2025
We were driving on vacation in the Nevada desert on a Sunday when the RPMs began to bounce between 2,000 and 4,000 RPMs causing the carto jerk back and forth when we were going up hill. This continued until it got to the point where the engine was going 8,000 RPMs but we were not moving forward. I... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Jun 19, 2025
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
The multimedia screen is delaminating. The screen ends not working making all functions in it inaccesible. Dealer only provides solution if the vehicle has less than 3 years or 36000 miles. The manufacturer only claims to its warranty terms. The screen starts delamination and evolves day by day.
SEAT BELTS Jun 3, 2025
Incident date: May 27, 2025
The latch for the drivers seatbelt is no longer functioning properly, dealer stated that the hook that holds the buckle in was worn down. Car has 50k miles and is slightly over 5 years old, seems unreasonable that a seatbelt latch would fail that early. In the past, when inserting the buckle into th... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR May 14, 2025
Incident date: May 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed t... Read more
ENGINE May 8, 2025
Incident date: Apr 17, 2025
My vehicle lost 3 quarts of oil between oil changes somehow. The engine is bad now and has to be replaced. Never did a check engine light or oil pressure light come on to alert me that my car was burning oil somehow and the oil was low. At the oil change a few weeks ago the techs underneath my car c... Read more
POWER TRAIN Apr 11, 2025
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
Transmission from the original factory failed on it. I was driving when the engine check engine light came on and my car started ringing at me to get it serviced. I got the transmission replaced and not even 2 days later a brand new transmission failed yet again. This time the transmission (new) was... Read more
POWER TRAIN Jan 20, 2025
Incident date: Dec 21, 2024
My vehicle has 74,000 miles on it. While driving on the highway at 70 mph, the RPMs began fluctuating erratically, jumping from 2,000 to 3,000 and then from 2,000 to 5,000 before the car completely slipped into neutral. I was stranded in the middle of nowhere. Took it to the dealership and since it'... Read more
POWER TRAIN Nov 3, 2024
Incident date: Oct 12, 2024
1st problem, catalytic converter code says it's bad, check engine light on ever since, car is only 4 years old. 2nd problem possible electrical or wiring issue. Had to replace front right headlight(2times), back brake lights both sides, rear top brake light (2 times), daytime running lights both(2 t... Read more
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Nov 3, 2024
Incident date: Oct 12, 2024
1st problem, catalytic converter code says it's bad, check engine light on ever since, car is only 4 years old. 2nd problem possible electrical or wiring issue. Had to replace front right headlight(2times), back brake lights both sides, rear top brake light (2 times), daytime running lights both(2 t... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Aug 7, 2024
Incident date: May 26, 2024
UNKNOWN
Crash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Aug 7, 2024
Incident date: May 26, 2024
- UNKNOWN - Just my safety in a lot of different ways from both parties, that I do not feel comfortable or know exactly how to explain as of right now and/or just over an app. - No, it has not. -No, but I would wish to do so in the near future. - Yes, all the way back in 2014 but started getting re... Read more
Crash
POWER TRAIN Jun 13, 2024
Incident date: Dec 29, 2023
Transmission was having issues, car would not accelerate properly. Engine light came on and vehicle was towed to the original dealership for inspection where they confirmed transmission had gone out and it did get replaced. Vehicle was driving strange for about 3-4 days before engine light came on (... Read more
ENGINE May 24, 2024
Incident date: May 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was white smoke coming from the engine compartment. In addition, the contact stated the vehicle began to lose motive power and the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart but the contact stated t... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING May 20, 2024
Incident date: May 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning light, and a message that Kia had been alerted of a failure was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was abl... Read more
ENGINE Apr 12, 2024
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced.... Read more
POWER TRAIN Apr 12, 2024
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced.... Read more
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Apr 12, 2024
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced.... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Feb 22, 2024
Incident date: Feb 21, 2024
Check engine light came on, got a code of P0867-Trans Fluid Pressure reading. May need a transmission fluid pressure sensor replacement, or to replace the transmission control module. Lastly, it could be a leak.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL Dec 17, 2023
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
After 2 hours of cruise control om, Collision avoidance warning lights came on for 2nd time. Brought is to dealership the first time it happened and they could nt find anything wrong,
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Dec 17, 2023
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
After 2 hours of cruise control om, Collision avoidance warning lights came on for 2nd time. Brought is to dealership the first time it happened and they could nt find anything wrong,
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Dec 7, 2023
Incident date: Nov 27, 2023
The antitheft software upgrade that Kia installed in my vehicle after it was stolen the first time DID NOT WORK. My car was stolen again WITH the software upgrade installed. The car was locked and parked in my apartment parking lot and the Kia Boys smashed the driver side front window, ripped open t... Read more
Crash
POWER TRAIN Dec 5, 2023
Incident date: Nov 27, 2023
MAKE: 2020 KIA FORTE MODEL: FORTE ODOMETER: approximately 88,000 miles VIN: [XXX] [XXX] On [XXX], while driving my Kia towards my home driveway, I noticed that the car's speed was fluctuating unpredictably. Despite having my foot slightly on the brake and off the gas pedal, the ve... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Nov 18, 2023
Incident date: Nov 17, 2023
My car was stolen right from my driveway. Kia’s have been targeted for a lack of safety security if back window is broken and they’re able to ride off using a usb port.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Nov 15, 2023
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
There are significant idle issues (rpm’s shoot up & drop down irregularly while in park) and the car shut off while in park following irregular rpm movement, but was not exhibiting this behavior while previously parked elsewhere. I sent it in to be checked but nothing could be reproduced. A few we... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Nov 15, 2023
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
There are significant idle issues (rpm’s shoot up & drop down irregularly while in park) and the car shut off while in park following irregular rpm movement, but was not exhibiting this behavior while previously parked elsewhere. I sent it in to be checked but nothing could be reproduced. A few we... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Nov 15, 2023
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
There are significant idle issues (rpm’s shoot up & drop down irregularly while in park) and the car shut off while in park following irregular rpm movement, but was not exhibiting this behavior while previously parked elsewhere. I sent it in to be checked but nothing could be reproduced. A few we... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Oct 6, 2023
Incident date: Mar 7, 2023
The car is extremely easy to steal costing myself and others thousands of dollars. The vehicles should be recalled.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Sep 1, 2023
Incident date: Sep 3, 2020
I have brought the car in 3 times since I owed it stating it will not start at random times. I have videos and reports from corporate in regards to this. Along with the car not randomly starting I have had multiple issues of the warning lights coming on. The last 3 oil changes, the techs have said t... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Jul 25, 2023
Incident date: Jul 23, 2023
I have a 2020 KIA FORTE that had a recall on the Security System, yet it is NOT listed on this or any other sites. I did receive a letter and I did the UPDATED Security install with Kia Community Service of Bloomington Indiana where I purchased it new in 2020. The Tic Tock Challenge that has been go... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Jul 11, 2023
Incident date: Jul 11, 2023
Kia USB Hack fix is a software update. They are still working on the fix for only their own Remote start. They did not respond back when I told the remote start is from Viper. The Remote start was added before I was notified of the hack.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER Jul 10, 2023
Incident date: Jul 6, 2023
My car was stolen due to intentional & concealed absence of engine immobilizer.

Showing 50 of 88 complaints.

NHTSA Safety Ratings — 2020 KIA FORTE

2020 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD

CategoryRating
Overall Rating 4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Frontal Crash 4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Frontal Crash — Driver 4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Frontal Crash — Passenger 3 / 5 ★★★☆☆
Side Crash 5 / 5 ★★★★★
Side Crash — Driver 5 / 5 ★★★★★
Side Crash — Passenger 5 / 5 ★★★★★
Rollover 4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Rollover Risk 10.7%

Safety Technology

FeatureStatus
Electronic Stability ControlStandard
Forward Collision WarningStandard
Lane Departure WarningNo

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings Program. Ratings are based on crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

EPA Fuel Economy — 2020 KIA FORTE

Trim / Engine City MPG Highway MPG Combined MPG Fuel Type Annual Fuel Cost
1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic (AM7) (Front-Wheel Drive) 27.0 35.0 30.0 Regular $2,000
1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd (Front-Wheel Drive) 25.0 32.0 28.0 Regular $2,150
2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios) (Front-Wheel Drive) 29.0 40.0 33.0 Regular $1,800
2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd (Front-Wheel Drive) 27.0 37.0 31.0 Regular $1,950

CO2 Emissions: 296.0 g/mile (Midsize Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

NHTSA Safety Investigations — KIA FORTE

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE18003 Opened: Mar 16, 2018 — Closed: Aug 30, 2019
PE — Closed — Model Year: 2010
Air bags may be disabled during crash
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE18-003 on 3/16/18 to investigate incidents involving crashes, resulting in significant collision related damage, where the frontal airbags failed to deploy. ODI reviewed complaint data, available design, test, and field data on the model year (MY) 2... Read more

KIA FORTE — All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the KIA FORTE across all model years (2010–2023).

56 Total Recalls
3,494 Total Complaints
1 Investigations
371 Reported Crashes
197 Reported Fires
24 Reported Deaths

KIA FORTE — Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year Recalls Complaints
2024 0 37 View
2023 3 90 View
2022 1 37 View
2021 7 92 View
2020 (current) 0 88
2019 2 202 View
2018 9 187 View
2017 9 422 View
2016 2 192 View
2015 1 320 View
2014 3 634 View
2013 6 271 View
2012 5 398 View
2011 4 213 View
2010 4 310 View
2009 0 1 View

Other KIA Models

Model Recalls Complaints
SORENTO 188 13,593 View
SPORTAGE 165 6,601 View
SEDONA 118 3,350 View
OPTIMA 100 10,128 View
TELLURIDE 70 2,186 View
SOUL 66 7,233 View
SORENTO HYBRID 62 159 View
SOUL EV 62 50 View