Confirm 2 recalls before you buy.
Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.
Recalls
Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.
Transmission recall
A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Exterior lighting recall
If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Is 147 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2018 and 2026, roughly 19 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.
How does it compare with other years? The 2019 has 147 complaints on file, more than the 2018 (136) and more than the 2020 (75). Of the 15 model years of the Kia Forte we cover, the 2014 has the most (440). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.