2012 KIA FORTE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 286 complaints · 4 recalls
Most-reported system: ENGINE (136 complaints · 47.6%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 20
  • Fires 21
  • Injuries 16
  • Deaths 3
Compare with 2011 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ENGINE appears in 136 of 286 owner complaints (47.6%) in this vehicle snapshot. ENGINE: 136 complaints, 47.6% of reports ENGINE 136 · 47.6% · 2 crash reports 12 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 29 complaints, 10.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 29 · 10.1% · 1 fire reports AIR BAGS: 23 complaints, 8.0% of reports AIR BAGS 23 · 8.0% · 10 crash reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 20 complaints, 7.0% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 20 · 7.0% · 1 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 12 complaints, 4.2% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 · 4.2% · 4 fire reports FUEL SYSTEM: 9 complaints, 3.2% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 9 · 3.2% · 3 crash reports 1 fire reports STEERING: 8 complaints, 2.8% of reports STEERING 8 · 2.8% · 1 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 8 complaints, 2.8% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8 · 2.8% · 1 crash reports POWER TRAIN: 5 complaints, 1.8% of reports POWER TRAIN 5 · 1.8% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 53 complaints, 18.5% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 53 · 18.5% · 2 crash reports 3 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ENGINE 136 47.6% 2 crashes · 12 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 29 10.1% 0 crashes · 1 fires
AIR BAGS 23 8.0% 10 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 20 7.0% 0 crashes · 1 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 4.2% 0 crashes · 4 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 9 3.2% 3 crashes · 1 fires
STEERING 8 2.8% 1 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8 2.8% 1 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 5 1.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 53 18.5% 2 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2012; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2017. 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2015-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2018-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2018-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2019-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2019-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2020-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2020-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q4: 15 owner reports 15 2021-Q1: 17 owner reports 17 2021-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2021-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2021-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2023-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2023-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2024-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2024-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2024-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2026-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 2012 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 17V773000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V773000 Recall campaign 18V363000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V363000 Recall campaign 20V750000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V750000 Recall campaign 23V652000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V652000 Investigation PE18003 ● Investigation PE18003 Investigation EA21003 ● Investigation EA21003 Investigation DP22003 ● Investigation DP22003 Investigation AQ23002 ● Investigation AQ23002
  • Campaign 17V773000 was reported 1,656 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V363000 was reported 1,352 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V652000 was reported 3,780 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 2
2013-Q1 Owner reports 3
2013-Q2 Owner reports 2
2013-Q3 Owner reports 3
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 3
2014-Q4 Owner reports 6
2015-Q1 Owner reports 2
2015-Q2 Owner reports 4
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q4 Owner reports 3
2016-Q1 Owner reports 3
2016-Q2 Owner reports 4
2016-Q4 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 2
2017-Q2 Owner reports 7
2017-Q3 Owner reports 3
2017-Q4 Owner reports 4
2018-Q1 Owner reports 4
2018-Q2 Owner reports 7
2018-Q3 Owner reports 7
2018-Q4 Owner reports 8
2019-Q1 Owner reports 13
2019-Q2 Owner reports 6
2019-Q3 Owner reports 7
2019-Q4 Owner reports 9
2020-Q1 Owner reports 6
2020-Q2 Owner reports 5
2020-Q3 Owner reports 5
2020-Q4 Owner reports 15
2021-Q1 Owner reports 17
2021-Q2 Owner reports 11
2021-Q3 Owner reports 12
2021-Q4 Owner reports 4
2022-Q1 Owner reports 4
2022-Q2 Owner reports 3
2022-Q3 Owner reports 4
2022-Q4 Owner reports 5
2023-Q1 Owner reports 5
2023-Q2 Owner reports 7
2023-Q3 Owner reports 7
2023-Q4 Owner reports 14
2024-Q1 Owner reports 13
2024-Q2 Owner reports 4
2024-Q3 Owner reports 2
2024-Q4 Owner reports 4
2025-Q1 Owner reports 2
2025-Q2 Owner reports 3
2025-Q3 Owner reports 4
2025-Q4 Owner reports 6
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 3
2026-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 17V773000
Recall campaign 1 18V363000
Recall campaign 1 20V750000
Recall campaign 1 23V652000
Defect investigation 1 PE18003
Defect investigation 1 EA21003
Defect investigation 1 DP22003
Defect investigation 1 AQ23002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (4)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V773000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 18V363000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V750000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V652000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 286 complaints · page 1 of 12

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources