What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Forte?

The engine group is named in 179 complaints. Brakes follow with 52 and air bags with 38.

Does the 2012 Kia Forte have recalls?

Yes. The by-year facts show 4 recalls for this model year. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

Is the 2012 Kia Forte reliable?

The record shows 306 owner complaints. Engine reports are the biggest group at 179. Read the complaint groups above and then weigh them for yourself.

How many 2012 Kia Forte complaints mention a fire?

The total includes 23 complaints that mention a fire. The engine group holds 17 of them.

What is the gas mileage of the 2012 Kia Forte?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the figures.

2012 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 306 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Kia Forte^[1]. The engine group is named in 179 of them^[2].

306owner complaints^[1]

4recalls^[3]

26–30MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups in the stories we read, biggest first.

Engine. 179 complaints^[2]. Owners describe the engine racing on its own, cars that fail to start and cars that lose power. Some also tell of smoke and fire.
Brakes. 52 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a pedal that sticks, brakes that feel like they slip and a car that lurches forward while stopping. Some say worn parts were replaced at their own cost.
Air Bags. 38 complaints^[7]. In the stories we read, owners describe crashes where the air bags did not go off, and some of those ended in serious injuries.
Electrical System. 33 complaints^[8]. Owners describe brake lights that do not light, batteries that keep dying and a radio that cuts out.
Exterior Lighting. 23 complaints^[9]. These are reports that name exterior lighting parts.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2012 Forte is necessarily included.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (23V652), September 2023. About 1,730,192 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[10]
Engine (20V750), December 2020. About 294,756 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[11]
Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module (18V363), June 2018. About 507,587 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended.^[12]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages (17V773), December 2017. About 134,366 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Forte Koup, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[14]	25 / 34 / 28	$2,400
Forte Koup, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[15]	24 / 32 / 27	$2,500
Forte Koup, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[16]	23 / 30 / 26	$2,600
Forte Koup, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	22 / 31 / 26	$2,600
Forte, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	25 / 35 / 29	$2,300
Forte, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	25 / 34 / 28	$2,400
Forte Eco, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	27 / 35 / 30	$2,250
Forte, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	23 / 31 / 26	$2,600
Forte, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	22 / 31 / 26	$2,600

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD^[5]	4	4	4	4	10.3%
5 HB FWD^[22]	4	4	4	4	10.3%

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 2 DR FWD^[23].

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2012 Kia Forte with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[24]	154 to 156 hp
2012 Kia Forte with 2.4L 4-cylinder^[25]	165 to 173 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
FORTE 4DR SEDAN LX/EX^[26]	178 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	2,707 lb
FORTE 4DR SEDAN SX/SX LUXURY^[27]	178 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	2,952 lb
FORTE KOUP EX 2DR COUPE^[28]	176 in	70 in	55 in	104 in	2,800 lb
FORTE KOUP SX 2DR COUPE /SX LUXURY^[29]	176 in	70 in	55 in	104 in	2,899 lb
FORTE5 4 DR HATCHBACK LX/EX^[30]	171 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	2,780 lb
FORTE5 4 DR HATCHBACK SX/SX LUXURY^[31]	171 in	70 in	57 in	104 in	2,972 lb

How 2012 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Forte model year. The 2012 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2010	232	3
2011	162	3
2012	306	4
2013	211	5
2014	445	3
2015	260	1
2016	138	1
2017	305	3
2018	136	3
2019	149	2
2020	78	0
2021	69	2
2022	28	1
2023	65	3
2024	26	0

NHTSA's counts for the Forte show 306 complaints and 4 recalls for 2012^[3]. Among the 15 model years listed, 13 have fewer complaints than 2012 and 1 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2024 (26) and the most are for 2014 (445)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2012 Forte?

The 2012 Kia Forte has 306 complaints on file with NHTSA^[1]. The engine group stands out with 179 of them^[2]. Brakes come next with 52^[6], and air bags follow with 38^[7]. The air bag group deserves a careful read, since 15 of its complaints mention a crash^[7]. The by-year facts list 4 recalls for 2012, and the complaint counts are unverified owner reports not adjusted for sales^[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Forte?: The engine group is named in 179 complaints^[2]. Brakes follow with 52^[6] and air bags with 38^[7].
Does the 2012 Kia Forte have recalls?: Yes. The by-year facts show 4 recalls for this model year^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
Is the 2012 Kia Forte reliable?: The record shows 306 owner complaints^[1]. Engine reports are the biggest group at 179^[2]. Read the complaint groups above and then weigh them for yourself.
How many 2012 Kia Forte complaints mention a fire?: The total includes 23 complaints that mention a fire^[1]. The engine group holds 17 of them^[2].
What is the gas mileage of the 2012 Kia Forte?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Kia Forte

2012 this page
2014 445 complaints, 3 recalls
2015 260 complaints, 1 recall
2016 138 complaints, 1 recall
2017 305 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 136 complaints, 3 recalls
2019 149 complaints, 2 recalls
2020 78 complaints, 0 recalls
2021 69 complaints, 2 recalls
2023 65 complaints, 3 recalls
2024 26 complaints, 0 recalls

Compare all model years of the Kia Forte

Other Kia models from 2012

2012 Kia Optima 1,029 complaints, 6 recalls
2012 Kia Sedona 108 complaints, 5 recalls
2012 Kia Soul 514 complaints, 3 recalls

All Kia models

Similar cars from 2012: compact cars

2012 Hyundai Accent 153 complaints, 2 recalls
2012 Mazda 3 226 complaints, 1 recall
2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 579 complaints, 7 recalls
2012 Nissan Versa 486 complaints, 10 recalls
2012 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport 243 complaints, 6 recalls
2012 Toyota Yaris 35 complaints, 5 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 306 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Kia Forte (20 mention a crash, 23 a fire, 16 injuries, 3 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
179 complaints name the engine component group (3 crashes, 17 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 99,750). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Kia Forte model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Forte Eco, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 35 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 4 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
52 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 81,600). NHTSA vehicle records
38 complaints name the air bags component group (15 crashes, 2 fires, 12 injuries, median mileage at failure 79,000). NHTSA vehicle records
33 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 6 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 71,502). NHTSA vehicle records
23 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V652, filed September 25, 2023: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 20V750, filed December 2, 2020: Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V363, filed June 1, 2018: Air Bags › Air Bag / Restraint Control Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V773, filed December 1, 2017: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Forte Koup, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 34 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte Koup, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 32 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte Koup, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 30 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte Koup, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 35 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 34 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 31 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 5 HB FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 4 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2012 Kia Forte with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 154 to 156 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2012 Kia Forte with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 165 to 173 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORTE 4DR SEDAN LX/EX: length 178 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,707 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORTE 4DR SEDAN SX/SX LUXURY: length 178 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,952 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORTE KOUP EX 2DR COUPE: length 176 in, width 70 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,800 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORTE KOUP SX 2DR COUPE /SX LUXURY: length 176 in, width 70 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,899 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORTE5 4 DR HATCHBACK LX/EX: length 171 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,780 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FORTE5 4 DR HATCHBACK SX/SX LUXURY: length 171 in, width 70 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,972 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2012 Kia Forte: problems, recalls and fuel economy