What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Forte?

Engine complaints lead the list with 61 reports. Air bags and the electrical system follow with 16 each.

Does the 2018 Kia Forte have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 model year. See the Recalls section on this page for the full list.

What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Kia Forte?

See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.

Is the 2018 Kia Forte reliable?

Owners filed 136 complaints with NHTSA. Check the problem groups and the crash ratings sections on this page, and keep in mind that complaints are unverified.

Is 2018 a good year for the Kia Forte?

The by-year comparison section on this page shows how 2018 stacks up against other model years.

2018 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 136 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Kia Forte^[1]. The biggest group names the engine, with 61 complaints^[2].

136owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

25–32MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

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

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints about several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first.

Engine. 61 complaints^[2]. Owners describe stalling while driving, warning lights that come on, a car that will not respond when they press the gas, and in some stories an engine that quit for good.
Unknown or other. 30 complaints^[6]. These reports do not fit one clear part, so they are grouped together.
Air bags. 16 complaints^[7]. In the stories we read, owners describe air bags that did not open during a collision, and some of those reports include injuries.
Electrical system. 16 complaints^[8]. Owners describe a trunk that pops open by itself, a battery that seems to die, and a car that is slow to start.
Speed control. 10 complaints^[9]. Owners describe a gas pedal that sticks or a car that surges or hesitates when they ask for power.
Power train. 8 complaints^[10]. These reports point to the parts that move the car down the road.
Fuel and propulsion system. 8 complaints^[11]. These reports involve how the car gets and uses its fuel.
Structure. 7 complaints^[12]. These reports involve the body and frame of the car.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2018 Forte is necessarily included.

Air Bags (22V031), January 2022. About 410,619 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. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Trunk Lid › Latch (21V622), August 2021. About 253,074 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Oil/Lubrication › Pump (21V260), April 2021. About 4,069 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]

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, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	29 / 37 / 32	$2,100
Forte, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[16]	25 / 34 / 28	$2,400
Forte, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	25 / 33 / 28	$2,400
Forte 5, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	25 / 34 / 28	$2,400
Forte 5, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	25 / 30 / 27	$2,500
Forte 5, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	23 / 29 / 25	$2,700

Safety ratings

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

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2018 Kia Forte with 1.6L 4-cylinder^[21]	201 hp
2018 Kia Forte with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[22]	147 to 164 hp

How 2018 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Forte model year. The 2018 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 136 complaints and 3 recalls for 2018^[3]. Among the 15 model years listed, 5 have fewer complaints than 2018 and 9 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 2018 Forte?

The 2018 Forte has a real record of owner complaints, with 136 on file^[1]. Engine reports lead the list at 61^[2], so it is worth asking about engine service history on any used car. Air bag complaints number 16, and they carry the most crash and injury reports of any group^[7]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for how many cars were sold. Use them as a checklist of things to look at, and read the recall section on this page too.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Forte?: Engine complaints lead the list with 61 reports^[2]. Air bags and the electrical system follow with 16 each^[7]^[8].
Does the 2018 Kia Forte have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 model year^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the full list.
What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Kia Forte?: See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
Is the 2018 Kia Forte reliable?: Owners filed 136 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. Check the problem groups and the crash ratings sections on this page, and keep in mind that complaints are unverified.
Is 2018 a good year for the Kia Forte?: The by-year comparison section on this page shows how 2018 stacks up against other model years.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Kia Forte

2014 445 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 138 complaints, 1 recall
2017 305 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 this page
2019 149 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 2018

2018 Kia Optima 243 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Kia Sedona 49 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Kia Soul 222 complaints, 3 recalls

All Kia models

Similar cars from 2018: large cars

2018 Chrysler 300 153 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 Honda Accord 2,008 complaints, 6 recalls
2018 Hyundai Elantra 335 complaints, 1 recall
2018 Hyundai Sonata 383 complaints, 2 recalls
2018 Tesla Model S 170 complaints, 11 recalls

All large cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 136 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Kia Forte (13 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 9 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
61 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Kia Forte model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Forte, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 37 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
30 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 17,787). NHTSA vehicle records
16 complaints name the air bags component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,500). NHTSA vehicle records
16 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,000). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the speed control component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 9,624). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 23,330). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the structure component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 22V031, filed January 25, 2022: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V622, filed August 9, 2021: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Trunk Lid › Latch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V260, filed April 13, 2021: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Oil / Lubrication › Pump. NHTSA recall database
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, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte 5, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), 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 5, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM7), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 30 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Forte 5, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 29 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Kia Forte with 1.6L 4-cylinder: rated 201 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Kia Forte with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 147 to 164 hp depending on version. www.epa.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.

2018 Kia Forte: problems, recalls and fuel economy