Kia Forte 2018 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Kia Forte 2018 and 136 complaints filed by owners. It has 43% more complaints than the average Kia Forte from 2016–2024 (95 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Kia Forte 2018? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Kia Forte 2018
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 22V031000 · 2022-01-25
What happens
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Consequence
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Latches and locks
NHTSA campaign 21V622000 · 2021-08-09
What happens
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Engine and cooling
NHTSA campaign 21V260000 · 2021-04-13
What happens
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Consequence
A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
136 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
13 with a crash · 3 with a fire · 9 injuries
Most reported problems on the Kia Forte 2018
- Engine: 57 (42% of complaints)
- Electrical system: 15 (11% of complaints)
- Air bags: 14 (10% of complaints)
- Throttle and cruise control: 10 (7% of complaints)
- Fuel and propulsion: 8 (6% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Kia Forte 2018
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- Test lights, windows, locks, the screen and dashboard warning lights; have trouble codes scanned.
- The air bag light should come on for a second at start-up and go off. Confirm by VIN that air bag recalls were done.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Kia Forte recalls by year
- 2016 : 1 recalls · 4 complaints
- 2017 : 3 recalls · 305 complaints
- 2018 : 3 recalls · 136 complaints
- 2019 : 2 recalls · 147 complaints
- 2020 : 0 recalls · 78 complaints
- 2021 : 2 recalls · 69 complaints
- 2022 : 1 recalls · 28 complaints
- 2023 : 3 recalls · 64 complaints
- 2024 : 0 recalls · 26 complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Kia Forte 2018 have?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Kia Forte 2018. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Kia Forte 2018?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: engine (57 of 136 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 14, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).