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Owner report · 2015 model year

2015 Kia Forte

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2015 Kia Forte
Crash-test image: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Engine

Engine leads by volume: 164 of 262 complaints (63%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 445 in 2014 to 262 in 2015.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

At a glance

NHTSA complaints
262
Recall campaigns
1
EPA fuel cost per year
$2,100–$2,600
Combined MPG
24–30

Complaints by model year

  1. 2112013
  2. 4452014
  3. 2622015
  4. 1392016
  5. 3052017

Where owners report problems

  1. Engine164 (63%)
  2. Other31 (12%)
  3. Electrical29 (11%)
  4. Airbags & Restraints26 (10%)
  5. Brakes17 (6%)
  6. Transmission & Drivetrain17 (6%)
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2015: 6 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category20132014201520162017vs. 2015 Compact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)2,100–2,4002,150–2,6002,100–2,6002,100–2,6001,950–2,500
Combined MPG26–3024–2924–3024–3025–32
City / Highway MPG22–27 / 30–3521–26 / 28–3621–26 / 28–3721–26 / 28–3723–29 / 29–38
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)296–348305–370294–370294–370301–353
Complaints filed211445262139305Not compared
Recalls issued53113Not compared
Crash-involved complaints1732161623Not compared
Fire-involved complaints143620610Not compared
Injuries reported1829111321Not compared
Deaths reported10104Not compared
Configurations compared55443

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Forte have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2015 Kia Forte?

Engine: 164 of 262 NHTSA complaints (63%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2015 Kia Forte get?

EPA rates it 24–30 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 Kia Forte?

EPA estimates $2,100–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (10)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic (S6)42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars25 mpg34 mpg28 mpg$2,200314 g/mi
Configuration 2Manual 6-spd42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars24 mpg33 mpg27 mpg$2,300323 g/mi
Configuration 3Automatic (S6)41.6LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars22 mpg29 mpg25 mpg$2,500353 g/mi
Configuration 4Manual 6-spd41.6LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars22 mpg29 mpg24 mpg (low)$2,600 (high)360 g/mi
Configuration 5Manual 6-spd41.8LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars25 mpg36 mpg29 mpg$2,150303 g/mi
Configuration 6Automatic (S6)42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars25 mpg36 mpg29 mpg$2,150310 g/mi
Configuration 7Automatic (S6)42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars25 mpg33 mpg28 mpg$2,200317 g/mi
Configuration 8Automatic (S6)41.6LFront-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars21 mpg (low)29 mpg24 mpg (low)$2,600 (high)370 g/mi (high)
Configuration 9Manual 6-spd41.6LFront-Wheel DriveRegularLarge Cars21 mpg (low)28 mpg (low)24 mpg (low)$2,600 (high)368 g/mi
Configuration 10Automatic (S6)41.8LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars26 mpg (high)37 mpg (high)30 mpg (high)$2,100 (low)294 g/mi (low)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine16421610
Transmission & Drivetrain171000
Fuel System100000
Electrical290200
Brakes172030
Steering41001
Suspension, Wheels & Tires40000
Airbags & Restraints2610061
Driver Assistance & Speed Control62011
Body, Seats & Latches41010
Visibility & Lighting160000
Other312340

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • ENGINE

    Campaign 20V750000 · Dec 2, 2020

    Defect
    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
    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.