2018 Kia Forte
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 61 of 136 complaints (45%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (8) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 301 in 2017 to 136 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,100–2,600 | 1,950–2,500 | 1,950–2,500 | 1,800–2,000 | 1,800–2,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–30 | 25–32 | 25–32 | 31–35 | 28–35 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–26 / 28–37 | 23–29 / 29–38 | 23–29 / 29–37 | 27–31 / 37–41 | 25–31 / 32–41 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 294–370 | 301–353 | 279–353 | 256–290 | 256–326 | |
| Complaints filed | 137 | 301 | 136 | 147 | 75 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 16 | 23 | 13 | 11 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 13 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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 2018 Kia Forte have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Kia Forte?
Engine: 61 of 136 NHTSA complaints (45%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Kia Forte get?
EPA rates it 25–32 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Kia Forte?
EPA estimates $1,950–$2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 29 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 279 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg | 34 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 314 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg | 33 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 318 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 25 mpg | 34 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 317 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AM7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 25 mpg | 30 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 332 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 23 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 (high) | 353 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 61 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 17 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 30 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
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 (3)
AIR BAGS · Campaign 22V031000 · Jan 26, 2022
Defect: 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH · Campaign 21V622000 · Aug 10, 2021
Defect: 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP · Campaign 21V260000 · Apr 14, 2021
Defect: 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.