2018 Kia Forte vs 2020 Kia Forte
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Kia Forte | 2020 Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 134 | 71 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 100 | 99 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 28–32 | 28–33 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 35,234 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Forte | Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 57 | 15 |
| Electrical System | 16 | 11 |
| Power Train | 8 | 15 |
| Air Bags | 16 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 3 |
| Structure | 7 | 1 |
| Steering | 5 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 27 | 9 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 15 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 0 |
2018 Kia Forte
2020 Kia Forte
Compare all Kia Forte vs Kia Forte years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.