2020 Kia Forte power train problems
15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2020 Kia Forte — 21% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The contact leased a 2014 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle began to chug. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed as needing a transmission replacement. The vehicle was repaired. The contact eventually purchased the vehicle. After the purchase…”
filed May 15, 2026
“I am reporting a transmission failure in my 2020 Kia Forte with approximately 54,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete transmission failure on March 19, 2026, on the highway from Cleveland to Cincinnati. after being owned for less than seven months. The vehicle is now at a…”
filed Apr 21, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC199 FL301) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Voluntary Service Campaign to update the software programming on the…
SC199_OWNR_BD_3 · Emissions · issued Feb 19, 2026TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area…
TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 17, 2025
Power Train problems in other Forte years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | 3 | 13% |
| 2023 Forte | 7 | 12% |
| 2022 Forte | 2 | 8% |
| 2021 Forte | 7 | 10% |
| 2019 Forte | 47 | 32% |
| 2018 Forte | 8 | 6% |
| 2017 Forte | 12 | 4% |
| 2016 Forte | 16 | 12% |
| 2015 Forte | 17 | 7% |
| 2014 Forte | 17 | 4% |
| 2013 Forte | 10 | 5% |
| 2012 Forte | 11 | 4% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2020 Kia Forte
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.