2017 Kia Forte Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2017 Kia Forte. Part of Generation 2 — 2014–2018.

20162018
Complaints
422
per 10K Sold
35.9
US Sales
117,596
Crashes
38
Fires
14
Injuries
36
Fatalities
6
Recalls
3

Worst 2017 Kia Forte Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1141 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:67,731 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:4
#242 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:33,487 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:2
#338 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:37,440 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
Considering a 2017 Kia Forte?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2017 Kia Forte.

Engine Problems
141
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Avg Miles
67,731
Electrical Faults
42
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
33,487
Headlight/Taillight Failures
38
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
37,440
Fuel System
29
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
32,278
Airbags
17
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
Avg Miles
28,687
Unintended Acceleration
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
43,060
Transmission / Drivetrain
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
11,668
Engine & Cooling
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,016
Steering Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
60,274
Body Structure
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
33,060
Wipers & Visibility
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
11,526
Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
47,000
Wheel Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
22,982
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
37,250
Latches / Locks
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring:Connectors/Plugs:Accesory Power Outlet/Jack/Port/Usb/Sae/Cigarette Lighter
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication: Oil Cooler
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Kia Forte. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2017 Kia Forte

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~667,762 vehicles.

22V031000Airbags
~410,619 affected

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.

21V622000Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch
~253,074 affected

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."

21V260000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump
~4,069 affected

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.

Other Kia Forte Years

2017 Kia Forte — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2017 Kia Forte reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2017 Kia Forte has 422 NHTSA complaints, 38 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 141 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2017 Kia Forte?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (141 complaints, avg 67,731 mi); Electrical Faults (42 complaints, avg 33,487 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (38 complaints, avg 37,440 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Kia Forte?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 49,226 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2017 Kia Forte?
NHTSA complaints for the 2017 Kia Forte include 38 crash-related reports, 14 fire reports, 36 injuries, and 6 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2017 Kia Forte have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 667,762 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2017 Kia Forte?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Forte reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2017 Kia Forte

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99