Worst 2018 Kia Forte Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Airbags
Electrical Faults
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Kia Forte.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 57 | 2 | 1 | 74,559 mi | |
| Airbags | 16 | 8 | — | 64,149 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 14 | 1 | 1 | 60,212 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 9 | — | — | 15,331 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | — | 43,064 mi | |
| Fuel System | 7 | — | — | 13,964 mi | |
| Body Structure | 7 | 2 | — | 7,398 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 5 | — | — | 33,937 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | 1 | — | 42,848 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Kia Forte. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2018 Kia Forte
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~667,762 vehicles.
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.
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."
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
2018 Kia Forte — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2018 Kia Forte reliable?
What are common problems with the 2018 Kia Forte?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Kia Forte?
How safe is the 2018 Kia Forte?
Does the 2018 Kia Forte have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2018 Kia Forte?
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 2018 Kia Forte
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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