Complaints
88
per 10K Sold
10.3
US Sales
84,997
Crashes
12
Fires
2
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2020 Kia Forte Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#113 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:12,584 mi
Crash-related:1
#211 complaints
Engine Problems
Avg mileage:52,467 mi
Fires:1
#310 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:14,167 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2020 Kia Forte.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 13 | 1 | — | 12,584 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 11 | — | 1 | 52,467 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 10 | — | — | 14,167 mi | |
| Airbags | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Assist | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Bulbs | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Transmission / Drivetrain
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
12,584
Engine Problems
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
52,467
Electrical Faults
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
14,167
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Lane Departure: Assist
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Bulbs
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Forte. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Kia Forte Years
2020 Kia Forte — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2020 Kia Forte reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2020 Kia Forte has 88 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 13 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2020 Kia Forte?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (13 complaints, avg 12,584 mi); Engine Problems (11 complaints, avg 52,467 mi); Electrical Faults (10 complaints, avg 14,167 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 2020 Kia Forte?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 25,953 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2020 Kia Forte?
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Kia Forte include 12 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 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 2020 Kia Forte have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2020 Kia Forte as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2020 Kia Forte?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
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 2020 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