2012 Kia Forte problems and complaints
Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Forte. The most-reported areas: Engine (161), Service Brakes (52), Air Bags (37).
Key takeaways
- 293 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 20 involve a crash, 24 a fire, 16 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 161 | 55% |
| Service Brakes | 52 | 18% |
| Air Bags | 37 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 32 | 11% |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 8% |
| Hydraulic | 21 | 7% |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 5% |
| Power Train | 11 | 4% |
| Steering | 9 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 | 3% |
| Structure | 9 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2012 Kia Forte
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Engine oil
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Kia Forte 5 HB FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-10-29
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while his son was driving at approximately 35 MPH, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The driver pulled into the driveway and the engine caught on fire. The Fire Department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was deemed a to...
Engine - filed 2026-09-18
VEHICLE & INCIDENT DETAILS * Vehicle: 2012 Kia Forte Hatchback * VIN: KNAFU5A26C5641380 * Incident Date: August 21, 2026 * Relevant Recalls: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Recall SC284) & NHTSA Campaign 20V750000 (Recall SC200) * Kia Corporate Case Number: 26367714 * Dealership: AllStar Kia San Bernardino, CA COMPLAINT D...
Air Bags - filed 2026-08-28
Airbag light came on August 21, 2026. I tried several steps to troubleshoot with no resolution. I took it to the local Kia dealership for further inspection. I was terrified to drive the vehicle because of the airbag failure. I explained to the technician that I had read that there was an warranty extension for the exa...
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More for the 2012 Kia Forte
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.