2012 Kia Forte problems and complaints
Owners have filed 292 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Forte. The most-reported areas: Engine (161), Service Brakes (52), Air Bags (37).
Key takeaways
- 292 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 20 involve a crash, 23 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%.
| 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 - 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...
Service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2026-08-26
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed an abnormal sound for approximately five minutes, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact then became aware of a fire underneath the vehicle. The contact opened the hood and extinguished the ...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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.