2017 Kia Forte problems and complaints
Owners have filed 302 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Forte. The most-reported areas: Engine (145), Unknown Or Other (49), Electrical System (46).
Key takeaways
- 302 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 23 involve a crash, 9 a fire, 21 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 145 | 48% |
| Unknown Or Other | 49 | 16% |
| Electrical System | 46 | 15% |
| Exterior Lighting | 43 | 14% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 29 | 10% |
| Air Bags | 18 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 | 6% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14 | 5% |
| Power Train | 12 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 3% |
| Steering | 9 | 3% |
| Structure | 9 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-09-21
There was a rod failure in the engine. The vehicle is currently at the repair facility. This rod failure caused the vehicle to die while traveling down the road, so it was a safety risk. The rod failure was diagnosed by a certified mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. This failure is the same issu...
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-08-20
See attached document for complaint.
Electrical System,vehicle Speed Control,engine - filed 2026-06-18
The vehicle exhibits a chronic, systemic electrical failure characterized by the intermittent loss of critical lighting systems, including turn signals and brake lights. This failur5e has persisted over several years and thousands of miles, independent of battery replacements or specific usage patterns. The issue has ...
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More for the 2017 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.