2020 Kia Forte problems and complaints
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Forte. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (26), Engine (18), Power Train (16).
Key takeaways
- 76 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 9 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 6 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 26 | 34% |
| Engine | 18 | 24% |
| Power Train | 16 | 21% |
| Electrical System | 11 | 14% |
| Air Bags | 5 | 7% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 5% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 3 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 | 4% |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-09-21
The engine has failed in this vehicle just like it has in other 2.0L kia vehicles 2020-2026. The piston rings have failed and the pistons have all pitted or developed holes in them just like in the recall 25V-099/kia safety recall SC336
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-09
The infotainment screen is de-laminating.
Air Bags - filed 2026-08-25
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bags warning light illuminated and then went off. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light was again illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an inde...
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More for the 2020 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.