2022 Kia Forte Problems and Complaints

The Kia Forte has been in the market for long and has faced some tough competition from its rivals. Over the years, the sedan saw the numbers dwindling because the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla provided more versatility while Hyundai Elantra looked better. The generational upgrade in 2019 brought in a lot more features, better cabin space, and many commendable powertrain options. 

The Forte remains as reliable and “bulletproof” as ever with a trusted formula to boast of. Its previous generation was also a testament to how solid the Korean car has become. The Forte’s forte remains in providing the best value for the buck and a segment-leading warranty. The current generation has seen 3 recalls and numerous complaints regarding its transmission. Let’s see what other issues the owners had to go through. 

Kia Forte Problems

The new Kia Forte is a solid car and has seen commendable numbers since its debut in 2019. The sedan is a perfect competitor to the best out there and has justified its price well. There are, however, some issues that need to be addressed. The newer Kia models are fitted with a CVT which is reported to fail at very low miles. Adding to the woes are the headlights which have been nothing short of a pain for the owners. Let’s see what the most common issues are:

Electrical issues:

1. Unreliable headlights: The new Forte is scrutinized for the unreliable headlights it comes equipped with. These headlights flicker and the low-beam is prone to get cut-off, leaving the high beams to function. This issue has caused a lot of complaints regarding unnecessary high-beam use by Forte owners.
2. Rodent issues: The wiring harness of the Forte has a soy-based outer layer that is prone to attack by rodents. The rodents chew the outer layer and leave the inner layers exposed, affecting the electrical abilities of the car. There have been reports where the car shut down on a highway and got rear-ended by another car. 
3. Window actuator malfunction: Owners of the 2020 Forte have reported the window actuators to malfunction, causing the windows to get jammed where they were. The owners had to restart the cars to roll the windows. In some instances, these actuators went bust and had to be replaced to get the windows working again. 
4. Alarm system malfunction: Owners of the 2021 Forte have reported the alarm system in the car to malfunction and give no warnings. People have noticed water leaking into the trunk. This causes the whole alarm system to malfunction. This malfunction affected all the other safety chimes and systems, causing a lot of inconvenience to the owners.

Mechanical issues:

1. Transmission issues: The CVT in the new Forte is reported to fail in new cars with low mileage. People have reported jerkiness in acceleration followed by a complete loss of power. The affected vehicles had to be towed to the nearest dealership where the transmission had to be replaced under warranty, if in stock. 
2. Engine stalling issues: People have reported the 2019 Forte engine to stall and illuminate the check engine light. The car loses power and has to be towed to the dealership. Some complainants have reported sludge forming in the engine and had to get their engine replaced. 
3. Brake issues: Many complainants have reported the brakes to give issues and emit a grinding noise. Some people have also reported the brakes to lose pressure and fail. This causes collisions and injuries at highway speeds.

Exterior issues:

1. Trunk lid issues: Some 2019 Kia Forte owners have complained that the trunk lid opens very quickly and hit the rear windshield. This causes damage to the windshield. People have also complained that the joint becomes loose over time and causes the trunk lid to fall onto the rear windshield.
2. Paint delamination: Many Forte owners have reported the paint to delaminate near the bumper area. The paint starts coming off in small amounts and, gradually, is peeled off as the car is used in daily routine. Complainants claim that the issue isn’t remedied under warranty. 
3. Sunroof explosions: Some complainants have reported the sunroof in their cars to shatter and cause the glass to enter the cabin. People have reported glass cuts due to this. The explosion also causes a distraction while driving at highway speeds. 

Safety features issues:

1. Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) issues: The FCA in the Kia Forte is reported to give issues and give false warnings. In some cases, the system has applied emergency braking without anything in proximity. Some people have also complained of the system disengaging on the move which causes issues while driving.
2. Vehicle Speed Control (VSC) issues: The VSC on the Kia Forte is reported to disengage. This makes the system unable to maintain the set speed on cruise control. The issue causes unintended acceleration/deceleration at highway speeds.

Kia Forte Recalls

The new Kia Forte entered the American market as a 2019 model year and since then, it has amassed 3 recalls. The latest recall was on March 11, 2021 with NHTSA Campaign Number 21V164000. Kia Motors America recalled 142 units of the Kia Telluride, the K5, and the Forte for an issue in the airbags. An error in the Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit will not detect the presence of an occupant in the seat. This will disable all restrain systems and increase the risk of injury in a crash. The affected units fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection”.

The first two recalls were made for the 2018 Kia Forte and other Kia offerings. A summary of these recalls is available below:

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks
1.	October 31, 2018	18V771000	Exterior Lighting	Incorrect low beam aim may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected vehicles also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment”.
2.	August 5, 2020	20V459000	Powertrain	Improperly heat-treated left front axle driveshaft can break and result in a sudden loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Model Years	Airbags	Exterior Lighting	Powertrain
2019	0	1	1
2020	0	0	0
2021	1	0	0
2022	0	0	0

What model year of the Kia Forte should you avoid?

The Kia Forte has had its share of complaints and recalls, most of which are evident for the 2019 model year. The 2019 Forte was the debut model year for the generation and had some rough edges to it. The newness caused a load of recurring issues to the owners in the long run. The carmaker has been constantly issuing communications and directives to get the issues fixed, giving a silver lining to the car.

Should you buy the 2022 Kia Forte?

The 2022 Kia Forte has been a solid offering with the majority of the niggles and issues solved by the Korean manufacturer. The sedan gets a fresh face with a new grille and bumper design. The interior gains a lot of goodies as well. The features list is tweaked for more value, making the Forte the most lucrative offering in the segment. If you want to go for a used Forte, consider getting a 2020 model year and above for a trouble-free experience.