YearToAvoid

2009 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Forte years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Kia Forte has 1 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #16 highest of 16 Forte model years. The most reported problem area is engine (1 complaints, 100% of the total).

Complaints
1
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2009 Kia Forte problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine1 (100%)

2009 Kia Forte recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2009 compared with other Forte years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009No verdict010—
2010Caution67221328
2011Avoid80153328

All Kia Forte years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Kia Forte a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Kia Forte ranks #16 of 16 among Forte model years (Complaint Index 0/100). It has 1 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Kia Forte?
The most reported problem areas are engine (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 120,456 miles.
Does the 2009 Kia Forte have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2009 Kia Forte in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.