2012 Kia Forte Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 47 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Kia Forte, 16% of all 292 complaints that year. Seven of those complaints report fires, and the median mileage at failure was 64,000. No related recalls are on file.
- Electrical System complaints
- 47
- 16% of 292
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 7
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 64,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report engine or dashboard fires starting while the vehicle was parked, running, or being driven, in some cases fully engulfing the car.
- Several complaints describe brake lights that fail to illuminate while tail lights and turn signals continue to work normally, with no blown fuse found.
- Some owners report the engine racing or continuing to run after the key was removed from the ignition, occasionally followed by smoke.
- One complaint describes stereo wiring melting and igniting a fire inside the dashboard.
- A brake light bulb housing was reported to have melted from heat, requiring replacement of the entire light assembly.
- One complaint describes a turn signal that intermittently failed at low speed and needed dealer repair on multiple visits.
When 2012 Kia Forte electrical complaints were filed
First complaint May 14, 2013, latest Jun 22, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Kia Forte
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Electrical System complaints by Forte model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Kia Forte?
- NHTSA lists 47 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Kia Forte, which is 16% of the 292 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Are there fires linked to the 2012 Kia Forte electrical system?
- Yes. Seven of the 47 electrical system complaints report fires, with no crashes or injuries reported in this data.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Kia Forte electrical system?
- No related recalls are listed in this data for the 2012 Kia Forte's electrical system.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2012 Kia Forte?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2012 Kia Forte is 64,000 miles.
- Is electrical system a bigger issue for the 2012 Forte than other years?
- The 2012 Forte's 16% share of complaints tied to the electrical system is close to most other model years, though 2017 (25%) and 2016 (21%) report higher shares.