YearToAvoid

2015 Kia Forte Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 37 Electrical System complaints for the 2015 Kia Forte, 14% of its 259 total complaints for the year. Owners commonly report brake light switch failures, headlight/turn-signal interruptions, stalling, and two fire incidents. No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this issue.

Electrical System complaints
37
14% of 259
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
75,010 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Brake lights stay on continuously or flicker on and off regardless of pedal position, often tied to a brake light switch owners compare to the 2014 Forte recall part.
  • Headlights, taillights, and instrument panel lights briefly shut off when the turn signal is activated, then return within a couple of seconds.
  • Vehicle stalls or loses power intermittently at various speeds, sometimes with flickering lights, leaving the vehicle unable to restart.
  • Owners report a burning or smoking smell from the starter or elsewhere in the vehicle, in two cases linked to a reported fire.
  • Ignition system reportedly shocks the driver and intermittently fails to start the vehicle.

When 2015 Kia Forte electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 13, 2017, latest Jun 29, 2026.

2015 Kia Forte electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2017Jun 2019Jun 2020Dec 2020Feb 2022Nov 2023Mar 2025Dec 2025
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2017 to Jun 2026; peak Aug 2020 (3).

Electrical System recalls for the 2015 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.

  1. 201031 (14%)
  2. 201121 (14%)
  3. 201247 (16%)
  4. 201330 (15%)
  5. 201472 (16%)
  6. 201537 (14%)
  7. 201628 (21%)
  8. 201776 (25%)
  9. 201822 (16%)
  10. 201931 (21%)
  11. 202012 (16%)
  12. 20219 (13%)
  13. 20224 (15%)
  14. 202312 (19%)
  15. 20246 (24%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does NHTSA have for the 2015 Kia Forte?
NHTSA lists 37 Electrical System complaints for the 2015 Kia Forte, which is 14% of the 259 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Kia Forte's electrical system?
According to the data provided, there are no related recalls listed for the 2015 Kia Forte's electrical system, though some owners reference a 2014 Forte brake light switch recall.
What electrical problems do 2015 Kia Forte owners report most?
Owners most often describe brake lights that won't turn off or flicker, headlights and cabin lights that cut out when signaling a turn, and intermittent stalling at various speeds.
At what mileage do 2015 Kia Forte electrical problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 75,010 at the time of failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2015 Kia Forte.
Were there any fires linked to the 2015 Kia Forte's electrical system?
NHTSA complaint data lists 2 fire incidents tied to Electrical System complaints on the 2015 Kia Forte, with 0 crashes and 0 injuries reported.

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.