YearToAvoid

2016 Kia Forte Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2016 Kia Forte has a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 10th worst of 16 model years and earning a Good verdict. NHTSA logged 135 complaints, mostly Engine (77) and Electrical System (28), plus one recall for a trunk latch defect.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
40/100
#10 of 16 Forte years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
135
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
16
reported in complaints
Fires
6
Injuries
13
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
24.5 city / 34 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0

Top 2016 Kia Forte problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine77 (57%)
  2. Electrical System28 (21%)
  3. Other16 (12%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain16 (12%)
  5. Airbags13 (10%)
  6. Brakes13 (10%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (7%)
  8. Fuel System7 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body6 (4%)
  10. Steering5 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in front-end collisions at speeds around 35-40 mph, sometimes despite severe frame or bumper damage.
  • Engine compartment fires reported both while parked in the sun and while driving on the interstate.
  • Owners describe frequent engine stalling regardless of vehicle speed, in one case leading to loss of power steering and brakes.
  • Some vehicles reportedly shifted into drive on their own, including one case triggered by remote start while parked.
  • Electrical issues included keyless entry failing to unlock the car despite lights flashing as if it worked.
  • Vehicles were reported burning excessive oil and fuel accompanied by abnormal engine noises before a fire.
2016 Kia Forte complaints: complaints filed per quarter72016 Q22017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q42023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
135 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q1 (7).

2016 Kia Forte recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V622000Aug 9, 2021Structure & Body253,074 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

    Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.

2016 Kia Forte fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 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
2014Avoid100442328
2015Caution73259128.5
2016Good40135128
2017Avoid93302328
2018Good33136328

All Kia Forte years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Kia Forte reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2016 Forte a Complaint Index of 40 and a Good verdict, ranking 10th worst out of 16 Forte model years. It has fewer reported problems than most other Forte years.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Forte?
Engine complaints make up 57% of reports (77 of 135), followed by Electrical System issues at 21% (28 complaints). Median mileage at failure for engine problems was 57,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Kia Forte have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (21V622000) covers a trunk latch that may become damaged and prevent the trunk from opening from inside. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2016 Forte compare to other years?
With a Complaint Index of 40, 2016 ranks better than years like 2014 (index 100, Avoid) and 2012 (index 87, Avoid), but not as low-risk as 2022 or 2024 (Best verdicts).
Were there any fires reported in the 2016 Kia Forte?
NHTSA lists 6 fire-related complaints for the 2016 Forte, with several tied to Engine and Electrical System problems.

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.