YearToAvoid

2016 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

36/100

#10 most-complained of 15 Forte years

The 2016 Kia Forte ranks 10th of 15 model years with a Complaint Index of 36, earning a Good verdict relative to other Forte years. It logged 135 complaints, 1 recall, and its top problem area is the Engine at 57% of complaints.

Complaints
135
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
16 / 6
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
24.5 city / 34 hwy

Top 2016 Kia Forte problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy during moderate-to-severe front and side collisions, including impacts around 30-40 mph.
  • Some vehicles stalled unexpectedly while driving, with reports of the transmission shifting gears on its own.
  • Owners describe engine fires, including one where the vehicle was reportedly burning an excessive amount of oil and fuel before catching fire while driving.
  • One owner reported the vehicle shifted into drive on its own after a remote start while parked, resulting in a collision.
  • Electrical system issues included keyless entry failing to respond even though the vehicle's lights indicated it was receiving a signal.
  • A structure and body complaint described a fire starting in the engine area while the car was being driven on the interstate.
2016 Kia Forte complaints: complaints filed per quarter122016 Q22017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q42023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
195 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q2 (12).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid100442328
2015Caution71259128.5
2016Good36135128
2017Avoid93302328
2018Good29136328

All Kia Forte years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Kia Forte reliable?
Compared to other Forte model years, the 2016 is rated Good, ranking 10th worst out of 15 years with a Complaint Index of 36. It has fewer complaints (135) than several other years, such as 2014 with 442 complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Forte?
Engine issues make up 57% of complaints (77 of 135), followed by Electrical System problems at 21% and Transmission & Powertrain issues at 12%. The median mileage at failure for engine complaints is 57,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Kia Forte have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2016 Forte, covering a trunk latch that may become damaged and prevent the trunk from opening from inside. This is not a do-not-drive recall.
What year Kia Forte should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2012, 2011, 2014, and 2017 Forte model years carry Avoid verdicts, with Complaint Index values of 86, 79, 100, and 93 respectively. The 2016 Forte is not among the years to avoid.
How many fires and crashes were reported for the 2016 Kia Forte?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Forte include 16 crashes, 6 fires, and 13 injuries, with no deaths 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.