YearToAvoid

2016 Kia Forte Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 28 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Kia Forte, 21% of that year's 135 total complaints. Two fires were reported in this data set, with a median failure mileage of 30,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this component on this model year.

Electrical System complaints
28
21% of 135
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
30,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Dashboard warning lights and instrument panel illuminate or flicker on their own, sometimes with the engine running or off.
  • Vehicle stalls or the engine shuts down without warning while driving, in some cases with loss of steering assist.
  • Headlights and interior lights flicker, dim, or cut off entirely, including reports of wiring melting near the driver-side headlight.
  • Keyless entry fails to unlock or start the car even though the lights flash as if it is responding.
  • Clock spring failure disables the horn and cruise control and causes erratic idle behavior.
  • Dashboard goes completely black and the car powers down while being driven at highway speed.

When 2016 Kia Forte electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 3, 2016, latest Jul 1, 2026.

2016 Kia Forte electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2016Jan 2017Oct 2018Jun 2019Dec 2020Jun 2023Oct 2025
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Jul 2026; peak Mar 2019 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2016 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 the 2016 Kia Forte have?
NHTSA lists 28 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 Kia Forte, which is 21% of the 135 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Kia Forte electrical system?
No related recalls are listed in this data for the Electrical System component on the 2016 Kia Forte.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Forte electrical problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2016 Kia Forte is 30,000 miles.
Did the 2016 Kia Forte electrical issues cause any fires?
NHTSA data shows 2 fire reports and 0 crash reports among the complaints logged for this vehicle.
How does the 2016 Forte's electrical complaint share compare to other years?
The 21% share for 2016 is higher than most other Forte years in this data, though 2017 shows a higher share at 25%.

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.