2017 Kia Forte Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2017 Kia Forte ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 93, 302 complaints, 3 recalls, and 9 fires. Engine problems account for 54% of complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Forte years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 93/100
- #2 of 16 Forte years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 302
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 23
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 9
- Injuries
- 21
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 25 city / 33.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 21 / 4
Top 2017 Kia Forte problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine163 (54%)
- Electrical System76 (25%)
- Other49 (16%)
- Fuel System30 (10%)
- Airbags18 (6%)
- Structure & Body15 (5%)
- Brakes12 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain12 (4%)
- Steering9 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy during frontal or off-center crashes, sometimes at low speeds like 20-45 mph.
- Engine loses power or stalls suddenly while driving, with the check engine light coming on before loss of acceleration.
- Engine compartment catches fire, in one case shortly after a new engine, starter, battery, and intake were installed.
- Electrical wiring near the seat or visor light ignites while the vehicle is parked and unattended.
- Headlights repeatedly shut off and fail even after bulb and component replacements, contributing to a collision.
2017 Kia Forte recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V031000Jan 25, 2022Airbags410,619 vehicles
Air bags
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
- 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.
- NHTSA 21V260000Apr 13, 2021Engine4,069 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
2017 Kia Forte fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 25 MPG
- Highway
- 33.5 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.
2017 compared with other Forte years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Kia Forte reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2017 Forte has a complaint index of 93, the 2nd highest among 16 model years, driven mainly by engine complaints (54% of the total). It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Forte years.
- What year Kia Forte should I avoid?
- The 2017 and 2014 Forte both carry Avoid verdicts, with complaint indexes of 93 and 100 respectively. The 2020, 2022, and 2024 model years rate Best, with complaint indexes of 20, 7, and 13.
- Does the 2017 Kia Forte have an engine recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 21V260000 covers 2017-2018 Forte vehicles with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine, where foreign particles can stick inside the oil pump and cause oil pump failure and engine damage.
- What is the top problem area for the 2017 Kia Forte?
- Engine complaints make up 54% of all reports (163 of 302), with a median mileage at failure of 75,000 miles, followed by electrical system issues at 25%.
- How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Forte have?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 Kia Forte, covering airbag control unit software, trunk latch assembly, and oil pump/engine damage.