YearToAvoid

2017 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 15 Forte years

The 2017 Kia Forte ranks 2nd worst of 15 model years, with a complaint index of 93, 302 complaints, 3 recalls, and 4 deaths reported. NHTSA data mark it 'Avoid' relative to other Forte years, driven mainly by engine problems (54% of complaints, median failure mileage 75,000).

Complaints
302
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
23 / 9
Injuries / deaths
21 / 4
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
25 city / 33.5 hwy

Top 2017 Kia Forte problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine163 (54%)
  2. Electrical System76 (25%)
  3. Other49 (16%)
  4. Fuel System30 (10%)
  5. Airbags18 (6%)
  6. Structure & Body15 (5%)
  7. Brakes12 (4%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain12 (4%)
  9. Steering9 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during frontal or side collisions, including at low speeds around 20 mph.
  • Engine loses power or stalls suddenly while driving, sometimes preceded by a loud popping noise and illuminated check engine light.
  • Engine catches fire, in one case shortly after dealer replacement of the engine, starter, battery, and intake.
  • Electrical wiring issues cause fires, including one traced to visor lighting wiring while the vehicle was parked.
  • Headlights repeatedly shut off or stop working despite multiple bulb replacements, in one case contributing to a collision.
2017 Kia Forte complaints: complaints filed per quarter222017 Q12018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
403 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q1 (22).

2017 Kia Forte recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

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
2015Caution71259128.5
2016Good36135128
2017Avoid93302328
2018Good29136328
2019Good43147234

All Kia Forte years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Kia Forte reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2017 Forte has a complaint index of 93, the second-highest among 15 model years, with 302 complaints logged. This places it in the 'Avoid' category relative to other Forte years.
What problems does the 2017 Kia Forte have?
Engine issues make up 54% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 75,000. Electrical system problems account for another 25% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 36,000.
Does the 2017 Kia Forte have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 Forte: an airbag control unit issue, a trunk latch defect, and an oil pump failure risk on the 2.0L Nu MPI engine. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2017 Forte compare to other years?
Among 15 model years, 2017 has a complaint index of 93, second only to 2014's 100. Years like 2020, 2021, and 2022 score much lower (14, 21, and 0) and are rated 'Best'.
Were there any deaths or injuries reported for the 2017 Kia Forte?
NHTSA complaint data for the 2017 Forte lists 4 deaths, 21 injuries, and 23 crashes, with airbag-related complaints tied to 13 of those crashes.

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.