YearToAvoid

2018 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

29/100

#11 most-complained of 15 Forte years

The 2018 Kia Forte ranks 11th worst out of 15 model years with a complaint index of 29 and a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 136 complaints, 13 crashes, 3 fires, and 3 recalls, with the Engine as the top problem area (51% of complaints).

Complaints
136
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
13 / 3
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28
25 city / 33.5 hwy

Top 2018 Kia Forte problems

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

  1. Engine69 (51%)
  2. Other30 (22%)
  3. Electrical System22 (16%)
  4. Airbags16 (12%)
  5. Structure & Body12 (9%)
  6. Fuel System8 (6%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain8 (6%)
  8. Steering5 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)
  10. Brakes4 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the Takata airbags failing to deploy during frontal and side-impact crashes.
  • Some describe the engine shutting off unexpectedly with a grinding noise and the check engine light coming on around 72,000 miles.
  • One owner reported an electrical fire under the engine compartment while driving on the freeway, with the car losing power beforehand.
  • Early owners noted a sticking gas pedal that did not respond right away to foot pressure.
  • Several owners reported rough idling at stops that dealers attributed to a bad spark plug shortly after purchase.
2018 Kia Forte complaints: complaints filed per quarter142018 Q22019 Q42021 Q12022 Q22023 Q32024 Q42026 Q1
185 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q1 (14).

2018 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.

2018 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.

2018 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
2016Good36135128
2017Avoid93302328
2018Good29136328
2019Good43147234
2020Best1476031

All Kia Forte years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Kia Forte reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2018 Forte has a complaint index of 29 and ranks 11th worst among 15 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Forte years.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Forte?
The Engine accounts for 51% of complaints (69 of 136), followed by Electrical System at 16% and Airbags at 12%, per NHTSA.
Does the 2018 Kia Forte have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Forte, covering the airbag control unit, a trunk latch that may prevent opening, and an oil pump issue on the 2.0L Nu MPI engine that could cause engine damage.
How many complaints does NHTSA have on file for the 2018 Kia Forte?
NHTSA lists 136 complaints for the 2018 Kia Forte, including 13 crashes, 3 fires, and 9 injuries.
What is the median mileage for engine failures in the 2018 Kia Forte?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 51,000 miles at the time of engine-related failures.

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.