YearToAvoid

2020 Kia Forte Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 25 of 76 total complaints (33%) on the 2020 Kia Forte, including stalling, sudden power loss, and one fire. NHTSA lists no related recall for this issue. Median mileage at failure is 77,854.

Engine complaints
25
33% of 76
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
77,855 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle stalls or loses motive power while driving, sometimes with the check engine light on and no restart possible.
  • Engine dies at stop lights or fails to restart after a stall, occasionally requiring full engine replacement.
  • White smoke from the engine compartment paired with an illuminated oil warning light and reduced accelerator response.
  • Unexplained oil loss between changes with no warning light activation before engine damage occurs.
  • Check engine light appears along with a message indicating Kia was alerted to a failure, followed by loss of power.
  • Catalytic converter failure diagnosed after a stall with the check engine light on.

When 2020 Kia Forte engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 5, 2020, latest Sep 21, 2026.

2020 Kia Forte engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2020Feb 2023Nov 2023May 2025Aug 2025May 2026Aug 2026
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2020 to Sep 2026; peak May 2024 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Kia Forte

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Forte model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20091 (100%)
  2. 201086 (39%)
  3. 201157 (37%)
  4. 2012170 (58%)
  5. 2013111 (57%)
  6. 2014226 (51%)
  7. 2015163 (63%)
  8. 201677 (57%)
  9. 2017163 (54%)
  10. 201869 (51%)
  11. 201945 (31%)
  12. 202025 (33%)
  13. 202123 (34%)
  14. 20227 (26%)
  15. 202311 (18%)
  16. 20247 (28%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2020 Kia Forte?
NHTSA lists 25 engine complaints out of 76 total complaints for the 2020 Forte, making up 33% of all reported issues for the year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Kia Forte engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the 2020 Forte engine complaints.
At what mileage do 2020 Kia Forte engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure across reported engine complaints is 77,854 miles.
Did the 2020 Kia Forte engine issues cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint set includes 2 crashes and 1 fire, with no injuries reported.
How does the 2020 Forte compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2020 Forte's 33% engine complaint share is lower than many earlier years, such as 2015 at 63% and 2012 at 58%, based on NHTSA complaint data.

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.