2020 Kia Forte Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 16 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Kia Forte, 21% of the model's 76 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure is 17,600, and no related recall is on file.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 16
- 21% of 76
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 17,600 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden loss of acceleration or hesitation when pressing the gas pedal at a stop or intersection.
- Some describe the transmission slipping intermittently before the car stops moving forward or backward entirely.
- Several report erratic RPM behavior on the highway, with the tachometer swinging and the vehicle losing speed or dropping into neutral unexpectedly.
- Multiple owners report full transmission failure requiring replacement, with at least one case of a replacement transmission failing again shortly after.
- One owner reported the vehicle rolling backward unexpectedly after being placed in park, resulting in a crash and injuries.
When 2020 Kia Forte transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 4, 2020, latest Aug 20, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2020 Kia Forte
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Forte model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many transmission complaints does the 2020 Kia Forte have?
- NHTSA lists 16 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Forte, which is 21% of the 76 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a transmission recall for the 2020 Kia Forte?
- No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2020 Forte.
- At what mileage do 2020 Kia Forte transmission problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 17,600 miles.
- Did any 2020 Kia Forte transmission complaints involve a crash?
- Yes, NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 1 injury linked to complaints in this problem area for the 2020 Forte.
- How does the 2020 Forte compare to other years for transmission complaints?
- The 2020 Forte's 16 complaints and 21% share are lower than the 2019 Forte's 47 complaints and 32% share, but higher in share than several other model years like 2018 at 6%.