Which Years Of Used Kia Fortes Are Most Reliable?
Kia Forte by Kevauto - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Launched for the 2010 model year, the Kia Forte has been the Korean automaker’s answer to the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and other compact economy cars. Now in its third generation, the Forte is a readily available choice on the used car scene. With this in mind, we’ll explore the most reliable Kia Forte years.
Unfortunately, the Forte has a complicated history with the notorious Theta II engine, making it challenging to choose the most reliable Kia Forte years. Specifically, if you find a Forte with a recall-related engine replacement, it might be a find. Otherwise, staying away from this powerplant is in your best interest.
Not to worry, though. We will break it down in a generation-by-generation, year-by-year review of the Kia Forte. This analysis is based on information from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and carcomplaints.com.
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While cars can have all sorts of problems, the main factor we’re looking at is powertrain reliability. Engines and transmissions are the most expensive components to repair. So, we’re more likely to give a particular Forte model year a thumbs-up if these key systems show little or no troublesome history.
Let’s dive into the details.
Kia Forte: First Generation (2010-2013)
Taking over for the down-market Kia Spectra, the Forte brought a reasonable amount of refinement to an economy car. It also served as a step up from the cheaper Rio and shared many underpinnings with the Hyundai Elantra. Body styles reflected a four-door sedan, five-door hatchback, and two-door coupe (dubbed the Forte Koup).
2010 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: Keep Looking
Avoiding the first year of an all-new car is a smart approach; these newest models are often loaded with gremlins. There’s no reason to think differently about the 2010 Forte. Likewise, carcomplaints.com advises this model year should be avoided as well.
2011 Kia Forte
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Reliability Ruling: It’s Worth A Try
Don’t expect any car that’s a dozen years old to be perfect, but shoppers with a limited budget may find the 2011 Forte to be an affordable option. There are some engine-related reports on file with NHTSA, but the complaint volume is modest compared with the number of cars sold (a couple of dozen complaints against more than 76,000 units sold in 2011). Regardless, always have a used car inspected by a mechanic before purchasing.
2012-2013 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: Process With Extreme Caution
We’re grouping the 2012 and 2013 Kia Forte because both years are affected by a recall for the troubled Theta II engine, notorious for knocking, bearing problems, and catching on fire. The recall, NHTSA Campaign #20V750000, calls for several remedies, including engine replacement.
Ordinarily, staying away from cars with major engine troubles is the best path. However, if you’ve encountered a 2012-2013 Forte with a replacement engine, that vehicle could be worthwhile. Confirm recall and repair status on the NHTSA website and ask to see repair records to confirm the engine replacement.
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Kia Forte: Second Generation (2014-2018)
The second-generation Forte welcomes a sleeker exterior and a more refined cabin, but no one will confuse this vehicle for anything other than an economy car. Buyers can still choose from a sedan, coupe, or five-door hatchback, with the redesign contributing to a larger second row. At the same time, available touches like heated rear seats and voice command give the Forte upscale elements.
2014 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: Not the one
We’ll repeat our earlier recommendation about skipping the first year of a new generation—take that to heart with the 2014 Forte. This model year is vulnerable to new design issues, and the number of engine-related complaints reported to NHTSA skyrocketed. Some editions have the infamous Theta II engine and are impacted by the recall.
2015 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: Requires careful consideration
As of this writing, there’s only one recall for the 2015 Kia Forte, but it involves the Theta II engine. So, just as we advised with the 2012-2013 model years, consider a 2015 Forte only if it doesn’t have the problematic powerplant (higher-end trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine not subject to the recall) or has a replacement engine.
2016 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: An OK buy
For the most part, the Forte’s engine woes are gone with the arrival of the 2016 edition. There are engine-related troubles reported to carcomplaints.com and NHTSA, but not at the levels of early model years. So, with careful shopping and a thorough pre-purchase inspection, the 2016 Forte has the potential to be a decent second-hand car.
2017 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: Just don’t do it
You’d think that with the 2016 edition being a reasonable choice, the 2017 Forte would be a repeat year. However, the opposite is the case. Curiously, the number of engine-related complaints increases, which is never a good sign. For this reason alone, direct your car shopping elsewhere.
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2018 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: The sweet spot
With a modest number of engine complaints and few reports of transmission troubles, the 2018 edition appears to be a strong contender for reliability among the many Kia Forte model years. It’s hard to believe the strong 2018 version followed the terrible 2017 example. The 2018 edition belongs among the most reliable Kia Forte years.
Kia Forte: Third Generation (2019-Current)
The third-generation Kia Forte hit the streets for the 2019 model year with styling cues borrowed from the sportier Stinger. And the Forte is now only offered as a four-door sedan.
2019 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: Avoid the first-year blues
Given the complete redesign of the third-gen Forte, it’s wise to focus your Forte shopping on other model years. Numerous owner reports about the transmission serve as reminders that the 2019 Forte doesn’t have a clean history for reliability.
2020-2022 Kia Forte
Reliability Ruling: Clear sailing
The first-year kinks of the 2019 Forte appear to have been worked out with the arrival of the 2020 edition (and later model years)—owner complaints are modest. So, unless something unexpected arises, the 2020-2022 editions deserve a place among the most reliable Kia Forte years. Best of all, most will be covered by a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty (from the first service date). The original bumper-to-bumper and ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage don’t apply to subsequent owners.
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