Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 259 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Forte, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 123 | 47% |
| Unknown or other | 18 | 7% |
| Air bags | 15 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 3% |
| Power train | 6 | 2% |
| Power train | 6 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 2% |
| Engine | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
While driving my 2015 Kia Forte5 at approximately 80 mph on GA-400, I was traveling in the far-left lane when the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly lost acceleration and engine power. Pressing the accelerator produced li
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Recently had oil change . Right after B oil change engine light came on, a solid yellow light car is driving rough it’s a 2015 Kia Forte. Have an appointment Monday 7/13/2026 to have dealer to do a B diagnostic. The same
NHTSA complaint: Engine
respectfully submit this correspondence to request formal assistance regarding my 2015 Kia Forte EX, a vehicle covered under the class settlement. The vehicle is exhibiting severe symptoms consistent with KSDS‑related en
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that an anti-theft protection software update was performed in 2024. After the update was performed, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly turned
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The car is jerking while driving. It's caused the car to overheat. It's hard to start up and usually stalls out. It has stalled out while driving almost causing a accident. The engine light came on. I took it for a diagn
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving in the fast lane at 70 MPH on the interstate and attempting to move over to the emergency lane, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light ill
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Car goes into limp mode or cuts power when trying to accelerate. Refuses to shift or will shift down and revs highers rpms then necessary, especially at any incline. Started around 70k miles and got worse when brought in
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The vehicle began experiencing persistent engine misfires and rough running. Fuel contamination was found in the engine oil, and the spark plugs were fouled with oil and fuel. The catalytic converter has become clogged a
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2015 Kia Forte. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free
| Reliability raw | 73 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 53 | average |
| Performance | 43 | below average |
| Efficiency | 51 | average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 259 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 123 of them (47%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2015 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.