Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 301 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Forte, and it carries 3 recalls. 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 | 88 | 29% |
| Exterior lighting | 25 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 22 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 4% |
| Air bags | 11 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 3% |
| Engine | 9 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 7 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The vehicle exhibits a chronic, systemic electrical failure characterized by the intermittent loss of critical lighting systems, including turn signals and brake lights. This failur5e has persisted over several years and
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Kia has common problems on the airbags even tho my air bags is good but I want to still check it
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The headlights and dashboard lose power intermittently while driving at highway speeds, specifically triggered by using the turn signal. This is ongoing since January when I started having to take it for a recalls.More t
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2017 KIA Forte. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was misfiring, severely shaking and was losing motive power suddenly while operating on multiple cons
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal screeching sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to pull off
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Failure of the engine oil pump pertaining to the exact situation covered in NHTSA campaign 21V-260, but vehicle is not covered. The campaign covered vehicles manufactured from June 5, 2017 to July 24, 2017. Vehicle was m
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The vehicle went into Tasca Kia for a cam shaft replacement, this did not fix the issue and the vehicle needed an entire engine replacement under power train warranty. Since then, the vehicle has continuously stalled. Th
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
I am emailing i have an issue with a my vehicle i took it in to the dealership and got the recalls performed and they still have not updated in the system i am trying to rent out my car on turo and am not able to do i al
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 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 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
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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. Owne
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
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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 f
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.
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 65 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 72 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 53 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 50 | 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 301 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 88 of them (29%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 65/100 (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 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. 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.