2015 Kia FORTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
258 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 150 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 156 of 258 complaints (60.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 38 | 14.7% |
| Braking behavior | 26 | 10.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 156 |
| Unknown Or Other | 31 |
| Electrical System | 24 |
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Service Brakes | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
Engine: 156; Unknown Or Other: 31; Electrical System: 24; Air Bags: 23; Power Train: 17; Service Brakes: 15; Exterior Lighting: 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 9
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 108 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 43 |
| 2021 | 47 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 23 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2014: 1; 2015: 5; 2016: 10; 2017: 7; 2018: 15; 2019: 24; 2020: 43; 2021: 47; 2022: 36; 2023: 21; 2024: 19; 2025: 23; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 38 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10916358 · 2016-10-16 (October 16, 2016)
MY CAR LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING I NEED OIL IN MY 2015 KIA FORTE. AFTER PUTTING ON IN MY CAR IT BEGAN TO STALL. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING IT HOME AND THE CAR COMES TO A SCREECHING STOP ON BRECKENRIDGE LN, IN LOUISVILLE KY. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND BEGAN TO DRIVE SOME MORE THE CAR DID IT AGAIN. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE RAN INTO THE BACK OF ME AS THE CAR STOPPED ALL OF THE SUDDEN AS IF SOMEONE HAD PUSHED ON THE BRAKES. AS I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND BEGAN TO DRIVE A FEW YARDS DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR CUT OFF AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I D…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193333 · 2019-04-02 (April 2, 2019)
ON SATURDAY MARCH 30, 2019, I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE 110 NORTH HIGHWAY ( CALIFORNIA) WITH MY ONLY SON , MY MOTHER AND MY BOYFRIEND , I WAS GETTING SIGNALED TO PULL OVER BY OTHER DRIVERS AT THAT VERY MOMENT MY CAR STALLED AND HEAVY DARK SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF AIR VENT , MY BOYFRIEND SHOUTED FOR US TO GET OUT OF THE CAR QUICK , MY MOTHER IS DISABLED AND USES A WALKER TO WALK WE HAD TO MAKE SURE SHE GOT OUT FIRST , AS WE STARTED TO RUN FROM THE CAR I TURNED AROUND AND NOTICED A FIRE UNDER MY CAR ( I WAS DRIVING LIKE THAT , UNKNOWINGLY) MY CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11193333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852998 · 2016-04-01 (April 1, 2016)
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE IN MARCH OF 2016. I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND BEGAN TO PUSH THE GAS TO BACK OUT. THE CAR ENGINE REVVED LOUDLY AND THE CAR SHOT OUT OF THE GARAGE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THINKING I POSSIBLY HAD MY FOOT ON THE WRONG PEDAL (EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE), I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FEET AND VERIFIED THAT MY FOOT WAS INDEED ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE GAS PEDAL. I THEN PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT SLOW DOWN; IT CONTINUED TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873377 · 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING 45 ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED DEAD IN MY LANE I HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE TO STOP BUT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES I FELT THE ANTILOCK BRAES VIBRATE TWICE AND THEN IT FELT LIKE I WAS STILL GOING THE SAME SPEED NOT SLOWING ME DOWN (I HAD BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED).RESULTING IN ME STRIKING THE CAR AND TOTALING MINE AND HIS. WITNESSES SAID IT LOOKED LIKE I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES IN PLENTY OF TIME BUT DIDN'T STOP. I DID NOT KNOW HE HAD STOPPED BECAUSE HE HAD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM WHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11220370 · 2019-06-15 (June 15, 2019)
IS THEY A RECALL ON THE CAR KIA FORTE THE VIN NUMBER [XXX] ON THE BATTERY TERMINALS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11220370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11255761 · 2019-09-16 (September 16, 2019)
A FEW DAYS AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD TURNED ON. WHEN I USED MY OBD TO CHECK FOR THE PROBLEM, IT SAID THE DRIVER SIDE RESISTANT WAS TOO HIGH. I WENT IN TO GET THE CAR CHECKED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO CALL AND SEE IF WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE PARTS, IF NOT IT'LL BE OVER $600 PLUS $165 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR A PART OF A CAR I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, AND ESPECIALLY TOO EARLY FOR A CAR THAT IS SAID TO BE A NEW MODEL. OUR OTHER CARS FROM OTHER MAKES THAT WERE PURCHASED IN 2010 AND 2012 DOESN'T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11255761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10972130 · 2017-04-12 (April 12, 2017)
CAR WILL NOT STEER STRAIGHT,PULLS TO THE LEFT AND WHEN YOU CORRECT IT OVERSTEERS TO THE RIGHT HAVE HAD IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE,FIRST TIME THEY MADE A SLIGHT TOE-IN ADJUSTMENT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS IN SPEC.SECOND TIME,HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER DRIVE THE CAR AND TESTED IT AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC.HE SAID IT HAS ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO IT. WAS AT THE DEALER ON MONDAY AND TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT SOLD ME THE CAR THAT IT HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY BETTER BUT SEEMS TO BE WORSE. HE HAD NO SOLUTION…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10972130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203054 · 2019-04-23 (April 23, 2019)
STEERING HAS PLAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10822754 · 2016-01-28 (January 28, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO A CRASH, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS DAMAGED AND STARTED TO CORRODE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE DAMAGE AND CORROSION WAS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. UPDATED 04/04/16*LJ *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11597709 · 2024-06-29 (June 29, 2024)
I have already filled out one of these forms a couple of years ago. It is absolutely ridiculous that every 2011-2015 Kia Forte engine has been recalled, but mine has not. My engine completely blew up a few years ago. It has the exact same problem all these other engines have. I called Kia and asked them to help me replace it bc the issue is exactly the same and they refused. A con-rod warped and then broke and it shot through the bottom of my engine. The rod could have shot back into the inside of the car. God forbid my daughter would be in my …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11597709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11490482 · 2022-10-23 (October 23, 2022)
Car has an electrical problem battery keeps draining changed alternator fuel pump starter and battery and still something draining the battery
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11490482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11744259 · 2026-06-15 (June 15, 2026)
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 diagnostic and it was code P0172 for high pressure fuel pump. Before the incident date it was already hard to start prior to the engine light coming on. It sometimes causes smoke to come out of the exhaust. There was also smoke from under the hood in the engine compartment and as soon as I put gas in the car it runs out very quickly.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11744259 at NHTSA ↗