2015 Kia FORTE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10654462 · 2014-11-12 (November 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLOSING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR, A LOUD ABNORMAL EXPLOSION NOISE EMITTED FROM THE BACK SEAT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AND GLASS SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108.
Owner-reported narrative. 108 miles reported. Look up ODI 10654462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679343 · 2015-01-27 (January 27, 2015)
DRIVER WAS IN MIDDLE LANE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAR BEGAN FLIPPING WHILE STILL IN THE ROADWAY, EVENTUALLY HIT A GUARD RAIL AND CONTINUED FLIPPING. DRIVER WAS EJECTED AND KILLED. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF .....UPDATED 12/23/15 *BF UPDATED 1/11/2015*JS UPDATED 9/17/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 1,760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679790 · 2015-01-29 (January 29, 2015)
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED OVERNIGHT FOR NO REASON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10758991 · 2015-08-24 (August 24, 2015)
WHILE MONITORING THE REAR VIEW CAMERA DISPLAY TO AVOID OBSTACLES WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VIDEO FRAME FROZE CREATING THE IMPRESSION THAT I WAS FARTHER AWAY FROM OBSTACLES THAN I ACTUALLY WAS AS I APPROACHED THEM. IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS THAT THE VIDEO FRAME HAD FROZEN, AND THAT UPDATED VIDEO INFORMATION WAS NOT BEING PRESENTED. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE VIDEO DISPLAY IT WAS NOT SHOWING ME THE ACTUAL REAL-TIME SITUATION, IT WAS SHOWING ME A VIDEO FRAME FROM SEVERAL SECONDS PREVIOUS. THE VIDEO FROZE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, BUT I'M…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,664 miles reported. Look up ODI 10758991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10807130 · 2015-11-27 (November 27, 2015)
WELL LEAKING WATER IN TRUNK HAD TO LET KIA STORE IN CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA TAKE IT TO FIX DIDN'T FIX STILL PAYING ON A LEASE AND THEY STILL WILL NOT FIX IT SCREWING ME OVER DO NOT EVER BUY A CAR FROM KIA STORE IN CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA THEY ARE CROOKS MOLD GROWING IN BACKSEAT [XXX]. VIN UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10807130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808724 · 2015-12-07 (December 7, 2015)
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ONCOMING LEFT TURN INTO MY LANE, CAUSING A COLLISION. I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON WITH HER FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820680 · 2016-01-17 (January 17, 2016)
ON 1/15/2016, I HIT A MASSIVE 10-POINT BUCK (DEER) HEAD ON. IT WAS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND I DROVE INTO IT DOING 65 MPH. THE FRONT OF MY CAR SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE; THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS PUSHED BACK AND THE HOOD WAS BENT BACK TO THE WINDSHIELD. YET, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE WORKED AS A PARAMEDIC/FF FOR OVER 15 YEARS, AND I HAVE WORKED HUNDREDS OF ACCIDENT SCENES. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW... THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED. WITH THE FRONT END DAMAGE THAT MY CAR SUSTAINED, THAT AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IMMED…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821413 · 2016-01-21 (January 21, 2016)
WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES FROM A STOP, THERE IS SEVERE VALVE PINGING SOUND. KIA MOTORS AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT ARE NOT TAKING ANY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE "AS IT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR". THE NOISE IS VERY SEVERE ON THE 2015 FORTE AND IT IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. THE WIND NOISE AND THE VALVE PING MAKE THE CAR VERY LOUD. THE DEALER SAYS THAT SINCE KIA MOTORS AMERICA IS NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, NOTHING CAN BE DONE. KIA MOTORS AMERICA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS BUT HAVE FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT AS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821413 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V750000 · Engine
Reported: 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)
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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
NHTSA campaign record ↗