2020 Kia FORTE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
74 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
7,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 74 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 18.9% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 12.2% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 12.2% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
Unknown Or Other: 25; Engine: 17; Power Train: 16; Electrical System: 10; Air Bags: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 53 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 15 |
2019: 1; 2020: 6; 2021: 8; 2022: 4; 2023: 17; 2024: 8; 2025: 15; 2026: 15
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 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 11257242 · 2019-09-22 (September 22, 2019)
OPENING TRUNK MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO REAR WINDOW AS THE TRUNK SWINGS TOO FAST WHEN ITS OPENING. THE TRUNK MAY DETACH AND STRIKE THE REAR WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 11257242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316571 · 2020-03-06 (March 6, 2020)
WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD: ELECTRONIC PWR STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY INDICATOR, TPMS TIRE PRESSURE, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP, AUTONOMUS EMERGENCY BRAKE, ADAPTIVE FRONT LIGHTING , AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS. AT THE SAME TIME THAT ALL THOSE LIGHTS TURNED ON (WHILE IN MOTION) THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STOPPED REGISTERING SPEED AND DROPPED TO ZERO ON BOTH GAUGES ALONG WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AS WELL. I PROCEEDED TO PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND PULL …
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318580 · 2020-03-18 (March 18, 2020)
I WAS TURNING LEFT THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT ONTO A CITY ROAD WHEN A CAR COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE RAN A RED LIGHT GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR IN A 35 MILES AN HOUR ROAD, CRASHING INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR. IT HIT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND DOOR, BUT WAS HIT SO HARD THAT MY CAR MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 8 - 10 FEET. MY CAR IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE SENSOR DIRECTLY WHERE THE OTHER PERSON CAR HIT MINE BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. EVEN THOUGH THIS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS FOR THOSE TYPES OF COLLISIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11353191 · 2020-09-04 (September 4, 2020)
ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2020, I WAS AT A STOP AND NEEDED TO GO NORTHBOUND ON A BUSY INTERSECTION. I SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO SO I STEPPED ON THE GAS BUT MY VEHICLE WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE WHICH PUT ME IN HARMS WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FOR A MOMENT THERE I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET T-BONED. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO GET RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11353191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11353364 · 2020-09-05 (September 5, 2020)
MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS THE DRIVER. THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, FACING THE DIRECTION SHE WANTED TO GO. THE STREET WENT DOWNHILL IN FRONT OF HER. SHE STARTED THE CAR. WHEN SHE BEGAN TO DRIVE, THE STEERING FELT VERY STIFF, SHE COULD BARELY STEER. SHE STARTED DRIVING ANYWAY. THEN THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. IN FACT, SHE SAID THAT PRESSING THE BRAKE SEEMED TO MAKE THE CAR GO FASTER (OR THIS COULD HAVE JUST BEEN THE EFFECT OF THE HILL). SO SHE ACCELERATED DOWN A SUBSTANTIAL HILL WITH NO BRAKING POWER. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STREET (AP…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11353364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374644 · 2020-11-14 (November 14, 2020)
WHEN FUELING GAS, ONCE THE PUMP CLICKS AND STOPS PRODUCING FUEL AS THE CAR IS FULL, GAS GUSHES OUT OF THE TANK AND ONTO THE SIDE OF THE CAR FROM THE OPENING. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, TURNED OFF. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT I WOULD SAY ABOUT 2 OUT OF 5 TIMES FUELING. IT DOES THIS AT ALL DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS, THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PUMP THAT IT DOES IT AT.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374917 · 2020-11-16 (November 16, 2020)
WHEN BACKING UP THE STEERING, KEY, AND WHEEL ALL LOCK. I WAS BACKING UP SO I WAS ALREADY GOING VERY SLOW. WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE THE CAR SLOWS DOWN BUT STILL MOVES VERY SLOW UNTIL IT CANT MOVE ANYMORE. I TRY TO JIGGLE OUT THE KEY AND PUT THE CAR IN LOCK BUT I JUST JIGGLE EVERYTHING UNTIL SOMETHING UNLOCKS. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN MARCH 2020.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11397278 · 2021-02-22 (February 22, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND REMOVED THEMSELVES TO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO OPEN THEIR GARAGE DOOR WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REVERSE HITTING THE CONTACT AND THE GARAGE DOOR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR LEFT SHOULDER, FACE, ELBOW, LEFT KNEE, RIGHT LEG, AND RIGHT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND TURN O…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,553 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397278 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.