- Safety
- 4
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 2
- on record
- MPG
- 34
- combined
Open recalls on record
2 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2019 Kia Forte
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- Owner complaints
- 146
- Complaints citing a crash
- 11
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
2 Recalls on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
2 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 18V771000high
Lighting issue
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence
If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.
- 20V459000high
Drivetrain issue
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles. The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.
Consequence
A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2019 Kia Forte.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 4 / 5
- Passenger
- 3 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 10.7%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2019 Kia Forte 4 out of 5 stars overall, below the 5-star median for the 16 comparable 2019 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 10.7% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2019 Kia Forte, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
30
City
40
Hwy
34
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $1,800
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 267 g/mi
How this compares
At 34 MPG combined, the 2019 Kia Forte ranks 2nd of 23 midsize cars EPA rated for 2019 — 7 MPG better than the 27 MPG median for that group.
That places it among the most efficient vehicles in its class. Fuel cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor against its direct rivals.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $1,800, $750 less than the $2,550 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $9,000, a $3,750 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 267 grams per mile — about 4 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
146 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 146
- Total
- 11
- Crashes
- 4
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE81
- OTHER20
- ELECTRICAL12
- AIR BAGS6
- STEERING6
Notable Issues
146 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 5 reports involve injuries. 11 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2019 Kia Forte, newest first.
- Recall
A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Recall
If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Midsize Cars
- Drive type
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 2L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Seats
- 0
Fuel economy
30
City
40
Hwy
34
Comb
- Annual cost
- $1,800
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Systems recalled
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Recall
A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Recall
If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.