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2019 Kia Forte

Verified July 23, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
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.

Recalls2
Complaints146
Safety
Fuel

Vehicle Summary

2019 Kia Forte

2 recalls
146 complaints
34 MPG combined
4/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Confirm all 2 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
Read the 11 complaints reporting a crash
Review the 146 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

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 We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.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.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

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."

  • 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.

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

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)81
miscellaneous issues20
electrical issues (battery, wiring, infotainment)12

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
$1,750
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Data sources

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Kia Forte years

Common problems

Kia Forte problems

1,080 owner complaints analyzed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 20V459000

    A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

  2. Recall

    Recall 18V771000

    If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.