Your vehicle report
2019 Kia Forte
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 150
- Received Nov 2018 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Transmission fails or loses power while driving22 complaints · 15% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine stalls and loses power while driving15 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips9 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #20V459000Kia 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.
- Recall #18V771000Kia 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."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Jun 2021
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 11 crashes, 4 fires, 5 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 13 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 20 |
| Total | 150 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 22 | 15% | – | |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 15 | 10% | 15.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jun 2021 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.6% |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 9 | 6.0% | – | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 7 | 4.7% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 6 | 4.0% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 5 | 3.3% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 5 | 3.3% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 4 | 2.7% | 4.7× | |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 4 | 2.7% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 4 | 2.7% | – | |
| CVT transmission fails or loses power | 4 | 2.7% | – | |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 3 | 2.0% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 3 | 2.0% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #20V459000August 5, 2020834 vehicles affected
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.
A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 recall #18V771000October 31, 20181,754 vehicles affected
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."
If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2019 Kia Forte.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN