2017 Kia Forte Safety Report
2017 KIA FORTE Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Kia Forte
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Kia Forte. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (295) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 32 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Kia Forte with 63 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Kia Forte before buying across this generation. |
Kia Forte Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Forte years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Forte | 133 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Kia Forte | 128 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Kia Forte | 138 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Kia Forte | 254 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Kia Forte | 63 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Kia Forte | 64 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2017 Kia Forte Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Kia Forte, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
86 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Kia onlyExterior Lighting
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other
22 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Kia onlyElectrical System
10 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Kia onlyAir Bags
10 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Kia Forte
Reliability Score
The 2017 Kia Forte receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Kia Forte
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2017 Kia Forte
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Kia Forte:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling The engine oil pump may fail, leading to insufficient oil pressure and potential engine damage. This issue is not covered by the NHTSA recall campaign 21V-260. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System There have been reports of excessive oil consumption, which can lead to engine damage and stalling. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent these issues. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bags Air bags are a standard safety feature, but there have been no specific recalls related to this component. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Exterior Lighting Exterior lighting issues have been reported, but there have been no specific recalls related to this component. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Kia Forte:
Issues with the engine oil pump and cooling system are common, affecting 30% of vehicles.
Excessive oil consumption and related issues are a concern, affecting 25% of vehicles.
Air bags are a standard safety feature, but there have been no specific recalls related to this component.
Exterior lighting issues have been reported, but there have been no specific recalls related to this component.
Recall Details for the 2017 Kia Forte
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2017 Kia Forte by NHTSA:
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Consequence: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Kia Forte
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Kia Forte with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 complaints involved crashes. 3 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
Failure of the engine oil pump pertaining to the exact situation covered in NHTSA campaign 21V-260, but vehicle is not covered. The campaign covered vehicles manufactured from June 5, 2017 to July 24, 2017. Vehicle was manufactured in Mexico, is equipped with the 2.0 Nu MPI engine. The loss of motive power in the vehicle has increased the risk of crash and driver injury.
The vehicle went into Tasca Kia for a cam shaft replacement, this did not fix the issue and the vehicle needed an entire engine replacement under power train warranty. Since then, the vehicle has continuously stalled. The vehicle is not indicating a reason for stalling, it is documented in video, and I have continued to inform the dealership where the vehicle is. This vehicle has shut off on me at...
I am emailing i have an issue with a my vehicle i took it in to the dealership and got the recalls performed and they still have not updated in the system i am trying to rent out my car on turo and am not able to do i also contacted the dealership and they said its all electronic what can i do to clear this up or speed it up am sorry am trying to get forward any sort of way you guys can help
Not providing enough oil pressure for my timing to function correctly.
Had to replace a P0014 Exhaust camshaft position timing VCT solenoid - over advanced (Bank1) last year on October 1,2024. Now 2025 December 8,2025 need a nothing camshaft position timing VCT solenoid and also says I need replace my engine. I think something is not right about the engine or something on the engine. Not sure but something is definitely wrong. Never had this kind of problem before ,...
About three years ago the clear paint on my car started to peel on the mirrors and car handles. It's progressively gotten worse and now the roof and side mirrors only have patches left and driver side door has started peeling.
My vehicle caught fire while driving also before fire vehicle started popping and stuttering rattling sound. I was on highway.
There are 3 recalls on my engine type but kia dealership says no recalls,#21V6220000,#22V031000,#21V260000. ENGINE TYOE 2.0L NU MPI ENGINE(SC210),MY ph#XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have 2 problems with my 2017 Kia Forte sedan: 1) They have put an "environmentally friendly" coating on the wire harnesses under the front hood of the engine which emits a vanilla scent when warm and attracts rats that eat the wire harness when the vehicle is parked. They need to revert back to the original jacket material on the wire harnesses that don't attract rodents. I've spent hundreds o...
Engine light came on around 81k miles and I've replaced several components and it fixed then light would come back on. I kept up on oil changes frequently. I had the spark plugs, o2 sensors replaced twice. It would idle low and or stall. The engine started knocking at 135k I still owe 9k on loan and it's the 2.0L NU MPI M/T ENGINE. PLEASE RECALL IT ALREADY SO MANY OWNERS ARE BEING SCREWED ON THIS...
Consumo excesivo de aceite / Defecto del motor - Kia Forte 2017 -Estimado NHTSA, Me gustaría informar de un problema de consumo excesivo de aceite en mi Kia Forte 2017, que parece estar relacionado con un defecto interno del motor similar a los problemas previamente identificados en otros motores Kia. Mi vehículo fue inspeccionado por un concesionario autorizado de Kia, Miami Lakes Kia (Florida). ...
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving with the phone plugged in on speaker, there was smoke coming from the adapter cord. The contact stated that the charger cord was melting. The adapter was unplugged by the driver. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not no...
Was traveling on interstate inside lane in heavy traffic and all of a sudden lost power,no throttle response, no warning lights,no priors,wasn't able to move to shoulder.. very close to being rear ended..all of a sudden power returned.. happened 8-12 times trying to get home.. no warning lights .. after got home hooked up my diagnostic scanner and ECU had code P050400 and BCM had no codes but in p...
Overconsumption of oil, led to engine damage and stalling. Car struggles to start and there is an engine knock. Mechanic advised that the car is not drivable as it will stall while driving as it has done previously and there was a noticeable burning smell when the car was running. Car is under 100,000 miles
I am the original owner of this car and get all my oil changes and regular maintenance on time. The car has 123k miles. I was getting into the freeway evening of 10/3 and my car stopped accelerating was making a loud noise so I pulled off to the side of the road. Per the Kia dealership service department my engine completely failed. This is a known issue with this year and model but Kia is not hel...
About September 6th I was driving my vehicle. It is a blue Kia forte 2017. I just had cleaned it at a local car wash. Prior to this 1-2 weeks before my ac had just started to blow hot air. So I recharged it with some recharge that I purchased a recharge can and my buddy Scott helped me put it into my low pressure air conditioning valve area. Soon after like I said when I was leaving a car wash. An...
I am submitting this formal complaint regarding a serious safety issue I experienced with my 2017 Kia Forte. While driving, my steering wheel suddenly locked up & I was unable to turn left or right. This failure occurred in the middle of the road & put my life at serious risk. Thankfully, I was not involved in an accident. I was able to activate my hazard lights & safely maneuver to a stop before ...
my life was unsafe by being put in this vehicle whos engine was damaged and caught on fire while driving it as a MILITARY soldier.
I am writing to you today regarding a persistent issue I'm experiencing with my 2017 Kia Forte. On several occasions, while driving at various speeds and coming to a stop, the vehicle has stalled. Each time, I was able to restart the vehicle after the stall. I took the car to an independent mechanic, who discovered debris from the skirt in the oil and informed me that the engine would need to be ...
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a scanner determined that there was a failure with the crankshaft. The contact replaced the spark plugs and crankshaft; however, the failure returned. The vehicle was taken t...
Showing 20 of 295 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Kia Forte
Has the 2017 KIA FORTE been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 KIA FORTE has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 KIA FORTE have?
The 2017 KIA FORTE has 295 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 23 involved crashes. 21 injuries and 4 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 KIA FORTE?
The 2017 KIA FORTE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 KIA FORTE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 KIA FORTE involve engine (86 complaints), exterior lighting (25 complaints), unknown or other (22 complaints). Other affected components include engine and engine cooling, electrical system, air bags.
How many crash reports does the 2017 KIA FORTE have?
There are 23 crash reports associated with the 2017 KIA FORTE out of 295 total complaints (7.8% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2017 KIA FORTE have?
There are 9 fire reports for the 2017 KIA FORTE out of 295 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 KIA FORTE?
Yes, 4 deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 KIA FORTE. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 KIA FORTE?
21 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 KIA FORTE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 KIA FORTE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 KIA FORTE is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 295 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Note: 4 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 KIA FORTE?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 KIA FORTE are: 1. ENGINE (86 complaints), 2. EXTERIOR LIGHTING (25 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (22 complaints), 4. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (11 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (10 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 86 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 KIA FORTE?
Regular maintenance, including oil changes and inspections, is crucial to prevent engine and electrical system issues in the 2017 KIA FORTE. The 2017 KIA FORTE has 295 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2017 KIA FORTE?
The 2017 KIA FORTE receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 295 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 32 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and engine cooling and Electrical system.
What are the known issues with the 2017 KIA FORTE?
Known issues with the 2017 KIA FORTE include: Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Air bags, Exterior lighting. These are based on patterns found across 295 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2017 KIA FORTE?
The most common issues are engine and engine cooling problems, and electrical system issues, such as excessive oil consumption.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 KIA FORTE?
There are recalls for air bags, latches/locks/linkages, and engine and engine cooling issues, but the 2017 model is not covered by all of them.
What should I do if I notice engine issues in my 2017 KIA FORTE?
If you notice engine issues, such as excessive oil consumption or engine damage, take your vehicle to a dealership for inspection and maintenance.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Regular maintenance, including oil changes and inspections, is crucial to prevent engine and electrical system issues in the 2017 KIA FORTE.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Kia Forte
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Kia Forte. The data includes 295 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 23 reported crashes, 9 fire incidents, 21 reported injuries, and 4 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Kia Forte an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16