2024 Kia Forte Safety Report

The 2024 KIA Forte presents a mixed safety picture based on the available NHTSA data. While it boasts strong crash test performance with an overall 4-star rating, including 5 stars for side impact and 4 stars for frontal and rollover, the complaint data reveals several concerning patterns. With 19 total complaints, 5 crashes, and 1 injury reported, the vehicle has already accumulated a notable number of issues for a new model year. A significant portion of these complaints, specifically 6 out of 19, fall under 'UNKNOWN OR OTHER,' indicating a lack of clear categorization for some serious problems. However, specific component failures like 'ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS' (multiple instances), 'ENGINE' (multiple instances), and 'POWER TRAIN' (multiple instances) are frequently cited. Common complaint patterns include sudden loss of power or acceleration, often described as the car 'shutting down' or 'not going,' which is extremely dangerous, especially on freeways. Several complaints also detail severe transmission issues, such as grinding gears, difficulty shifting, and the car not going into gear. Airbag system malfunctions, including 'airbag system unit failure codes' and 'voltage malfunction,' are also recurrent. Furthermore, there are reports of critical safety features like lane assist malfunctioning and causing crashes, and headlights shutting off while driving at night. The absence of any recalls for these issues, despite the severity and frequency of complaints, is a point of concern. Despite its commendable crash test ratings, the high number of early-life complaints, particularly those related to power loss, transmission failure, and airbag system malfunctions, suggest potential underlying reliability and safety defects that have not yet been addressed by the manufacturer through recalls. The 5 reported crashes and 1 injury underscore the real-world impact of these issues. Prospective buyers should be aware of these reported problems.

Our recommendation: Given the strong crash test performance but concerning early-life complaints about power loss, transmission, and airbag systems, exercise caution. Thoroughly investigate specific vehicle history and consider an extended warranty if purchasing.