The second generation Kia Forte has been an entry-level sedan that has been loved by many for what it brings to the table for such a low sum of cash. What was unfortunate was the fact that all the bling was just short-lived as owners started facing serious problems with the car as it started clocking in some decent mileage, with the most prominent issue being engine fires. Although 1 recall and 168 complaints put this sedan bang in the middle of the best in class when it comes to dependability, the actual complaints that have been reported by the NHTSA have been very critical. Given such a negative briefing of this sedan, would you be willing to buy it for a base price of $15,890 instead of essentially spending ‘more for less’ on options like the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, and the Mazda Mazda 3? Well, this article should help you decide on that.
2015 Kia Forte User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
- Engine problems- Oil burning issues, mechanical failure (connecting rod), and engine fires are problems that have been recorded a concerning number of times on the 2015 Kia Forte. Owners start noticing intermittent “oil” and “engine malfunction” warning light illumination when these vehicles reach an average mileage of 50K to 60K-miles. Although these cases were initially treated as isolated incidents, issues quickly started becoming widespread. The latest update on this issue is the rollout of a recall (ID-20V750000) on a suspected fuel leak in the engine compartment and the car has been tagged with a high fire hazard.
- Transmission problems- The 2015 Kia Forte’s transmission issues are not as common as the engine’s, but owners have reported occasional hiccups and miss-shifts, especially when there is a quick throttle input. Transmission replacements are also not that uncommon on high mileage cars.
Electric System complaints
- Radio/ media system issues- The radio and the USB ports on the 2015 Kia Forte’s infotainment system are said to go out occasionally. Loss of audio through speakers or static sound is also a widely reported issue by many users. If two or more issues occur simultaneously a software update might not be enough and a unit replacement might be required. Warranty replacements are available as reports suggest.
- A/C issues- The A/C on the 2015 Kia Forte is subject to many complaints. Blown relay, faulty pressure switch, and blower are some of the most common fault points. If diagnosed, replacement of the failed part will be required.
Safety Complaints
- Airbags- Intermittent airbag warning light illumination is a pretty common issue on the issues. The complaints mainly arise due to faults with the occupant detection system or software errors within the control module. If these warning lights have been noticed once or twice, make sure that you get it checked at the dealer as many crash instances have been reported by the NHTSA wherein the airbags failed to deploy leading to critical occupant injury.
2015 Kia Forte Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
2nd December 2020 |
20V750000 |
Engine Damage may cause a fire. |
A fuel leak in the engine compartment can cause a fire while driving, increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury. |
The dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2021. |
Should you buy a used 2015 Kia Forte?
Although the officially recorded complain and recall figures seem to be in favor of the Kia Forte initially, the ownership has been flagged to be unsafe in the subsequent years. This sedan has been tagged with a high risk of engine fire and multiple cases have already been reported on this issue. Engine oil leaks and fuel leaks are potential factors leading to this catastrophic failure and vehicles with mileages as low as 60,000-miles has been reported to showcase this failure. Even though the 2015 Kia Forte comes out with flying colors on our short-term review, it is hard for us to recommend a car that has been tagged with multiple powertrain complaints in the long run, especially from a segment where people expect the best economy and reliability. Kia might have the best warranty policy of any automaker, but with a life-threatening failure reported we advise you to stay away from this car till Kia clears the air with it. Till then, default choices like the Civic, the Corolla, or even the Mazda 3 would come out as a better pick.
