2020 Kia Forte problems and complaints
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Forte. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (26), Engine (20), Power Train (16).
Key takeaways
- 78 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 9 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 6 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 26 | 33% |
| Engine | 20 | 26% |
| Power Train | 16 | 21% |
| Electrical System | 11 | 14% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 5 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 5% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 3 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 | 4% |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine,forward Collision Avoidance - filed 2026-10-08
During a day trip on 9/19/26 my 2020 Kia Forte (purchased new and well maintained) lost power and several of the dash board lights came on including check engine, traction/stability control, and collision alerts. The car entered what I was told is "limp mode". I had the car towed home and after one shop misdiagnosed th...
Engine - filed 2026-10-06
My engine is failing due to excessive oil consumption despite having proof of regular oil changes and maintenance. My car has been inspected, and the dealer has stated this is due to a known manufacture defect. My safety and others are at risk because my car stalls when I decrease speed and I cannot accelerate fast eno...
Engine - filed 2026-09-21
The engine has failed in this vehicle just like it has in other 2.0L kia vehicles 2020-2026. The piston rings have failed and the pistons have all pitted or developed holes in them just like in the recall 25V-099/kia safety recall SC336
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2020 Kia Forte
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.