KnownCarProblems2015 Kia Forte Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 260 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Forte, most often about the engine (62% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles). It is 4th of 16 Forte model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2015 Kia Forte problems
Engine
162 complaints · 62%Half of these problems showed up before 86,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was turned off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. While driving approximately 72 MPH, the front of the vehicle caught fire. The contact noticed that the fire was coming from the engine. There were no injuries. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not…
Other or unspecified
31 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Forte. While driving at low speeds, the contact detected a burning odor from the back seat. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and it caught on fire. The origin of the fire was not determined. Both police and fire reports were filed. The local fire department…
My engine just started making "knocking" sounds out of nowhere...im up to date on oil changes and I check the oil often...it knocks while idle and in motion.
Electrical
29 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, starter assembly, instrument panel.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that an anti-theft protection software update was performed in 2024. After the update was performed, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly turned off without warning. The transmission was shifted into neutral(n) and restarted to continue…
The air bag light is on like if the bags deployed but they have not vehicle has not been in accident. They tell me it's low voltage in airbag sensor? Vehicle was off turned on and the light came airbag deployed light came on and has not been able to turn off.
Air bags
23 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. While the contact was slowly driving into an intersection, the passenger side of the vehicle was crashed into by another vehicle. The side and frontal air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed away. The vehicle was repaired…
The airbag light is on after my vehicle was bumped by another car while sitting still in my driveway. My car insurance company says that it was not caused by the accident and Kia says that it will not fix it under the warranty since the vehicle was in an accident. It is a safety issue.
Transmission
17 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles.
I have had a 2015 Kia Forte with the gdi engine in it. I have been paying on it for over 2 years now. I went to the store last night and when I started the car after I got out of the store I heard a loud clanking noise. Come to find out there was no oil even though I have it serviced regularly. Was running fine, no…
On april 2020 we noticed that our 2015 Kia Forte was making loud, clanking noise. We took it to a local mechanic. Here is the problem in his words: * c/s there is a noise in the engine area, worse when cold. Engine has internal damage; unclear exactly where, but listening to a cold start from under the car seems to…
Brakes
16 complaints · 6%Bought car from Kia 2015 Forte 4 door with their certification with 32500 miles took car in for 2nd oil change at 40400 miles was told rear brakes were into the rotors and front brakes were starting to do the same. What were the brake pads like when they were certified?
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the brakes failed to respond while the brake pedal was being depressed. The contact was able to come to a stop by engaging the parking brake. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake lines…
Lights
13 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles.
The Kia headlights regularly and suddenly turned off and flickered back on with varying duration while the vehicle was in motion under normal use. This was noticeable at night when everything was dark and suddenly the headlights turned off when we needed them and quite often while making a turn. The problem occurred…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear driver's side brake light failed. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that she previously replaced the rear driverâs side brake light three times. The vehicle…
Fuel system
10 complaints · 4%When the car accelerates from a stop, there is severe valve pinging sound. Kia motors america is aware of the issue, but are not taking any steps to address the issue "as it does not do anything to the car". The noise is very severe on the 2015 Forte and it is a defect in the design of the car. The wind noise and the…
Engine light on when driving - just had filled with gas that day - car has 38,000 miles. I am original owner. I had to have evaporation control canister replaced as it had a crack. I had to have it replaced immediately to get my state inspection sticker. The vehicle has been in no accidents. The total cost was $458.73.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Kia Forte recalls
Engine
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and 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 january 27, 2021. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc200.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 sorento, 2012-2015 forte and forte koup, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, 2014-2015 soul, and 2012 sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Questions about the 2015 Kia Forte
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Kia Forte?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (162 complaints, typically around 86,000 miles); other or unspecified (31 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); electrical (29 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Forte have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 2, 2020 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Kia Forte?
- It is 4th of 16 Forte model years by number of complaints, with 260 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.