2011 Kia Forte vs 2012 Kia Forte
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2011 Kia Forte | 2012 Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 153 | 291 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 80 | 71 |
| Investigations | 3 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 28 | 20 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 22 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–29 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 77,853 mi | 83,250 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Forte | Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 45 | 160 |
| Air Bags | 35 | 37 |
| Electrical System | 16 | 32 |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 | 21 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 23 |
| Power Train | 18 | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 15 | 24 |
| Stalling | 12 | 28 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 34 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 7 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 8 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 9 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 7 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 7 |
2011 Kia Forte
2012 Kia Forte
Compare all Kia Forte vs Kia Forte years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.