2012 Kia Forte vs 2013 Kia Forte
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Kia Forte | 2013 Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 289 | 195 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 71 | 73 |
| Investigations | 4 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 21 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–29 | 26–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 83,000 mi | 81,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Forte | Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 160 | 107 |
| Electrical System | 32 | 25 |
| Service Brakes | 30 | 24 |
| Air Bags | 36 | 16 |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 14 |
| Steering | 9 | 13 |
| Power Train | 11 | 10 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 34 | 26 |
| Stalling | 28 | 14 |
| Check engine light | 23 | 11 |
| Loss of power | 9 | 10 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 11 |
| Airbag warning light | 7 | 0 |
2012 Kia Forte
2013 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.