2020 Kia Forte vs 2021 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 | 2020 Kia Forte | 2021 Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 75 | 67 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 100 | 72 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 9 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 28–33 | 28–33 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Forte | Kia Forte |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 17 | 22 |
| Power Train | 16 | 7 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 8 |
| Steering | 3 | 9 |
| Air Bags | 5 | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 16 | 0 |
| Stalling | 10 | 7 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 5 |
2020 Kia Forte
2021 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.