2018 Kia Forte engine problems
57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2018 Kia Forte — 42% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Recently, while my boyfriend was driving my vehicle, the engine suddenly lost power without warning. He had the accelerator pedal fully depressed, yet the vehicle would barely move. He was fortunate to safely maneuver the vehicle off the road. Upon inspection, he discovered there was no oil present…”
filed Feb 25, 2026
“While driving the car with the flow of busy traffic, the engine failed and the car stopped. It eventually turn back on (side of the road) but now drives with hesitation, a strange noise, and with the engine light on. This cycle continued until we arrived at the repair shop. And after much research…”
filed Feb 19, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and…Campaign 21V260000 · Apr 13, 2021
Related service bulletins
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar…
TSB_ENG222_R8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 3, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar…
TSB_ENG222_R7 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 28, 2025
Engine problems in other Forte years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | 7 | 29% |
| 2023 Forte | 9 | 15% |
| 2022 Forte | 4 | 15% |
| 2021 Forte | 22 | 33% |
| 2020 Forte | 17 | 23% |
| 2019 Forte | 36 | 24% |
| 2017 Forte | 144 | 48% |
| 2016 Forte | 66 | 49% |
| 2015 Forte | 157 | 61% |
| 2014 Forte | 214 | 49% |
| 2013 Forte | 107 | 55% |
| 2012 Forte | 160 | 55% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2018 Kia Forte
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.