2017 Kia Forte recalls and problems

The 2017 Kia Forte has 3 safety recalls and 305 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

305

Crashes / fires

23 / 10

Injuries / deaths

21 / 4

Recalls may cover only some 2017 Kia Forte vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2017 Kia Forte recalls

Recall 22V-031: Air Bags

Reported Jan 25, 2022 · 410,619 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.

Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

Recall 21V-622: Latches/Locks/Linkages

Reported Aug 9, 2021 · 253,074 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.

Recall 21V-260: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Apr 13, 2021 · 4,069 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.

Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.

2017 Kia Forte problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Engine	145
Unknown or Other	49
Electrical System	47
Exterior Lighting	44
Fuel/Propulsion System	29
Vehicle Speed Control	18
Air Bags	18
Engine and Engine Cooling	14
Power Train	12
Structure	10
Steering	9
Visibility/Wiper	8

Most reported parts

Structure › Body — 9
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights — 2
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal — 1
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights — 1
Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 1
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch — 1
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Trunk Lid › Latch — 1
Electrical System › Ignition — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 40,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2017 Kia Forte complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Oct 5, 2026

I was driving this car and received a check engine light and lulled over to find an electrical fire had occurred under the hood. I was able to use a fire extinguisher to put out this fire. The car was towed to a Kia dealership near my home for confirmation and an estimate of the damages. It apparently was caused by a problem that Kia has had with the ABS/hydraulic electronic control units that can trigger electrical shorts.

Exterior Lighting · reported Oct 3, 2026

I own a 2017 Kia Forte that has a recurring problem with water intrusion in the rear tail light assemblies. This issue was previously repaired around 2018 under Kiaâs service action related to moisture and water entering the rear combination lamps, but the problem has returned. Moisture and water are again getting inside the tail light housing, which can lead to corrosion, bulb or LED failure, and electrical problems. I am concerned that this could cause the brake light or turn signal to fail unexpectedly. If one of these lights goes out without warning, other drivers may not be able to tell…

Engine · reported Sep 21, 2026

There was a rod failure in the engine. The vehicle is currently at the repair facility. This rod failure caused the vehicle to die while traveling down the road, so it was a safety risk. The rod failure was diagnosed by a certified mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. This failure is the same issue that many Kia Forte's of the same year have been diagnosed with, and a recall was issued. This vehicle is not covered under the recall, but should be. The engine recall should be extended to all 2017 Kia Forte models.

Engine · reported Jun 18, 2026

The vehicle exhibits a chronic, systemic electrical failure characterized by the intermittent loss of critical lighting systems, including turn signals and brake lights. This failur5e has persisted over several years and thousands of miles, independent of battery replacements or specific usage patterns. The issue has been confirmed via multiple independent service interventions. Most notably, in February 2024, a third-party professional repair - which included the replacement of the Power Distribution Unit (Central Fuse Box) was performed to address these electrical faults. Despite this…

Engine · at 113,922 miles · reported May 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 KIA Forte. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was misfiring, severely shaking and was losing motive power suddenly while operating on multiple constantly for about 3 weeks, and state she noticed a check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a independent mechanic where it was diagnosed to be a timing chain failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,922.

Other Kia Forte years

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 201820172016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

Compare all Kia Forte years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Kia Forte have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 Kia Forte: 22V-031 (air bags), 21V-622 (latches/locks/linkages), 21V-260 (engine and engine cooling). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Kia Forte?

Owners report engine problems most often (145 reports), followed by unknown or other (49). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 40,000 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.