2016 Kia Forte Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2016 Kia Forte, and owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2016 Kia Forte
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
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…
Remedy: 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…
136 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Kia Forte have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA; 16 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 50,498 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 20 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The Headlights and ALL exterior lights FLICKER or TURN OFF ENTIRELY while driving, especially when touching the Multi-Function Turn Signal Stalk to signal a turn. This can and HAS happened when the He”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 3, 2026 · Exterior lighting
“Im getting denied dued to engine failure but whoever had the vehicle before didn't follow up with the ksds update, I just purchased the vehicle on June 30th,2026, I need this fixed ASAP because I stil”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 31, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2016 Kia Forte (Forte 5, Forte Koup). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–30 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–26 / 28–37 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Large Cars, Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/1.8/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Kia Forte model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Forte model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Kia Forte | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 Kia Forte | 3 | 221 |
| 2011 Kia Forte | 3 | 153 |
| 2012 Kia Forte | 4 | 292 |
| 2013 Kia Forte | 5 | 195 |
| 2014 Kia Forte | 3 | 444 |
| 2015 Kia Forte | 1 | 260 |
| 2016 Kia Forte | 1 | 136 |
| 2017 Kia Forte | 3 | 305 |
| 2018 Kia Forte | 3 | 136 |
| 2019 Kia Forte | 2 | 147 |
| 2020 Kia Forte | 0 | 77 |
| 2021 Kia Forte | 2 | 69 |
| 2022 Kia Forte | 1 | 28 |
| 2023 Kia Forte | 3 | 63 |
| 2024 Kia Forte | 0 | 26 |
Checking a specific 2016 Kia Forte
How do I know if my 2016 Kia Forte has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2016 Kia Forte; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V622000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.