Most common 2015 Kia Forte problems
Share of the 260 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Forte complaints by model year
Best Forte years: 2022, 2011, 2016. Years to avoid: 2014, 2017, 2015, 2023. Compare all years →
2015 Kia Forte recalls (1)
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2015 Kia Forte:
Engine Fires
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
What 2015 Kia Forte owners say
Engine & cooling all 162 →
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a burning smoke odor was detected. The contact pulled over and noticed there was smoke coming from under the hood. Additionally, there were engine parts that had melted and a puddle of fluid on the ground. A bystander assisted the contact in pushing the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The VIN was included in the recall; however, the contact did not receive a recall notification. The failure mileage was 99,880.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the vehicle started smoking while stopped at a traffic light. The smoke was coming from the engine. Additionally, while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle was stopping and stalling while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
Electrical system all 29 →
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal burning smell would emit throughout the vehicle without warning. The contact also stated that due to this failure, the brake lights would intermittently fail to operate as needed upon depression. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they discovered burnt wires in the electrical box and had the box replaced; despite the replacement, the failure persisted. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and was repaired; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the certified mechanic, and an unknown repair was completed. The contact was unsure of the repair that was completed. After having the vehicle repaired a second time, while attempting to accelerate, the instrument panel was flashing the check engine and the oil light warning lights. The vehicle decelerated, and there was black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power shortly afterwards. The failure had occurred three times. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic twice. The mechanic repaired the knock sensor and drained and replaced the engine oil and cleared the codes. …
Air bags all 23 →
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that after accelerating from a red light the driver-side airbag suddenly deployed. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the passenger side tire had also flattened. During the incident, the driver sustained an injured right arm. The contact indicated that no collision or frontend damage had occurred to cause the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
The contact's daughter owned a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at 15 MPH, another vehicle going 40 MPH crashed into the passenger front side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated his daughter sustained whiplash and was taken to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
2015 Kia Forte engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 37 / 30 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 36 / 29 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 36 / 29 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 33 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 29 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Kia Forte a good car?
Based on 260 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Forte rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Forte at the same age. It is one of the Forte years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Kia Forte?
The engine & cooling — 162 complaints, 62% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor. Next are the electrical system (29) and air bags (23).
How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Forte have?
There is 1 recall for the 2015 Kia Forte, the most recent from December 2, 2020 (engine). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Forte?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2011 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2017, 2015 and 2023. See the full Kia Forte years comparison.
At what mileage do 2015 Kia Forte problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 28% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.