Most common 2017 Kia Forte problems
Share of the 305 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 →
2017 Kia Forte recalls (3)
Air bags
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.
Remedy: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Trunk lid › Latch
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.
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Oil/lubrication › Pump
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.
Remedy: 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.
What 2017 Kia Forte owners say
Engine & cooling all 158 →
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, when the contact heard a loud popping noise coming from the vehicle, the contact noticed that when depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle would not accelerate. The contact saw the check engine light warning light illuminated on the vehicle. The contact had to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle which it did and contact smelled something burning from the interior of the vehicle and noticed smoke coming from the front hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to continue to drive to their work. …
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke was coming in through the A/C vents. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact drove to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a lack of engine oil caused the vehicle to overheat as there was no engine lubricant. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to two other independent mechanics where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to excessive oil consumption however, the contact had been completing oil changes every 3,000 miles. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the engine replacement however, the dealer informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair due to the vehicle mileage. …
Electrical system all 47 →
On [redacted] at [redacted], I was driving on [redacted] , when I noticed smoke come from the left side of the interior of the car near the fuse box. Within seconds, the fuse box exploded, and a fire developed. The fire engulfed the entire left side of the interior of the car. the car shut down and I was able to pull over to the side of the road. I tried to put the fire out with my left foot, but couldn't stop the fire. Luckily, I had 5 bottles of water with me in the car. I put all of the 5 water bottles on the fire and eventually put out the fire. But the smoke was so severe that it filled the entire car. I couldn't breath. I fell out of the car and hurt my knees. I noticed that my left toes were burnt and my new shoes that I had bought were ruined. I tried to call 911 but my phone was not working. Again I tried to call 911 and succeeded. The NJ State Police arrive 15 minutes later. …
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power and the engine was sputtering. The contact stated she pulled off the road and turned the vehicle off and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed and determined that the ignition coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken back to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 25,258.
Lights all 44 →
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while an independent mechanic was performing an inspection, the contact was informed that the passenger's side rear taillight was faulty and needed to be replaced. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was informed that the failure was due to water intrusion into the taillight housing. Additionally, the contact stated that the wheels were rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.
My car was parked in the car port. The rear back light on the driver side caught on fire. The police and fire department were called. I was not at home at the time, my neighbors used a plastic container to put out by time the fire department got there. The firs department stated that is was faulty wiring. I am waiting for the report from police, fire department, and insurance representative. The car was parked and there was no waring lamp. Fire department had to disarm my car alarm. I will be calling the dealer after this.
2017 Kia Forte engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 29 / 38 / 32 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 34 / 28 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 25 / 32 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Kia Forte a good car?
Based on 305 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Forte rates avoid: 2.3× 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 2017 Kia Forte?
The engine & cooling — 158 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › crank/camshaft position sensor. Next are the electrical system (47) and lights (44).
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Forte have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2017 Kia Forte, the most recent from January 25, 2022 (air bags). 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 2017 Kia Forte problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 57% 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.