Most common 2018 Kia Forte problems
Share of the 136 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 →
2018 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 2018 Kia Forte owners say
Engine & cooling all 61 →
Kia Forte 2018 - the engine stopped working while driving (around 55mph) the car shut off and I could barely control the car as I no longer had speed control which made it risky going from one line to another to get off the road and pull over, putting myself and the other drivers at risk of an accident, and almost at the end when leaving the road the steering column became hard and I could not control the steering wheel very well. The car was towed to the dealer but they said they couldn't check it because they were overloaded for the next few weeks and the closest to check it would be at least 10 to 15 business days after they finished their current services (I called 4 other kia agencies around the winston-salem NC area and they all told me the same thing), so the car was towed to an independent service where they inspected it and determined that the engine had a problem with some …
The contact's son owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, with the oil pressure warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but there was white smoke coming from the engine. The contact raised the hood and inspected the engine, and the smoke had ceased. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized due to a lack of engine oil, even though the engine oil had been changed in June. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V260000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. …
Air bags
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated she was at standstill at a parking space when another vehicle backed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a bulging disc on the neck, vertigo, and a concussion from the whiplash. The contact did not seek medical attention at the moment but did go to the hospital 8 days later. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to the collision shop and had the bumper, the front passenger side headlight, and the steering column repair. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the contact stated he rear-ended the vehicle in front of him causing damage to the front end of his vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. The contact had several cuts and bruises, but no medical attention was required and he stated that no one else was injured. It was unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The contact stated he later find out that his VIN was under recall NHTSA Campaign Number:22V031000(Air Bags) The dealer was not contacted, and the manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 64,000.
Electrical system
I initially submitted a complaint on Nov 6 with my 2018 kia about engine failure /possibly, my car was towed to Darcars kia Urbana pike in frederick md, I had just made an appointment with them b4 my car broke down to get the trunk & air bag recalls taken care of 11/09 my car sat there until yesterday, they never took care of the recalls? REGARDLESS my engine /break down shouldn't they have fixed those issues? And I was told they would run diagnostic test on my car to figure out what happened, I never received anything other than them wanting me to pay 7,000 to fix my car ,or they would give me 500.if I wanted to sell they told my insurance agent I had engine failure from normal wear and tear? …
Unknown. Fire was located under in the engine compartment area and fire was visible from below the engine under the car. When it happened I was driving on the freeway when noticed my car seemed to be struggling stay at the current speend and to loose speed then a it suddenly l no longer would accerlatoed so I pulled over to call 911 a passing vehicle stopped and informed me there was flames under my car. I safetly exited and called for emergency services. The Safety risk of major bodily harm by fire to myself or risk of harm to the environment around me a risk. The check engine light had come on before the fire. Reached out to manufacturer for a fire investigation and was instructed to take car to dealership to for service department to inspect. Was told a ETA of 2 weeks before they will check out my car.
2018 Kia Forte engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 29 / 37 / 32 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 34 / 28 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Kia Forte a good car?
Based on 136 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Forte rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Forte at the same age. 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 2018 Kia Forte?
The engine & cooling — 61 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (16) and electrical system (16).
How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Forte have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2018 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 2018 Kia Forte problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 34,000 miles; 61% 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.