Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 23% | — |
| 2023 | 11 | 17% | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 11% | — |
| 2021 | 8 | 12% | — |
| 2020 | 11 | 14% | 7,000 miles |
| 2019 | 23 | 15% | 11,000 miles |
| 2018 | 16 | 12% | 41,000 miles |
| 2017 | 47 | 15% | 33,000 miles |
| 2016 | 22 | 16% | 30,000 miles |
| 2015 | 29 | 11% | 85,000 miles |
| 2014 | 57 | 13% | 73,000 miles |
| 2013 | 25 | 13% | 75,000 miles |
| 2012 | 32 | 11% | 71,000 miles |
| 2011 | 16 | 10% | 88,000 miles |
| 2010 | 19 | 9% | 65,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The car shuts down on my wife multiple times now more than 10 to 15 times and most of the time it's on the freeway few times she's had my teenage son with her and I have three videos that I have sent to Kia but they're refusing to move with buying the car back, saying because the dealership cannot duplicate the problem And the dealership drives the car 10 to 20 miles. I've stated to the dealership and to Kia factory that this car has to be driven every day like my wife who drives it so they can discover the problem they're not going to be able to discover the problem or just drive and get 10 to 20 miles once or twice Last time I was found on my wife to take the car to the dealership on the freeway and it shut down on her on [redacted] right before the junction of [redacted] and I also have a video of that if I'm able to download it. I'll download it for you guys.
Headlights shut off while driving at night. The right turn signal was on and was in a right hand turn when the car hit a small dip. There was the sound that you hear when you turn on the key when the car hit the dip and the healights went off. After pulling off the road and turning on the hazard lights, tried turning the headlights off then back on several times. The parking lights seem to come on then went off. Noticed that the information screen reset and was at the setup screen. Turned the car off then restarted the car and the headlights turned on. On the freeway the tone you hear when you turn on the key sounded several times as the car went over the bumps at the overpasses where the road is subsiding. This is a rental car. No police report made. No information if problem occurred previously or if rental company had problem looked into. Problem occurred 11/16/2024
Front left tire blew out, plastic liner became shredded due to it. Beneath that plastic liner sits the main electrical wiring harness which rubs against the wheel creating sparks leading to total engine fire and failure
Good morning, I want to report extreme safety concerns about my KIA Forte GT - Line 2023.When I first came home with the car days later the car shut off in the middle of the street while driving just one house up from my house. I attempted to turn it back on and the car would not turn back on and it automatically proceeded to call roadside assistance.I immediately informed the dealership. The car often hesitates, fails to shift and turns completely off. Last Sunday on December 11, 2022 I was about to get on the Roosevelt Boulevard expressway while I was on a street which is a hill that leads me to the expressway going about a reasonable distance. My car proceeded to roll backwards on the hill. I immediately thought to myself this is a huge safety concern. The incident that occurred on December 13,2022 in front of my house was a dealbreaker for me. …
I believe that airbags/ airbag sensors have failed or malfunctioned and they are available for inspection. My safety as well as the safety of others was put at risk because the airbags should have deployed and they didn't putting us further at risk. The problem hasn't been confirmed or reproduced by anyone professional. The vehicle has not been inspected as of yet. There were no warning signs or lamps of any kind.
We were told it was the fuel pump. This car has put my son in danger twice. The car stalls out while driving, completely shuts down. He is traumatized due to this occurring in during traffic hour. The car dies and you can't put it in neutral nor have the hazard light turn on. Complete shut down of car. It has been at Kia of Cerritos for 2 months. The first incident, they stated they corrected the issue after being there for a month and while driving home the day the car was picked up it shut down, and the car was towed the very next day. They say it's fuel pump but these cars have an electric oil pump overheating problem which causes the car to stall while driving. The second incident was so severe my son refuses to ever drive his car again. The issue the entire electrical system to fail nothing turns on even getting it in neutral is a problem. …
A defect in 2021 Kia Forte vehicle engine start and security systems allows for the rear window to be broken without an alarm activation and the car to be started without a key or key-like device. The vehicle can be started with something as simple as a screwdriver. Vehicles of this make and model are being targeted by criminal activity and it is a safety concern for Kia consumers and drivers. Kia is aware of this defect and has issued a statement that all future vehicles will come with improved safety systems and an engine immobilizer, but no recall on vehicles before the 2022 model year have been made for repairs or adjustment to solve the issue. My 2021 Kia Forte was stolen from my house while I was home and which failed to cause a triggered alarm. There were no possessions in the car and the vehicle was locked. …
I am so sadden and broke. My Kia 2021 Forte was stollen.The car has just about 8k miles. The thieves had busted rear passenger side glass, torn down steering column, opened electric wiring Skelton and taken away the car. Police said they found my damaged car. I was also told that my damaged car was towed and was kept at auto body shop. I'm so depressed, upset. Its difficult to express in words how saddened I'm at loss in all aspects - physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially since the vehicle was stolen.
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and for vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014, dealers will replace the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit.
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Forte years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (57), 2017 (47), 2012 (32), 2015 (29) and 2013 (25) model years. Electrical complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 2014.
Is there a recall for Kia Forte electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 15V-015 (electrical system, Jan 16, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Kia Forte electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles; 44% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition › anti-theft › immobilizer/proximity › key/sender (7 mentions), followed by the horn (2).
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.