NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 260 owner complaints for the 2015 Kia Forte.
Recalled components: engine. Most-described problem: engine failure or replacement (54 complaints, 21%). Most-reported area: engine (158 complaints, 61%; median mileage when it happened: 86,000).
Fewer complaints than a typical Forte year
The 2015 drew 23 owner complaints in its first three years, against 35 for a typical Forte year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2019; best year: 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
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.
NHTSA listings: FORTE, FORTE KOUP. Kia campaign SC200.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2015 Kia Forte; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Engine fires
Engineering analysis EA21003Closed Feb 5, 2024 (opened Dec 22, 2021)
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… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listings: FORTE, FORTE KOUP. Component: Engine.
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 260 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Forte. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Engine failure or replacement54 · 21%
Median 90,000 miles at failure, from 29 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off47 · 18%
Median 88,000 miles at failure, from 30 reports with mileage
Check engine light30 · 12%
Median 101,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Smoke or a burning smell24 · 9%
Median 75,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Median 86,000 miles at failure, from 85 reports with mileage
Electrical system29 · 11%
Median 85,000 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
Air bags23 · 9%
Median 50,200 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Powertrain17 · 7%
Brakes16 · 6%
Exterior lighting13 · 5%
Fuel and propulsion system10 · 4%
Unknown or other31 · 12%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Kia Forte recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2015 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Forte drew the most (72) and the 2015 drew 23.
Owner complaints
2015: 260 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Forte
Model year
Complaints
2010
232
2011
161
2012
306
2013
211
2014
443
2015
260
2016
137
2017
303
2018
136
2019
147
2020
76
2021
68
2022
27
2023
63
2024
25
Safety recalls
2015: 1 recallTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Forte
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
3
2012
4
2013
5
2014
3
2015
1
2016
1
2017
3
2018
3
2019
2
2020
0
2021
2
2022
1
2023
3
2024
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 260 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Kia Forte, the problems described most are engine failure or replacement (54), stalling or shutting off (47), and the check engine light coming on (30). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2015 Kia Forte safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2015 Kia Forte earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2015 Kia Forte?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2015 Kia Forte. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Feb 5, 2024.
How do I check if my Forte has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: FORTE, FORTE KOUP.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.