2020 Kia Forte Recalls and Problems
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 78 owner complaints for the 2020 Kia Forte.
Most-described problem: the check engine light coming on (19 complaints, 24%), then stalling or shutting off (8). Most-reported area: engine (20 complaints, 26%).
Fewer complaints than a typical Forte year
The 2020 drew 19 owner complaints in its first three years, against 35 for a typical Forte year. It is not picked as a best year: its first three years fell in the pandemic, when people drove less.
Years to avoid: 2019; best year: 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
0 safety recalls for the 2020 Kia Forte
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 Kia Forte in its recall file dated Nov 12, 2026. Recalls can still be issued later, so check your VIN from time to time.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 Kia Forte.
What owners report
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 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
Counted from the complaint text: a complaint counts once for each problem it describes (how we match them). Some complaints describe none of these. Compare other models in the problem owners report most for every model year.
Areas named in complaints
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Kia Forte recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2020 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 2020 drew 19.
Owner complaints
2020: 78 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 232 |
| 2011 | 162 |
| 2012 | 307 |
| 2013 | 211 |
| 2014 | 445 |
| 2015 | 262 |
| 2016 | 139 |
| 2017 | 305 |
| 2018 | 136 |
| 2019 | 150 |
| 2020 | 78 |
| 2021 | 69 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2023 | 66 |
| 2024 | 26 |
Safety recalls
2020: 0 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| 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.
| Tested version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kia Forte 4 DR FWD Rollover risk 10.7% |
2020 Forte MPG
EPA rates the 2020 Kia Forte up to 35 mpg combined.Every version and fuel costQuestions
What are the most common 2020 Forte problems?
In the 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Kia Forte, the problems described most are the check engine light coming on (19), stalling or shutting off (8), and engine failure or replacement (8). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2020 Kia Forte safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 Kia Forte earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2020 Kia Forte?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 Kia Forte.
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 Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
- NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
- NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 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.
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.