2017 Kia Forte Problems, Recalls & Reliability
431 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 Kia Forte, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 62/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 82,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2017 Kia Forte sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2020–2022.
Avoid
Where 2017 sits among all Forte years
What owners report
“Overconsumption of oil, led to engine damage and stalling. Car struggles to start and there is an engine knock. Mechanic advised that the car is not drivable as it will stall while driving as it has done previously and there was a noticeable burning smell when the car was running. Car is under…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Forte
“When i brake, the braking lights don't turn on. I have checked the fuses and the lights bulbs and they are fine. Yet when i brake, the brake lights don't turn on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Forte
“Trunk of car will not close never had any problems before one day it closes the next day it won't”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Forte
“Rough idling. Rough gear shift from 1st to 2nd and srutter on 3rd. Loss of power during take offs. Car is only 20,800 miles. Checked twice on dealer. Only wiped code and reset computer. Claim not to be able to replicate. Issue comes back with check engine light 30 mins after driving away.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Forte
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 188 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 38,482 miles. Half of those reports fall between 19,959 and 79,900 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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.…
Fix: 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.…
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with…
Fix: 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. Kia's number…
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.
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
140 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2017 Kia Forte. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2017 Kia Forte reliable?
The 2017 Kia Forte drew 431 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 62/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2017 Kia Forte problems?
The top reported problems for the 2017 Kia Forte are engine (157 complaints), electrical (89), and other (54).
At what mileage do 2017 Kia Forte problems show up?
Owners most often report 2017 Kia Forte problems around 38,482 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 19,959 and 79,900 miles.
Does the 2017 Kia Forte have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2017 Kia Forte. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.