2019 Kia Forte Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 146 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 2 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2019 Kia Forte receives a 5.9/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 146 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 2 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports with a median failure point at 6,100 miles (IQR: 3,000 – 23,875 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $1,400 – $3,800 .
13.3 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
2 Active / Free Remedies
2019 Forte Failure Distribution by Vehicle Subsystem
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“The transmission had a recall 2 years ago and they gave me a new one (KIA). I am having issues with my transmission again”
“Transmission was getting stuck in gear and slipping intermittently would cause the car to not accelerate over 20mph especially in the cold unless you switched it to the manual mode and manually shifted up two gears ans then back down two gears. If you looked at the tach while ...”
“When turning on the car the check engine light comes on. Then when accelerating there is a clicking noise and smoke coming from the engine.”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that after driving to the local store and turning off the vehicle, after returning to the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a t...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 70 MPH, the contact had exited when the oil and battery warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle rolled over to the side of the road. The contact exited the vehicle and, upon inspect...”
“My car has cut off on me going down the road and it cut back on I have had where the car is slow at acceleration and trying to stall out on me and causing a car to almost hit me in the bumper cause of it the car only has 112,580 miles and have not been able to drive the car si...”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“While driving, the Forward Collision Warning system activated unexpectedly without any apparent hazard or obstruction in front of my vehicle. Immediately after the warning appeared, the vehicle suddenly lost speed and became very slow to accelerate. I was unable to safely incr...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 70 MPH, the contact had exited when the oil and battery warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle rolled over to the side of the road. The contact exited the vehicle and, upon inspect...”
“As I was driving on the turnpike the car engine literally just shut down on me! It could have caused a serious accident. This is the 3rd time when driving the car just stopped on its own on me! Gas tank full, oil good and battery good, but the engine is not! It gave me NO WARN...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“While driving, the Forward Collision Warning system activated unexpectedly without any apparent hazard or obstruction in front of my vehicle. Immediately after the warning appeared, the vehicle suddenly lost speed and became very slow to accelerate. I was unable to safely incr...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact was notified by her son that the third brake light was burned and was melting. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and suggested that a diagnostic test be performed. The vehicle was not diagnos...”
“I am writing to report a recurring and potentially dangerous issue with my Kia Forte. My vehicle has randomly failed to start on multiple occasions, requiring a jump start. More concerning, it has also shut off while I was driving, which is extremely alarming and could have re...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“Engine stalled while driving causing the car to turn off in traffic. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This caused loss of power and steering at 45 miles per hour and could have caused a collision. A licensed and accredited auto mechanic has confirmed that ...”
“In a car accident I got into, my car’s airbags did not deploy like they should have and therefore I got greater injuries than I should have. I believe I hit the steering wheel and I did hurt my chest. Both my elbows were sore as well and as well as both my knees had big bruise...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would pull to the right direction and drift to the left direction. Also, while driving at highway speeds the vehicle would shake and rattle. The vehicle was taken to the loca...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“In a car accident I got into, my car’s airbags did not deploy like they should have and therefore I got greater injuries than I should have. I believe I hit the steering wheel and I did hurt my chest. Both my elbows were sore as well and as well as both my knees had big bruise...”
“Air bags did not deploy during car accident. I sustained severe injuries to the face. Puncture wound to jaw, forehead laceration to skull, spinal cord damage, and fractured ribs. Unknown if problem has been reproduced or confirmed by dealership. Car was totaled not sure if it’...”
“The contact owned a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at night in foggy weather conditions at 55 mph, the contact rear-ended a parked vehicle while trying to avoid hitting a deer. The gear shift was still in DRIVE but the vehicle was completely stopped from...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“#1 I ASSUME THE FUEL SYSTEM OR ELECTRIC SYSTEM ARE WHAT FAILED #2THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING,WHEN TRYING TO RESTART{IF IT RESTARTS} NO POWER & SHUTS OFF AGAIN #3 I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER& KIA MAIN BRANCH IN CALIFORNIA 3 TIMES BY PHONE & EMAIL BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING, I H...”
“THERE IS/WAS A FLIMSY PLASTIC "SHIELD" COVERING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THIS CAR BENEATH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CALLING IT A SHIELD IS A STRETCH CONSIDERING HOW FLIMSY IT IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS CALLED AND APPARENTLY NO ONE AT KIA USA OR THEIR DEALERSHIPS DOES EITHER. I H...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (2)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles. The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2019 Kia Forte
Before purchasing a used 2019 Kia Forte, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 2 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2019 Kia Forte
Is the 2019 Kia Forte a reliable used car?
The 2019 Kia Forte earns a 5.9/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 146 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2019 Kia Forte?
The leading complaint category is Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports, with a median failure point around 6,100 miles (IQR: 3,000 – 23,875 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2019 Kia Forte?
Yes, the NHTSA records 2 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.