NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 147 owner complaints for the 2019 Kia Forte.
2Safety recalls
147Owner complaints
11Complaints citing a crash
4Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 27, 2026
Recalled components: powertrain and exterior lighting. Most-reported area: powertrain (47 complaints, 32%; median mileage when it happened: 5,100). Includes the Forte5 hatchback and the Forte Koup.
2 safety recalls for the 2019 Kia Forte
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.
Risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles.
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."
Risk: If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights.
NHTSA listing: FORTE. Kia campaign SC171.
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.
What owners report
The areas named in the 147 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Forte. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Powertrain47 · 32%
Median 5,100 miles at failure (28 reports)
Engine36 · 24%
Electrical system22 · 15%
Forward collision avoidance17 · 12%
Most named: warnings (14); automatic emergency braking (7)
Exterior lighting15 · 10%
Steering8 · 5%
Speed control7 · 5%
Unknown or other22 · 15%
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 2019 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).
Owner complaints
2019: 147 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Forte
Model year
Complaints
2016
137
2017
302
2018
136
2019
147
2020
76
2021
68
2022
27
2023
62
2024
25
Safety recalls
2019: 2 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Forte
Model year
Recalls
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%
Questions
What are the most common 2019 Forte problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: powertrain (47), engine (36), electrical system (22). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2019 Kia Forte safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2019 Kia Forte earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
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 Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
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.