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2015 Kia Forte recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There is 1 US recall for the 2015 Kia Forte, and 3 in Canada. Owners filed 262 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine.

1US recalls
0urgent recalls
262owner complaints
–overall crash rating

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Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (1)

Engine

2020-12-02 · campaign 20V750000 · 294,756 vehicles

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. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Risk and remedy

Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Canadian recalls (3)

Show 3 Canadian recalls

Brakes

2024-03-12 · campaign 2024-163

Issue: On certain vehicles, the inspection completed by a Kia dealer during service campaign SC044 (Transport Canada recall number 2022-222) may not have been done correctly. As a result, a second inspection is required. Over time, the brake lines under the vehicle could corrode. If this happens, a brake line could fail and leak. A brake fluid leak can result in reduced braking. Note: This service campaign replaces service campaign SC044 (Transport Canada recall number 2022-222). Vehicles that had brake lines replaced under that service campaign don't require this inspection. Safety Risk: Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the brake lines. The dealer will apply an anti-corrosion treatment and replace the brake lines, if required.

Brakes

2022-05-02 · campaign 2022-222

Issue: Over time, the brake lines under the vehicle could corrode. If this happens, a brake line could fail and leak. A brake fluid leak can result in reduced braking. Safety Risk: Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the brake lines. The dealer will apply an anti-corrosion treatment and replace the brake lines, if required.

Engine

2020-12-04 · campaign 2020-597

Issue: On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0 L NU GDI or 2.4 L Theta II MPI engine, an engine compartment fire could occur while driving. Kia is conducting this recall as a preventative measure to prevent fire risk due to potential fuel leaks, oil leaks and/or engine damage. In some situations, you may notice any of the following symptoms: there could be an abnormal knocking noise from the engine; the check engine light and/or the oil pressure warning light could turn on; you may smell fuel, burning or smoke; or you may notice oil leaks. If you continue to drive the vehicle with these symptoms, the engine could fail and/or a fire could occur. An engine failure can cause a sudden loss of power with an inability to restart. Note: For the Optima model, only the Optima Hybrid is affected by this recall. Safety Risk: An engine compartment fire can create a risk of injury. A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Action: Kia will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer for an inspection of the engine and engine compartment. The dealer will inspect for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, if necessary. Kia will also perform a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update free of charge, once it is available for your vehicle. This update will detect and prevent engine damage from worn connecting rod bearings.

Owner complaints (262)

Owners filed 262 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Forte (16 crashes, 20 fires, 11 injuries, 1 deaths reported). Among 16 model years of this model, it ranks #4 for the most complaints (median 150).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Engine160
Unknown or other31
Electrical system29
Air bags23
Power train17
Service brakes15
Exterior lighting13
Fuel/propulsion system10

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2015 Kia Forte.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2015 Kia Forte 5 HB FWD––5★4★
2015 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD5★4★5★4★

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2015 Kia Forte version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
Forte 1.8 L Manual 6-spd253629$2,300
Forte 1.8 L Automatic (S6)263730$2,250
Forte 2.0 L Automatic (S6)253629$2,300
Forte 5 1.6 L Automatic (S6)212924$2,800
Forte 5 1.6 L Manual 6-spd212824$2,800
Forte 5 2.0 L Automatic (S6)253328$2,400
Forte Koup 1.6 L Automatic (S6)222925$2,700
Forte Koup 1.6 L Manual 6-spd222924$2,800
Forte Koup 2.0 L Automatic (S6)253428$2,400
Forte Koup 2.0 L Manual 6-spd243327$2,500
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.