Is your car affected?
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 (2)
Power train: axle assembly, axle shaft
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Exterior lighting: headlights
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."
Risk and remedy
Risk: If the headlights are not properly aimed, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Canadian recalls (2)
Show 2 Canadian recalls
Powertrain
2020-08-12 · campaign 2020-369 · 359 vehicles
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the left-front axle shaft may not have been heat treated, and could break. If this happens, there would be a loss of power to the wheels. Also, if this happens and the vehicle is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could roll away.
Safety Risk:
A loss of power to the wheels or a vehicle rollaway could increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Kia will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the left front axle shaft for a heat treatment code. If the heat treatment code is missing, the driveshaft will be replaced.
Lights and instruments
2018-11-02 · campaign 2018-610 · 370 vehicles
Certain vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The LED headlamps may have been produced with improper low-beam lamp aiming, which is contrary to the requirements of the standard. This could reduce illumination of the roadway, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the headlamps and replace them as necessary.
Owner complaints (150)
Owners filed 150 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Kia Forte (11 crashes, 4 fires, 5 injuries reported). Among 16 model years of this model, it ranks #8 for the most complaints (median 150).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Power train | 48 | |
| Engine | 38 | |
| Electrical system | 23 | |
| Unknown or other | 22 | |
| Forward collision avoidance | 17 | |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | |
| Steering | 9 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2019 Kia Forte.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2019 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | 4★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2019 Kia Forte version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Forte 2.0 L Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 30 | 40 | 34 | $1,950 |
| Forte 2.0 L Manual 6-spd | 27 | 37 | 31 | $2,150 |
| Forte FE 2.0 L Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 31 | 41 | 35 | $1,900 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →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.