Engine
NHTSA campaign 20V750000 · 2020 · reported 12/02/2020
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2012 Kia Forte Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine — runs 4.4× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
289Complaints
4Recalls
20Crashes
21Fires
16Injured
3Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine (55.4% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Engine complaints here are 4.4× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 160 · 55.4% | Recalled | Recall 20V750000 |
| Air Bags | 36 · 12.5% | Recalled | Recall 18V363000 |
| Electrical System | 32 · 11.1% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes | 30 · 10.4% | Recalled | Recall 17V773000 · Recall 23V652000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 · 6.9% | Recalled | Recall 17V773000 · Recall 23V652000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 · 6.2% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 289 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 4 campaigns
Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
NHTSA campaign 18V363000 · 2018 · reported 06/01/2018
If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
NHTSA campaign 17V773000 · 2017 · reported 12/01/2017
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
NHTSA campaign 23V652000 · 2023 · reported 09/25/2023
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · Park outside · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
What owners report
“START IT WITH A TICKING NOISE THAT WAS PERSISTENT EVERY TIME WE TURN THE CAR ON AND EVENTUALLY JUST BLEW UP IN THE MIDDLE OF…”NHTSA complaint 11323482 — filed 05/06/2020 · ENGINE
“BACK IN 2017 I NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENGINE ON MY KIA REPAIRED AFTER ONLY FINANCING IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR DUE TO LOUD KNOCKING…”NHTSA complaint 11316604 — filed 03/06/2020 · ENGINE
“THEY SAID THERE IS METAL SCRAP IN THE CYLINDERS AND IT IS EVERYWHERE ONLINE THAT THEY SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF IT AND…”NHTSA complaint 11315382 — filed 03/01/2020 · ENGINE
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Forte?
Engine issues are the most-reported category, cited in 160 of 289 NHTSA complaints (55.4%), followed by air bags (36), electrical system (32), service brakes (30). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2012 Kia Forte have?
289 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 20 involved a crash, 21 involved a fire, and 16 reported injuries. 3 deaths were reported.
Does the 2012 Kia Forte have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 20V750000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2012 Kia Forte's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
