2016 Kia Forte Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

63Engine complaints

48.1%Of all 131 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE63 · 48.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20 · 15.3%

POWER TRAIN16 · 12.2%

Unspecified / other15 · 11.5%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14 · 10.7%

Share of the 131 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Kia Forte overview page.

What owners report

“Was driving and car lost power and shut off while in traffic car would not restart”NHTSA complaint 11531960 — filed 07/13/2023

“Wednesday night I departed work, I was in the 4th lane of the 10Fwy when my car shut down. All dashboard lights came on. I…”NHTSA complaint 11530057 — filed 07/03/2023

“I have a 2016 KIA Forte that I bought 6 months ago. I'm a subsequent owner. The dealership where we brought it from told me…”NHTSA complaint 11529029 — filed 06/26/2023

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Kia Forte: 63 of 131 complaints on file (48.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Kia Forte have in total?

131 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

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.