Compact cars · BD generation
Fair About average
It scores 41 out of 100 for reliability compared with other compact cars. Over the next 5 years we expect it to cost about $10,699 to own, including $2,057 in repairs.
Early estimate: this rating uses our own sales estimate for the Kia Forte.
Reliability
41/100
About average
Repairs, 5 years
$2,057
at 12,000 mi a year
Fuel, 5 years
$5,829
35 mpg, $3.40/gal
Price today
$10,855
$9,553 – $12,158, estimate
Recalls
2
on record
Owner complaints
69
filed with NHTSA
These are estimates, not guarantees. They come from public NHTSA complaint and recall data and EPA fuel economy, assuming 5 years of ownership and 12,000 miles a year. Change the assumptions or see how it works.
Expected over 5 years, by area of the car.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Telluride, K5, and Forte vehicles. The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Check whether a specific car still has open recalls with its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
These links go to independent sites. We don't earn anything from them.
Of the years we rate, the 2022 scores best (68/100) and the 2017 worst (8/100).
| Year | Reliability |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 36/100 |
| 2023 | 26/100 |
| 2022 | 68/100 |
| 2021 | 41/100 |
| 2020 | 40/100 |
| 2019 | 14/100 |
| 2018 | 28/100 |
| 2017 | 8/100 |
| 2016 | 32/100 |
| 2015 | 12/100 |
Not especially. It scores 41 out of 100, about average for compact cars; the 2022 scored better.
It scores 41 out of 100 against other compact cars from 2015 to 2024, which is about average. Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, we expect about $2,057 in repairs over the next 5 years at 12,000 miles a year.
About $10,699 over 5 years: $2,813 in lost value, $2,057 in repairs and $5,829 in fuel at $3.40 a gallon. A typical one sells for about $10,855 today.
Of the years we rate, the 2022 scores best (68/100) and the 2017 worst (8/100).
2 recalls on record with NHTSA.