Second generation (YD)
2015 Kia Forte
The most reported problem on the 2015 Kia Forte is engine failure, with 73 complaints, usually around 90,000 miles.
- 258owner complaints
- 1recalls
- 16involved a crash
- 75,461median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 10, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Forte doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2015 model year.
Is the 2015 Kia Forte reliable?
The 2015 Kia Forte has 258 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 270 for 2015 sedans on this site. Of the 11 Forte model years since 2014, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to other model years
- Complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads, so the 2015 count runs short and isn't compared with the model years next to it.
- Top problem
- Engine failure leads with 73 of the 258 complaints (28%), ahead of stalling at 53. A quarter of the 47 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure saw it by about 63,000 miles, and half by about 90,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 38 of the 258 complaints (15%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 16 reports mention a crash, 20 mention a fire and 11 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 10 of 16, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- engine failure, stalling and misfire all have recalls on the same system, and the same campaigns cover them: 20V-750. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2021 at 47 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 23. So far in 2026, 8 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 73 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
258 complaints is about the median for a 2015 model on this site and about the median for a 2015 sedan. Among the 6 Forte model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2015 Kia Forte
Kia filed 146 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2015 Kia Forte. 16 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine knocking or ticking 2 bulletins · 43 complaints
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in (PI2002A, PI2002B and SC200**1) titled “Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement”.
ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in (PI2002A, PI2002B and SC200**1) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement".
Check engine light or misfire 3 bulletins · 34 complaints
PITSTOP INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER OR HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION - RESTRICTED FUEL LINE - Customers may experience an intermittent lack of power or hesitation upon acceleration. The malfunction indicator lamp may not illuminate or DTC P0087 may be stored (history).
PITSTOP: MANUAL EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS TEST FOR HARD TO FIND/SMALL LEAKS If the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is illuminated with DTC(s) P0442, P0455, P0456, or P0457 (Evaporative Emissions System-Leak detected) and the evaporative (EVAP) leak self-test resulted in NTF, a manual EVAP test is recommended.
1 more on this problem
6 SPD A/T SOLENOID REPLACEMENT ? DTC P0741 This bulletin provides information relating to the replacement of the Damper Clutch (D/C) Solenoid on 6-speed automatic transaxles with DTC P0741 (active or history), instead of replacing the transaxle.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 2 bulletins · 16 complaints
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: BRAKE TUBE/LINE REINSPECTION/REPLACEMENT & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL REAPPLICATION (SC238A) This bulletin provides information to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake tube(s)/line(s) for leakage and apply additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody components on certain 2014-2017MY Forte and Forte Koup (YD) vehicles produced from ...
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: BRAKE TUBE/LINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC238) This bulletin provides information to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake tube(s)/line(s) for leakage and also apply additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody components on certain 2014-2017MY Forte and Forte Koup (YD) vehicles produced ...
Burns oil or oil level rises 3 bulletins · 13 complaints
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
1 more on this problem
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2019MY vehicles (refer to table below for applicable model and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
Airbag warning light stays on 1 bulletin · 6 complaints
CLOCKSPRING REPLACEMENT FOR AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON ¢ DTC B1346/B1481 This bulletin provides information related to the replacement of the driver¢s airbag clock spring assembly on some 2012-2013MY Rio (UB) and 2014-2015MY Forte/Koup (YD) associated with the Warranty Extension Program (WTY017).
Battery dies or the car will not start 1 bulletin · 5 complaints
PITSTOP: NO START OR HARD TO START CONCERNS Some 2014~2015MY Forte Koup / 5 DR equipped with a 1.6L GDI Turbo and produced before July 14, 2014, may experience a hard to start concern or idle rpm fluctuations while stationary.
Headlights too dim or fail 2 bulletins · 5 complaints
INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly.
HALOGEN HEAD LAMP LOW BEAM BULB CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT This bulletin provides information regarding the procedure to repair the bulb connector on some 2010MY~ vehicles listed on the table below, which may exhibit a bulb connector concern. To correct this concern, replace the connector with a new and improved part.
Tail lights or brake lights fail 2 bulletins · 5 complaints
ON SOME 2014-2015 MY FORTE VEHICLES, CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT WATER DROPLETS FORMING INSIDE THE REAR TAIL LAMP LENSES FOLLOWING A RAINSTORM OR AFTER WASHING THEIR VEHICLE.
WATER LEAK/CONDENSATION IN REAR COMBINATION TAIL LAMP(S) ON SOME 2014~2015MY FORTE (YD) VEHICLES, CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT WATER DROPLETS FORMING INSIDE THE REAR TAIL LAMP LENSES FOLLOWING A RAINSTORM OR AFTER WASHING THEIR VEHICLE.
Complaints filed by year
47 complaints came in 2021. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2015 Kia Forte
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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
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.
The recall on the 2015 Kia Forte, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2015 Kia Forte?
Engine failure, with 73 of the 258 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 90,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2015 Kia Forte problems start?
Of the 164 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 50,000 miles and half by about 75,000.
How many 2015 Kia Forte complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
38 of them (15%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2015 Kia Forte?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 20V-750. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.