2015 Kia Forte · symptom sheet

Check engine light or misfire

34owner reports
101,000median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Jul 6, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

182 of the 258 complaints on this car are about the engine. 34 of those describe misfire.

1 recall on this systemcovering the 2015 model year

No crash reportedin 34 reports

1 firein 34 reports

NHTSA investigations2 covering the 2015

Tick what matches of 34 reports

rough idle or shaking

a catalytic converter code

the light flashes

coils or plugs were replaced

it came back after repair

Misfire on other Forte years

201445 reports 201534 reports 201737 reports

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2018, 2019.

What this problem usually is

These reports start with the check engine light. Many describe the engine running rough or shaking at idle, a P0300-series code, or a catalytic converter code. A worrying number say the light was flashing. Owners often list ignition coils or spark plugs already replaced, and the light coming back afterward.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the spark plugs (4 reports), the sensor (4 reports) and the ignition coils (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the engine covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

20V-750Dec 2, 2020

Engine

An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 20V-750

The recall on the 2015 Kia Forte, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Forte

DP22-003opened Sep 12, 2022

Engine · model years 2010 to 2015

Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.

EA21-003opened Dec 22, 2021

Engine · model years 2012 to 2015

Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 85,000 and 136,636 miles, from the 23 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Kia Forte that deal with this problem. 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.

Service bulletinPS476_R1Mar 9, 2018
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).
Service bulletinPS469Jan 18, 2017
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.
Service bulletinPS-417Jul 1, 2015
KIA: CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CKP) VARIATION HAS NOT LEARNED CAUSING MISFIRE OF ENGINE AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL) TO COME IN DASH. MODEL ALL. NO YEARS LISTED. *PE
Service bulletinTSB-TRA051May 22, 2014
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.

What owners wrote

“I was driving and itâs like the engine just gave out, I waited for a while started it back up and was able to make it home safely.Iâm not sure whatâs wrong with the engine but there are no lights on the dash on (no check engine)”
Filed May 21, 2025

“The engine has lower engine knocking. It has a rod knocking very loud. It could throw a rod through engine at any time, cause the vehicle to wreck and catch on fire. Yes, it was confirmed that it had a rod knocking in engine. yes, An ASE Certified mechanic. No check engine light came on. It just started knocking real bad and lost power.They appeared as I was driving down the road.”
Filed Jul 20, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 34 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

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