Second generation (YD)
2016 Kia Forte
The most reported problem on the 2016 Kia Forte is stalling, with 30 complaints, usually around 57,000 miles.
- 135owner complaints
- 1recalls
- 16involved a crash
- 50,000median miles at failure
Newest report Aug 31, 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 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Kia Forte reliable?
The 2016 Kia Forte has 135 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 232 for 2016 sedans on this site. Of the 11 Forte model years since 2014, it has the 6th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 12 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs well under the 2017 (30). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Stalling has 30 complaints and engine failure has 30, out of 135 in all. A quarter of the 15 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 40,000 miles, and half by about 57,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 21 of the 135 complaints (16%) 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, 6 mention a fire and 13 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 11 of 16, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as stalling and engine failure. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 20 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 12. So far in 2026, 12 more have come in.
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 stalls or loses power while driving, 30 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
135 complaints is 1.9 times fewer than the median 2016 model on this site and 1.7 times fewer than the median 2016 sedan. Among the 6 Forte model years here it ranks 6th 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 2016 Kia Forte
Kia filed 122 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Kia Forte. 14 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 failure, knocking or rod bearing 3 bulletins · 30 complaints
OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2105) This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2016 MY Kia Forte and Forte Koup vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting ...
OWNER NOTIFICATION This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign (PI2105) to perform a software update on 2016 MY Kia Forte and Forte Koup vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive ...
1 more on this problem
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage ...
Check engine light or misfire 3 bulletins · 15 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
SERVICE ACTION: HESITATION, LACK OF POWER AND/OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON (SA227) THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE TO ADD A FUEL ADDITIVE TO SOME 2016MY FORTE (YD) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM APRIL 1, 2015 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2015, WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE HESITATION, LACK OF POWER AND/OR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH POSSIBLE MIS-FIRE CODES ...
Engine knocking or ticking 4 bulletins · 14 complaints
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2105Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published (PI2105) titled “Nu 2.0L GDI - Knock Sensor Detection System ECU Logic Improvement”.
SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2105Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published (PI2105) titled "Nu 2.0L GDI - Knock Sensor Detection System ECU Logic Improvement".
2 more on this problem
NU 2.0L GDI KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2105) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS), in order to protect the engine from ...
ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z) This bulletin provides information related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published in January 2021 (PI2002A and PI2002B, August 2020) titled "Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement".
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 2 bulletins · 10 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 ...
Headlights too dim or fail 2 bulletins · 8 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.
Complaints filed by year
20 complaints came in 2019. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2016 Kia Forte
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
The recall on the 2016 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 2016 Kia Forte?
Stalling, with 30 of the 135 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 57,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Forte problems start?
Of the 69 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 19,000 miles and half by about 50,000.
Is the 2016 Kia Forte better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has fewer complaints than the 2017: 12 a year against 30.
How many 2016 Kia Forte complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
21 of them (16%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2016 Kia Forte?
No recall on file for the 2016 Kia Forte is on the same system as stalling. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.