Third generation (BD)
2019 Kia Forte
The most reported problem on the 2019 Kia Forte is stalling, with 26 complaints, usually around 42,000 miles.
- 147owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 11involved a crash
- 16,500median miles at failure
Newest report Aug 26, 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 2019 model year.
Is the 2019 Kia Forte reliable?
The 2019 Kia Forte has 147 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 203 for 2019 sedans on this site. Of the 11 Forte model years since 2014, it has the 4th 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 2018 and 2020
- At 18 complaints for each year on the road, the 2019 runs above both the 2018 (15) and the 2020 (11).
- Top problem
- No problem dominates. The largest, stalling, covers 26 of the 147 complaints (18%), and transmission failure is next with 18 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). A quarter of the 11 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 9,000 miles, and half by about 42,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 15 of the 147 complaints (10%) 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), 11 reports mention a crash, 4 mention a fire and 5 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 6 of 11, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as stalling. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 27 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 15. So far in 2026, 17 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, 26 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
147 complaints is 1.6 times fewer than the median 2019 model on this site and 1.4 times fewer than the median 2019 sedan. Among the 6 Forte model years here it ranks 4th 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 2019 Kia Forte
Kia filed 102 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2019 Kia Forte. 7 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.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 2 bulletins · 14 complaints
FRONT VIEW CAMERA REPLACEMENT FOR DTC C160449 & C160649 This bulletin provides information on the inspection and replacement of the front camera on some vehicles. Due to an internal control chip concern inside the camera, the vehicle may exhibit a Forward Collision Avoidance Assist Warning Lamp (A) and/or Master ...
PITSTOP: MFC, CONCERNS FOR DISABLED OPERATION This Pitstop provides information regarding concerns with disabled operation of Multi-Function Camera (MFC) on some Kia vehicles.
Check engine light or misfire 4 bulletins · 8 complaints
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NU 2.0L MPI MIL ON DTC P010100 AND/OR P010600 AND/OR P006800 LOGIC IMPROVEMENT This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Module (ECM) software and clean the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) on some 2019-2020MY Forte (BDm) vehicles equipped with NU 2.0L MPI Atkinson engine, which may exhibit a MIL ...
SERVICE ACTION: GAMMA 1.6L-T GDI ULEV MIL ON DTC P0128 AND/OR DTC P0300~304 JUDGEMENT LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA419) This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Unit (ECU) on some 2019-2020 Forte GT (BDm) vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L-T GDI ULEV engines, produced from February 15, 2019 through March 11, 2020, which may exhibit check ...
2 more on this problem
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSBENG181_R1: SERVICE ACTION: IGNITION COIL OR COIL RFI SPRING REPLACEMENT FOR DTC P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, AND/OR P0304 (SA321) This bulletin provides the procedure to replace all four (4) ignition coils or replace all four (4) coil radio frequency interference (RFI) springs on some 2017-2018MY Forte (YDm) 2.0L MPI vehicles, produced from May 16, 2016 through September 7, 2017, which ...
SERVICE ACTION: ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT FOR P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 AND/OR P219C00, P219D00, P219E00, P219F00 (SA378) This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Unit (ECU) on some 2019MY Forte (BDm) vehicles, equipped with a NU 2.0MPI Atkinson engine and produced from July 9, 2018 through March 11, 2019, which may experience a malfunction ...
Headlights too dim or fail 1 bulletin · 6 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.
Complaints filed by year
27 complaints came in 2019, 13.5 times the year before. 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 2019 Kia Forte
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles. The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.
All 2 recalls on the 2019 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 2019 Kia Forte?
Stalling, with 26 of the 147 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 42,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2019 Kia Forte problems start?
Of the 78 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 5,000 miles and half by about 16,000.
Is the 2019 Kia Forte better or worse than the 2018 and 2020?
Counted per year on the road, the 2019 has more complaints than both the 2018 and the 2020: 18 a year against 15 and 11.
How many 2019 Kia Forte complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
15 of them (10%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2019 Kia Forte?
No recall on file for the 2019 Kia Forte is on the same system as stalling. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.