2016 Kia Forte recalls and problems

The 2016 Kia Forte has 1 recall and 137 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

2016 Kia Forte
Photo: 2016 Kia Forte by Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2016 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 16 Forte model years — 9th most.

1recalls
137complaints
16crashes
6fires
13injuries
44,500median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →

1 recall

Latches/locks/linkages

Aug 9, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V622000 · 253,074 vehicles

Problem: 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: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine67
Electrical System23
Power Train16
Unknown or other15
Vehicle Speed Control14
Air Bags13
Exterior Lighting11
Service Brakes10
Fuel System7
Wheels6

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2016: 11 complaints20162017: 7 complaints20172018: 14 complaints20182019: 20 complaints2019202020: 8 complaints20202021: 14 complaints20212022: 13 complaints20222023: 14 complaints20232024: 10 complaints20242025: 12 complaints20252026: 14 complaints202614

2016 vs. other Kia Forte years

2009: 1 complaints20092010: 221 complaints2011: 154 complaints20112012: 293 complaints2013: 195 complaints20132014: 444 complaints4442015: 262 complaints20152016: 137 complaints2017: 305 complaints20172018: 136 complaints2019: 150 complaints20192020: 78 complaints2021: 69 complaints20212022: 28 complaints2023: 66 complaints20232024: 26 complaints202426

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2016. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2016 Kia Forte have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2016 Kia Forte, the latest from Aug 9, 2021 (latches/locks/linkages). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Forte?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (67), electrical system (23), power train (16). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.