Head-to-head reliability
KIA Forte vs FORD F 150
How the KIA Forte and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
KIA Forte vs FORD F 150: The Forte averaged 110.8 complaints per year over 10 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,162.1. The F-150 also had 151 recalls versus 16 for the Forte. These numbers suggest the Forte may have fewer reported issues, but both have serious problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Forte or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA Forte
The Kia Forte is a compact sedan that owners often buy for value and fuel economy. Over 10 years, it has averaged about 111 complaints per year, with engine problems dominating the list. Many complaints describe stalling, failure to start or accelerate, and metal particles in the oil, which can mean costly repairs. Electrical issues also appear, with reports of the car shutting down while driving, creating a frightening experience.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup known for capability, but it generates far more owner complaints—about 1,162 per year over the same period. Power train and electrical problems are the most common, with many reports of transmissions stuck in limp mode or failing lead frames. These issues can leave drivers stranded or in dangerous situations, and the high complaint volume suggests a pattern of recurring problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Forte | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,108 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 103 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 110.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 68 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 6 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
KIA Forte
- 01ENGINE458
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER202
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM151
- 04POWER TRAIN120
- 05AIR BAGS89
Owners report engines that won't start or accelerate, and some find metal particles in the oil, indicating internal damage. This can lead to expensive repairs or replacement, and the car may stall without warning.
Complaints describe the car shutting down completely while driving, sometimes on the freeway, and the fuel pump is often blamed. This is a serious safety concern because the car can die in traffic and may not restart.
Stalling upon acceleration and transmission issues are reported, including problems with the car not moving properly. These failures can leave a driver stuck or cause sudden loss of power.
Owners mention steering that loosens or tightens, alignment problems, and complete air conditioning failure. These issues affect control and comfort, and some can be costly to fix if not covered by warranty.
“While the vehicle was approximately ten months old with approximately 11K miles, it was continuously not functioning properly and would not start/accelerate. My 2024 KIA Forte, which was purchased new from a KIA dealership, has continuously failed to function…”
“In early 2025, I encountered a serious issue with my 2022 Kia Forte GT, a manual car with 76,000 miles and a 1.6L turbo Gamma engine. I took it for a routine oil change at a local non-Kia shop, but they refused, finding metal particles in the oil, suggesting…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmissions that go into limp mode, get stuck in 5th gear, or fail due to lead frame issues. These problems can happen daily and may cause sudden loss of power, increasing crash risk.
Lead frame failures and output speed sensor problems are common, leading to limp mode and error codes. A rear window defroster short has even caused back windows to shatter, which is a surprising and dangerous defect.
Complaints include rear window defroster shorts that cause the glass to explode outward. This is a safety hazard because it can happen without warning and distract or injure occupants.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, this is a top component with many reports. Lighting failures can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash, especially at night.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
KIA Forte — 16 recalls
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. The right front lower control arm may have been improperly welded, which can cause it to fail.
The risk: Front lower control arm failure can cause a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will replace the right front lower control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2024. Owners may contact Kia custo…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Forte vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front left steering knuckle may crack, which can result in a loss of steering control.
The risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front left steering knuckle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2023. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
The risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
The risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
KIA Forte or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Kia Forte has far fewer complaints per year—about 111 versus 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, this means a Forte owner is less likely to face frequent repair visits, but the F-150's issues are often more severe, like transmission limp mode. The F-150 also has more recalls and crash-related complaints, so it demands more attention.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 10 times as many complaints per year as the Kia Forte, with power train and electrical issues being the most common.
- Kia Forte complaints often involve engine stalling and failure to start, while F-150 complaints frequently describe transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 16 for the Forte, and more crash-related complaints (330 vs 103), indicating broader safety concerns.
- Both vehicles have reports of sudden shutdowns, but the F-150's are more often tied to transmission and sensor failures, while the Forte's are linked to fuel pump and electrical issues.
- Check for any signs of engine trouble: listen for unusual noises, look for metal particles in the oil, and ask about stalling or hard starting.
- Test the electrical system thoroughly: ensure the car starts reliably, check that the fuel pump works, and look for any history of sudden shutdowns.
- Inspect the transmission: test drive at various speeds and watch for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in gear.
- Check for electrical gremlins: look for error codes, test the rear window defroster, and ask about any lead frame or sensor repairs.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if recalls were performed and if there are any recurring problems.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine and transmission for the Forte and the transmission and electrical system for the F-150.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and any transmission or electrical repairs.
- Test drive the vehicle in different conditions, including highway driving, to check for stalling, limp mode, or unusual noises.
- Verify that all open recalls have been addressed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | KIA Forte | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25 | 638 |
| 2023 | 63 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 27 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 68 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 76 | 44 |
| 2019 | 147 | 52 |
| 2018 | 136 | 79 |
| 2017 | 303 | 59 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific KIA Forte or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Forte vs FORD F 150
- KIA Forte total complaints
- 1,108
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- KIA Forte total recalls
- 16
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- KIA Forte avg complaints/year
- 110.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- KIA Forte
- KIA Forte top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN