Head-to-head reliability
KIA Forte vs Honda Accord
How the KIA Forte and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: The Forte averages 110.8 complaints per year with 16 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. Both have engine issues, but the Accord also has many electrical and forward collision complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Forte or Honda Accord 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 car with a mixed reliability record over the past decade. It averages about 111 complaints per year, with engine problems dominating the list. Owners frequently report stalling, failure to accelerate, and metal particles in the oil, which can lead to costly repairs. While it has fewer recalls than some rivals, the high rate of engine-related complaints suggests potential long-term ownership headaches.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—but this may reflect its popularity. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Owners describe sudden loss of power, electronic steering and braking failures, and false alarms from safety systems. These problems can be serious and may require dealer attention.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Forte | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,108 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 103 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 110.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 68 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 6 | 3 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 stalling, failure to start or accelerate, and metal particles in the oil. These issues can leave you stranded and may indicate premature engine wear.
Complaints include the car shutting down while driving, often linked to fuel pump failure. This can cause a dangerous loss of power and difficulty steering or braking.
Stalling upon acceleration and transmission issues are reported. These problems can affect drivability and may require expensive repairs.
There are 89 complaints about air bags, though specific failure patterns are not detailed in the sample. Any air bag issue is a safety concern that should be addressed immediately.
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden loss of power, rattling noises, and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can lead to dangerous situations on the highway.
Reports include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking, and tire pressure monitoring system issues. These failures can cause loss of control.
Complaints involve the system activating unexpectedly or failing to respond, sometimes under identical driving conditions. This can startle the driver and increase crash risk.
Fuel pump problems are noted, which can cause stalling or failure to start. This is a critical safety issue that may require a recall fix.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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.
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
KIA Forte or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Kia Forte has far fewer complaints per year (about 111) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452). However, the Forte's complaints are heavily concentrated in engine and electrical issues that can be severe. The Accord's higher volume means more reported problems overall, but many are related to complex electronics and safety systems. In practice, the Forte may have fewer total issues, but the Accord's issues are more frequently reported and may be more widespread.
Key differences
- The Kia Forte averages about 111 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452 per year, indicating more reported issues for the Accord.
- Engine problems are the top complaint for both, but Forte owners report stalling and metal in oil, while Accord owners report power loss and rough transitions.
- The Accord has significantly more complaints about forward collision avoidance (837) and electrical system (895) than the Forte (151 electrical, no forward collision category).
- The Forte has 16 recalls over 10 years, compared to 38 for the Accord, suggesting more recall campaigns for the Accord.
- Check for engine oil condition and look for metal particles, as owners report this as an early sign of engine failure.
- Test drive and listen for stalling or hesitation during acceleration, and verify that the fuel pump has been replaced if applicable.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, as simultaneous failure has been reported.
- Ask about any forward collision avoidance system updates or repairs, and test the system in a safe environment to ensure it functions correctly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for open recalls and previous repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine for signs of oil contamination or metal particles, especially on the Kia Forte.
- Test drive the Honda Accord on the highway to check for electronic steering and braking issues.
- Verify that all safety systems, including air bags and forward collision avoidance, are operational.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for oil changes and any electrical or fuel system repairs.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25 | 219 |
| 2023 | 63 | 226 |
| 2022 | 27 | 252 |
| 2021 | 68 | 234 |
| 2020 | 76 | 362 |
| 2019 | 147 | 691 |
| 2018 | 136 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 303 | 537 |
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Forte vs Honda Accord
- KIA Forte total complaints
- 1,108
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- KIA Forte total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- KIA Forte avg complaints/year
- 110.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- KIA Forte
- KIA Forte top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE