2019 KIA FORTE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2019 Kia Forte. This model year has 141 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2019 Kia Forte Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Uncategorized Issues
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2019 Kia Forte. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 46 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 36 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 22 | 4 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 20 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 6 | 6 | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2019 Kia Forte. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 141 most recent complaints
My car has cut off on me going down the road and it cut back on I have had where the car is slow at acceleration and trying to stall out on me and causing a car to almost hit me in the bumper cause of it the car only has 112,580 miles and have not been able to drive the car since…
As I was driving on the turnpike the car engine literally just shut down on me! It could have caused a serious accident. This is the 3rd time when driving the car just stopped on its own on me! Gas tank full, oil good and battery good, but the engine is not! It gave me NO WARNING…
Car caught on fire while driving down the highway. Had engine replaced with a remanufactured engine in January of 2026 and car engine seized again 30 days later.
February 1st 2026, I done my oil change. My car was running fine. No check engine light was on or anything, my forward collision warning started disabling itself when I always kept it on. When I try to accelerate my vehicle it would take a while to accelerate. March 7th 2026, whi…
2019 Kia with approximately 64,000 miles. Engine failed without warning. Prior to failure, vehicle had been experiencing intermittent stalling on multiple prior occasions and had been brought to a mechanic for inspection before the final failure occurred. Vehicle stalled while be…
Transmission was getting stuck in gear and slipping intermittently would cause the car to not accelerate over 20mph especially in the cold unless you switched it to the manual mode and manually shifted up two gears ans then back down two gears. If you looked at the tach while it …
Engine stalled while driving causing the car to turn off in traffic. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This caused loss of power and steering at 45 miles per hour and could have caused a collision. A licensed and accredited auto mechanic has confirmed that …
When turning on the car the check engine light comes on. Then when accelerating there is a clicking noise and smoke coming from the engine.
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact was notified by her son that the third brake light was burned and was melting. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and suggested that a diagnostic test be performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed …
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that during start-up, the vehicle was rattling and vibrating abnormally with a clanking sound while shifting into gear. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the crankcase sensor was faulty, and that th…
the safety of others are put at risk due to system on and off due to shortage and wire triggering. The vehicle listed above collision system wire harness have a shortage and causes the vehicle not to be safe and unable to operate on roadways, highways and streets. there were war…
October 2, 2025 @ approximately 7:30a. I was heading east on I-10 on my way to work when I seen white smoke coming from under my car. I pulled over, noticed it was on fire. There was a man passing by who seen me & was nice enough to stop & put the fire out. The firefighter then s…
I am writing to report a recurring and potentially dangerous issue with my Kia Forte. My vehicle has randomly failed to start on multiple occasions, requiring a jump start. More concerning, it has also shut off while I was driving, which is extremely alarming and could have resul…
Motor started ticking....then just stopped running...motor blew up..checked the oil and it had metal flaking in it..
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, there was smoke coming from the front driver’s side headlamp, prompting the contact to have her son disconnect the headlamp wiring harness. After a visual inspection, the co…
My daughter was driving on the highway. She was driving at 65 mph and then the car started to jolt a couple of times. She kept driving and then it started to feel sluggish and lost some power. Would not accelerate over 45 mph. She was almost rear ended several times and people co…
I was driving in Elk River, MN when my car all of a sudden stopped accelerating I then coasted into a street with a dead end to get away from traffic before the car ended up dying though the electronics remained on. I tried restarting the vehicle with no luck. It was clear to me …
Severe, early onset clear coat paint damage.
Oil plug came out while driving causing an engine failure. We have seen several report already made for this issue.
On [XXX] my son was driving on the highway when the car suddenly shut off.. thank god he was able to safely get to the side of the road. Had it towed to my local mechanic who stated that the engine is seized up. The car is only 6 yrs old and well maintained. There were no prior…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2019 Kia Forte.
Recalls for 2019 Kia Forte
2 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2019 Kia Forte. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2019 Kia Forte — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2019 Kia Forte reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2019 Kia Forte has 141 NHTSA owner complaints, 11 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (46 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Kia Forte?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (46 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (36 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (22 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2019 Kia Forte?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2019 Kia Forte?▾
The 2019 Kia Forte has 11 crash-related complaints and 4 fire reports out of 141 total NHTSA complaints. 5 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2019 Kia Forte have any recalls?▾
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2019 Kia Forte. The largest issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2019 Kia Forte?▾
The 2019 Kia Forte has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Kia Forte reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2019 Kia Forte
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.