2016 KIA FORTE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
190
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
27
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2016 KIA FORTE
The 2016 KIA FORTE has received a total of 190 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH. 27 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (60 complaints), Electrical System (18 complaints), and Power Train (16 complaints).
Recalls for the 2016 KIA FORTE
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2016 KIA FORTE, potentially affecting up to 506,148 vehicles.
Recall 21V622000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
| 253,074 vehicles affected
Defect: 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."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 21V622000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
| 253,074 vehicles affected
Defect: 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."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2016 KIA FORTE
190 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 KIA FORTE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 60 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 13 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control Esc | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionanti Theftimmobilizerproximitykeysender | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasoline | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
Point 1)CVVT pin was sheared off. Not available for inspection, was replaced and discarded by KIA. Point 2)The vehicle had a rough start and stalled out while stopping. Had to have the car towed to the dealership. Point 3) UNKNOWN Point 4) No Point 5) The Check Engine Light would come on and off randomly. Code P0017 & P0016 would come up as pending when the engine light was on.
I am filing a formal complaint regarding serious safety and mechanical problems with my vehicle. The brakes do not function properly and I have to add brake fluid every few days, which indicates a possible leak or brake system failure. This creates an extremely dangerous driving condition. The vehicle also has electrical problems, including malfunctioning lights. The engine has lost power, making it unsafe to drive, especially in traffic or on highways. In addition, the airbag warning light is on, which means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, putting me at risk of serious injury or death. These problems have made the vehicle unreliable and unsafe to operate. I am requesting that these issues be inspected and repaired immediately at no cost to me, or that the vehicle be replaced or refunded under warranty or consumer protection laws. I am concerned for my safety and the safety of others, and I expect this matter to be handled urgently.
I am filing a formal complaint regarding serious safety and mechanical problems with my vehicle. The brakes do not function properly and I have to add brake fluid every few days, which indicates a possible leak or brake system failure. This creates an extremely dangerous driving condition. The vehicle also has electrical problems, including malfunctioning lights. The engine has lost power, making it unsafe to drive, especially in traffic or on highways. In addition, the airbag warning light is on, which means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, putting me at risk of serious injury or death. These problems have made the vehicle unreliable and unsafe to operate. I am requesting that these issues be inspected and repaired immediately at no cost to me, or that the vehicle be replaced or refunded under warranty or consumer protection laws. I am concerned for my safety and the safety of others, and I expect this matter to be handled urgently.
I am filing a formal complaint regarding serious safety and mechanical problems with my vehicle. The brakes do not function properly and I have to add brake fluid every few days, which indicates a possible leak or brake system failure. This creates an extremely dangerous driving condition. The vehicle also has electrical problems, including malfunctioning lights. The engine has lost power, making it unsafe to drive, especially in traffic or on highways. In addition, the airbag warning light is on, which means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, putting me at risk of serious injury or death. These problems have made the vehicle unreliable and unsafe to operate. I am requesting that these issues be inspected and repaired immediately at no cost to me, or that the vehicle be replaced or refunded under warranty or consumer protection laws. I am concerned for my safety and the safety of others, and I expect this matter to be handled urgently.
Headlights shut off entirely multiple times when switching to high beams on dark road, almost causing an accident. Multi-function switch failing the exact way the Sorento switches are failing, confirmed by mechanic. This is a severe hazard when driving at night. There was no warning whatsoever.
Safety Rating for the 2016 KIA FORTE
The 2016 KIA FORTE received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016 KIA FORTE
Kia America, Inc. has issued 27 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2016 KIA FORTE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PI2105_OWNR_401 — ENGINE
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2105) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2016 MY Forte and Forte Koup vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage....
PI2105_OWNR_401 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2105) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2016 MY Forte and Forte Koup vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage....
PI2105_OWNR_301 — ENGINE
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2105) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2016 MY Forte and Forte Koup vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage....
CS2311A_OWNRYD — STRUCTURE
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia now has an additional vehicle modification available for installation to help deter or thwart attempted thefts. This modification consists of a theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and will be available to you free of charge...
SC264_TSB_R1 — STRUCTURE
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL (SC264): This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody components on certain 2012-2017MY...
SC238_TSB_R2 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: BRAKE TUBE/ LINE INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL APPLICATION (SC238) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake tube(s)/line(s)...
PI2105_OWNR — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign (PI2105) to perform a software update on 2016 MY Kia Forte and Forte Koup vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing...
PI2105_QA — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Product Improvement Campaign (PI2105).
PI2105_TSB — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: NU 2.0L GDI - KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI2105) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS), in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod...
SC180_OWNR — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SC180 Owner Notification Letter - Dear Kia Forte Owner, Kia Motors America, Inc. is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to update the software programming on the Engine Control Module. Kia has become aware that certain 2014-2016 MY Forte vehicles may have engine calibrations that were not optimized for emissions...
Showing 10 of 27 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2016 KIA FORTE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the KIA FORTE
- 2011 KIA FORTE — 212 complaints
- 2012 KIA FORTE — 397 complaints
- 2013 KIA FORTE — 268 complaints
- 2014 KIA FORTE — 630 complaints
- 2015 KIA FORTE — 319 complaints
- 2016 KIA FORTE (current)
- 2017 KIA FORTE — 419 complaints
- 2018 KIA FORTE — 185 complaints
- 2019 KIA FORTE — 197 complaints
- 2020 KIA FORTE — 86 complaints
- 2021 KIA FORTE — 90 complaints
Other KIA Models
- KIA SORENTO — 13,451 total complaints
- KIA OPTIMA — 10,045 total complaints
- KIA SOUL — 7,147 total complaints
- KIA SPORTAGE — 6,540 total complaints
- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints
- KIA RIO — 1,784 total complaints