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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2019 Kia Forte is associated with 147 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Powertrain, accounting for 37 reports (25% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 3 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl powertrain configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 31 to 35 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 147 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Powertrain (37 / 25%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 11 crash / 4 fire / 5 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 4 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 31–35 MPG across 3 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2019 Kia Forte?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Forte FE 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) 31 MPG 41 MPG 35 MPG — $1,750 / yr
Forte 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) 30 MPG 40 MPG 34 MPG — $1,800 / yr
Forte 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 27 MPG 37 MPG 31 MPG — $2,000 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2019 Kia Forte?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
4 DR FWD 10.7%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as No and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2019 Kia Forte models.
View complete 2019 Kia Forte crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2019 Kia Forte?

Summary of 147 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
147
Crash Reports
11
Fire Reports
4
Complaints w/ Injury
5
Total Injuries
5

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Powertrain 37 complaints
Engine 20 complaints
Electrical System 7 complaints (1 crash)
Forward Collision Avoidance 6 complaints
Steering 5 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2019 Kia Forte problems & component breakdown (51 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2019 Kia Forte?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #20V459000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Defect Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Forte vehicles. The left front axle driveshaft may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to break.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle driveshaft for a heat treatment verification code, and replace it if the code is missing, free of charge. The recall began September 2, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC195.
NHTSA Campaign #18V771000 Active Recall
Affected Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Defect Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Kia Forte vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may not have been manufactured with the correct low beam aiming. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlight aiming and replace the headlights, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC171.
View all 2019 Kia Forte recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2019 Kia Forte

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2019 Kia Forte

How many safety recalls does the 2019 Kia Forte have?

The 2019 Kia Forte is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 2 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2019 Kia Forte?

NHTSA records list 147 consumer defect complaints for the 2019 Kia Forte. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Powertrain, appearing in 37 filings (25% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2019 Kia Forte defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2019 Kia Forte?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2019 Kia Forte earned an Overall Safety Rating of 4 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2019 Kia Forte get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2019 Kia Forte range from 31 to 35 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.