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2016 Kia Forte

Gas
Compact Cars
10 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
94 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA137
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA30 mpg
202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Kia Forte is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forte, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 137 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
ForteGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl263730$2,100
ForteGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl253629$2,150
ForteGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl243528$2,250
Forte 5GasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253328$2,250
Forte KoupGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253428$2,250
Forte KoupGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl243327$2,300
Forte KoupGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo222925$2,500
Forte 5GasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo212924$2,600
Forte 5GasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo212824$2,600
Forte KoupGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo222924$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36319, 36284, 36285, 36231, 36217, 36218, 36215, 36229, 36230, 36216.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Kia Forte is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Latches/Locks/Linkages

SC216
253,074 vehicles
ProblemKia 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."RiskA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V622000reported Aug 9, 2021Kia Motors America

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
137complaints filed

16 involved a crash · 6 a fire · 13 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 11 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 20 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2026: 12

Most-cited components

Engine68
Electrical System21
Power Train16
Unspecified15
Vehicle Speed Control14
Air Bags13

What owners describe

“In December after getting letter in the mail saying I needed an upgrade to my car's knock sensor I took it to a Kia dealership. I received word from the dealership that my car had suffered a lower crank shaft failure and would need to be replaced. The dealership told me that this was a known issue and gave me a number …”Mar 9, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“I received a voluntary service campaign letter dated August 19, 2022. The letter was in regard to corrosion of the brake lines. I was driving when my brake lines ruptured. I had the car towed, 11/ 22/22, to the Kia dealership in Jamestown, NY. I received a call from the service department, letting me know all the brake…”Dec 12, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“The car is unable to receive fuel adequately. Car was sold in an intermittently undriveable condition.”Nov 21, 2022 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆10%
5 HB FWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★★☆10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Forte model years

A

2024 Kia Forte

0 recalls · 24 complaints

D

2023 Kia Forte

3 recalls · 61 complaints

A

2022 Kia Forte

1 recalls · 26 complaints

B

2021 Kia Forte

2 recalls · 67 complaints

A

2020 Kia Forte

0 recalls · 74 complaints

B

2019 Kia Forte

2 recalls · 147 complaints

C

2018 Kia Forte

3 recalls · 136 complaints

C

2017 Kia Forte

3 recalls · 301 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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