2017 Kia Forte Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

3 safety recalls on file

The 2017 Kia Forte has 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA, including 23 crashes, 10 fires, 21 injuries.

The most-reported problem area is Engine (145 reports).

3Recalls
305Owner complaints
23Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your Forte?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

2017 Kia Forte recalls

Air Bags May Fail to Deploy in a Crash

Recall 22V031Jan 25, 2022410,619 vehicles affected

The Air Bag Control Unit cover may touch a memory chip on the circuit board inside the unit and damage the electrical circuit.

Trunk May Not Open From Inside, Risking Trapped Occupants

Recall 21V622Aug 9, 2021253,074 vehicles affected

The trunk latch can become damaged, which may prevent the trunk from being opened from the inside.

Debris in oil pump can cause engine failure and stalling

Recall 21V260Apr 13, 20214,069 vehicles affected

Foreign particles may become lodged inside the oil pump of certain 2.0L engines.

Most common 2017 Kia Forte problems

Problem areas named in the 305 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Engine145
Unknown Or Other49
Electrical System47
Exterior Lighting44
Fuel/Propulsion System29
Vehicle Speed Control18
Air Bags18
Engine And Engine Cooling14
Power Train12
Structure10

What owners report

2026-10-05, Electrical System
I was driving this car and received a check engine light and lulled over to find an electrical fire had occurred under the hood. I was able to use a fire extinguisher to put out this fire. The car was towed to a Kia dealership near my home for confirmation and an estimate of the damages. It apparently was caused by a problem that Kia has had with the ABS/hydraulic electronic control units that can trigger electrical shorts.
2026-10-03, Exterior Lighting
I own a 2017 Kia Forte that has a recurring problem with water intrusion in the rear tail light assemblies. This issue was previously repaired around 2018 under Kia’s service action related to moisture and water entering the rear combination lamps, but the problem has returned. Moisture and water are again getting inside the tail light housing, which can lead to corrosion, bulb or LED failure, and electrical problems. I am concerned that this could cause the brake light or turn signal to fail unexpectedly. If one of these lights goes out without warning, other drivers may not be able to tell when I am stopping or turning, which could increase the risk of a rear-end or side-impact crash. S
2026-09-30, Structure
2017 Kia Forte (Recall SC216 Trunk latch - this 2017 VIN needs to be included
2026-09-21, Engine
There was a rod failure in the engine. The vehicle is currently at the repair facility. This rod failure caused the vehicle to die while traveling down the road, so it was a safety risk. The rod failure was diagnosed by a certified mechanic. There were no warning lamps, messages, etc. This failure is the same issue that many Kia Forte's of the same year have been diagnosed with, and a recall was issued. This vehicle is not covered under the recall, but should be. The engine recall should be extended to all 2017 Kia Forte models.
2026-08-20, Engine And Engine Cooling
See attached document for complaint.

2017 Kia Forte questions

Does the 2017 Kia Forte have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2017 Kia Forte: Air Bags May Fail to Deploy in a Crash; Trunk May Not Open From Inside, Risking Trapped Occupants; Debris in oil pump can cause engine failure and stalling. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Kia Forte?

Based on 305 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (145), Unknown Or Other (49), Electrical System (47).

How do I check if a recall on my 2017 Kia Forte has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

Other Kia Forte years

Other 2017 Kia models