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Your vehicleHome›Kia›Forte› 2017
Kia · Midsize Sedan

2017 Kia Forte

Gas
Midsize Cars
9 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3
Complaints23 crash · 10 fire · 21 injured · 4 died reported 305
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 32 mpg
202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 Kia Forte is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forte, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 305 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Kia Forte — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Kia Forte · Photo: RL GNZLZ from Chile · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
ForteGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl293832$2,100
ForteGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253328$2,400
ForteGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253428$2,400
Forte 5GasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253428$2,400
Forte KoupGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl253328$2,400
Forte 5GasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo253027$2,500
Forte KoupGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo253227$2,500
Forte KoupGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo233026$2,600
Forte 5GasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo232925$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37555, 37492, 37556, 38114, 38091, 38115, 38092, 38093, 38116.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Forte7–9 / 10LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Forte6–9 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Forte7 / 10LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Forte 5, Forte Koup6 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower147 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

Optional: Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: EX, EX Premium, SX, LX, LX Base). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length178.3–179.5 in
Width (body, without mirrors)70.1 in
Height55.5–56.3 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Track, front61.4 in
Track, rear61.8 in
Curb weight2,804–2,983 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear62/38 to 63/37

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 4-door Sedan, Koupe EX 2-door Coupe, Koupe Sx/Sx Luxury 2-door Coupe, LX 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2017 Forte
Other years The 2024 Forte Recalls Kia recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 Kia Forte is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

SC226
410,619 vehicles 66% reported repaired
Problem Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash. Risk Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V031000 reported Jan 25, 2022 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

SC216
253,074 vehicles 54% reported repaired
Problem 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." Risk A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V622000 reported Aug 9, 2021 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

SC210
4,069 vehicles 69% reported repaired
Problem Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage. Risk A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V260000 reported Apr 13, 2021 Kia Motors America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Forte

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Kia publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Kia’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 Kia Forte, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2017 Kia Forte

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Forte →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
305complaints filed

23 involved a crash · 10 a fire · 21 injuries · 4 deaths reported

23 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 130,478 Forte built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 7 · 2018: 21 · 2019: 40 · 2020: 31 · 2021: 40 · 2022: 40 · 2023: 40 · 2024: 30 · 2025: 43 · 2026: 13

Most-cited components

Engine → 159
Unspecified 49
Electrical System 47
Exterior Lighting 44
Fuel/Propulsion System 30
Vehicle Speed Control 18

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

My daughter was driving on route 55 in nj and the right rear tire popped and she pulled off the highway into the shoulder. A driver for njdot arrived and told US the tire was dry rotted. We had the car towed to the dealership who told US the tire wasnt defective. I'm not an expert but I feel the tire may be defective.
Wheels at 20,000 miles Oct 11, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11139889
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the front passenger side OEM factory wiper failed to function. As a result, it impacted the contact's visibility during inclement weather. The dealer mentioned a buy back offer, but did not assist with replacing the front passenger wiper.
Visibility/Wiper Sep 14, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11129498
On march 1, vehicle had been parked for 10 min on a cold day after being driven for a few hours and 'engine oveheated' came up on the display. Vehicle was towed the following day to cable dahmer Kia where they said the cause was an electrical glitch and that the car was fine.
Electrical System at 36,000 miles Sep 5, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11124665
Vehicle was in motion, smelled something "off", within seconds engine burst into flames. Entire vehicle gutted. Kia literally just installed a new engine, starter, battery, and intake 2 days prior due to engine locking up - with 22000 miles
Engine at 22,506 miles Aug 28, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11123010
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. When the contact attempted to apply the brake or accelerator pedals, their foot was blocked by some kind of partition on the floor. The partition was located between the accelerator and brake pedals and prevented the contact from braking or accelerating in a timely manor.
Vehicle Speed Control at 3,600 miles Aug 22, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11121649
Vehicle was in a major crash on illinois route 15 in belleville il. Vehicle was struck in the front driver side off center by a wrong way driver. Passenger in the Kia was trapped under the dash. Passenger was wearing seat belt and it appears the seat belt failed to lock. Passenger airbags did not deploy.
Air Bags at 3,500 miles Aug 19, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11120867

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.

Reported by Kia itself: 16 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 7 killed, 17 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 12 per 100,000 built. Every Forte model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 41k

miles, typically

Half the 132 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 22,000 and 82,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 19
10k–20k 11
20k–30k 18
30k–40k 15
40k–50k 11
50k–60k 7
60k–70k 7
70k–80k 9
80k–90k 6
90k–100k 7
100k–150k 16
150k + 6

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine5982,0001.41×
Electrical System2132,8500.94×
Unspecified1926,594—
Exterior Lighting1840,5771.27×
Fuel/Propulsion System1426,0000.7×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2017-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

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

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 167
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-07-18
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 150 service bulletins, 10 service campaigns, 7 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Service Brakes, Equipment.

  • SC238_OWNR_501 Service campaign
    2026-07-18 · Service Brakes
  • VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC238 Flight #501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace brake line(s) in certain 2014-2017 MY Forte and Forte Koup vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. In additio
  • CS2312_TSB_R2 Service bulletin
    2026-06-08 · Structure — Body
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - 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 install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia
  • 2026-04-01 · Electrical System
  • PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2106 FLIGHT 501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2017-2018 MY Kia Forte vehicles equipped with 2.0-liter Nu GDI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge and will onl
  • TSB_CS2312_R1 Service bulletin
    2026-02-19 · Structure — Body
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - 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 install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia
  • PS797 Other
    2025-12-09 · Back Over Prevention — Warnings
  • PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane
  • TSB_TRA046_R5 Service bulletin
    2025-04-17 · Power Train
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - 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 relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is
  • TSB_ENG222_R8 Service bulletin
    2025-04-03 · Engine
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - 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 on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine
  • TSB_ENG222_R7 Service bulletin
    2025-02-28 · Engine
  • TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - 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 on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), w

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0301
P0301 on Kia →		Cylinder 1 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0303
P0303 on Kia →		Cylinder 3 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0300
P0300 on Kia →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins
P0302
P0302 on Kia →		Cylinder 2 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins
P0304
P0304 on Kia →		Cylinder 4 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins
P1326
P1326 on Kia →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins · 1 owner report
B1620Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Air Bags2 owner reports
P0014
P0014 on Kia →		The second camshaft on bank 1 is timed further advanced than commanded.Engine1 bulletin · 1 owner report
P0016
P0016 on Kia →		The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.Engine2 bulletins
P0449
P0449 on Kia →		A fault in the evaporative vent valve or solenoid circuit.Engine · EVAP vent valve →2 bulletins
P0451
P0451 on Kia →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Kia Forte failed the emissions check on 3.9% of first inspections — close to the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.9% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).

New York inspections 3.9%

failed emissions

1,719 initial inspections of 1,670 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2017 ForteEvery 2017 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.9%3.7%1,713
Failed the safety inspection3.9%2.1%1,719
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.17%0.25%1,719
Miles driven a year9,63610,048odometer at inspection
Average odometer89,40793,238odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Forte by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2024 A 0 26 34 mpg2023 D 3 66 Do not drive2022 B 1 28 35 mpg2021 C 2 69 35 mpg2020 A 0 78 35 mpg2019 B 2 149 35 mpg2018 C 3 136 32 mpg2017 this page C 3 305 32 mpg2016 A 1 138 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 Forte

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Kia Forte have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Kia Forte. The most serious on file is 22V031000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Kia Forte?

NHTSA gave the 2017 Kia Forte 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (79/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Kia Forte?

Across the 9 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Kia Forte, the best EPA combined figure is 32 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Kia Forte?

Transport Canada measured it at 178.3–179.5 in long, 70.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 55.5–56.3 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,804–2,983 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2017 Kia Forte?

Owners have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Forte, most often about engine, unspecified, electrical system. Of those, 23 involved a crash, 10 a fire, 21 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2017 Kia Forte?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Kia Forte runs 6 to 9 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Kia Forte?

The manufacturer has filed 167 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Kia Forte, most often covering electrical system, engine, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-07-18. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2017 Kia Forte do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Kia Forte failed the emissions check on 3.9% of first inspections — close to the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.9% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations9 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates9 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints305NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins167NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA9 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2024 Forte The Forte model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Kia recall on file All campaigns filed against Kia vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Forte by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

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

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