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2018 Kia Forte

Gas

Midsize Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3

Complaints13 crash · 3 fire · 9 injured reported 136

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 32 mpg

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Kia Forte is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 6 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 136 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

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Forte	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	29	37	32	$2,100
Forte	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	25	34	28	$2,400
Forte	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	25	33	28	$2,400
Forte 5	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	25	34	28	$2,400
Forte 5	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	25	30	27	$2,500
Forte 5	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	23	29	25	$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38933, 38934, 38935, 38941, 39064, 39065.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Forte	5–7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Forte	5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Forte	3–7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Forte 5	3 / 10	California LEV-II ULEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Forte 5	3 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-II ULEV	All 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 style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

147 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	6

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 PREM, SX, LX, LX Base, LX Pop,S,EX). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	178.3–179.5 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	70.1 in
Height	55.5–56.3 in
Wheelbase	106.3 in
Track, front	61.4 in
Track, rear	61.8 in
Curb weight	2,804–2,983 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	62/38 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.

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 PDF Remedy 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 PDF Remedy 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 2018 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 2018 Kia Forte, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

136complaints filed

13 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 9 injuries · 0 deaths reported

16 per 10,000 built · Kia reported 84,830 Forte built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 7 · 2019: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 22 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 10

Most-cited components

Engine → 62

Unspecified 30

Air Bags 16

Electrical System 16

Vehicle Speed Control 10

Power Train 8

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.

Drivers seat belt is just getting shredded / coming apart. This is not just cosmetic fraying - the fabric is coming apart on both sides of the strap

Seat Belts at 27,000 miles Jul 30, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11342397

I have trouble with my car starting every time get ready to start it I would have to get someone to jump start my car off every time ike yesterday when I got ready to go to work it didn't start it make a clicking noise ike it's the battery but I really can't tell what is causing this problem I have taken my care to Kia dealership they…

Electrical System May 22, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11325535

While my daughter was driving this vehicle it started making a loud noise, then the motor stopped. There was no indication, ever, of an engine issue. No lights, warnings, temperature, nothing ever alerted her. We took it to two mechanics who diagnosed as total engine failure. All fluids were low, no oil. We never saw oil spots.

Engine at 67,000 miles Apr 13, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11320956

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while merging into traffic, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle hesitated. The mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code or duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent.

Vehicle Speed Control at 9,624 miles Jan 14, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11299232

This problem happened 2 times this week & on 2 separate days while I was driving & since I only drive this car once or twice a week this has me concerned.. The car started ok and drove for a couple of miles just fine when suddenly the car felt like I was trying to drive while the car was in neutral & even with my foot was on the gas…

Power Train at 5,660 miles Mar 13, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11186351

Takata recall. I was involved in an accident and crash head on into another car. The vehicle was totaled but the airbags never deployed

Air Bags at 7,996 miles Nov 21, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11153084

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: 8 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 8 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 9.4 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 35k

miles, typically

Half the 47 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 19,000 and 79,000 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 10

10k–20k 4

20k–30k 3

30k–40k 7

40k–50k 3

50k–60k 2

60k–70k 4

70k–80k 2

80k–90k 1

90k–100k 0

100k–150k 8

150k + 3

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	20	68,000	1.36×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-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.

Across 2018–2019 model years the Kia Forte ranks 35 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.88× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 20,500 miles against a fleet 23,512).

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

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
5 HB FWD	not rated	not rated	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 100

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-06-08

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 95 service bulletins, 5 others

Most often about: Engine, Electrical System, Structure, Equipment, Power Train.

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
PI2106_OWNR_501 Other
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
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
PI2106YZ_TSB_R1 Service bulletin
2024-11-08 · Engine
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2106Y/Z) - 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 related to the Technical Service Bulletin previously published (PI21
CS2305_TSB_R5 Service bulletin
2024-06-06 · Electrical System
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2305) - 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 the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BC

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.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0300 P0300 on Kia →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Engine · Ignition coils →	6 bulletins
P0304 P0304 on Kia →	Cylinder 4 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	6 bulletins
P0301 P0301 on Kia →	Cylinder 1 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	5 bulletins
P0302 P0302 on Kia →	Cylinder 2 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	5 bulletins
P0303 P0303 on Kia →	Cylinder 3 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	5 bulletins
P1326 P1326 on Kia →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 3.0%

failed emissions

1,502 initial inspections of 1,470 vehicles.

Measure	The 2018 Forte	Every 2018 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	3.0%	3.0%	1,501
Failed the safety inspection	2.9%	1.9%	1,502
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0%	0.22%	1,502
Miles driven a year	9,862	10,002	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	81,644	82,833	odometer 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 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 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 mpg 2023 D 3 66 Do not drive 2022 B 1 28 35 mpg 2021 C 2 69 35 mpg 2020 A 0 78 35 mpg 2019 B 2 149 35 mpg 2018 this page C 3 136 32 mpg 2017 C 3 305 32 mpg 2016 A 1 138 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Forte

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Kia Forte have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 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 2018 Kia Forte?

NHTSA gave the 2018 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 2018 Kia Forte?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Kia Forte?

Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Forte, most often about engine, unspecified, air bags. Of those, 13 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 9 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 2018 Kia Forte?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Kia Forte runs 3 to 7 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 — California LEV-II ULEV, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Kia Forte?

The manufacturer has filed 100 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Kia Forte, most often covering engine, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-06-08. 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 2018 Kia Forte do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Kia Forte failed the emissions check on 3.0% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.9% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). 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.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	6 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	6 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	136	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	100	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No 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 NHTSA	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We 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.

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.

JSON for this page · API

2018 Kia Forte

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Seating

Transmission

Driver assistance

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (3)

Air Bags

Latches/Locks/Linkages

Engine And Engine Cooling

Whether any of this applies to one specific Forte

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2018 Kia Forte

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

When owners reported it

miles, typically

Median mileage by component

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Forte by model year

Common questions about the 2018 Forte

Does the 2018 Kia Forte have any recalls?

How safe is the 2018 Kia Forte?

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Kia Forte?

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Kia Forte?

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Kia Forte?

How clean is the 2018 Kia Forte?

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Kia Forte?

How does the 2018 Kia Forte do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method