2020 Kia Forte
The 2020 Kia Forte is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forte FE, is EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 74 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forte FE | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 31 | 41 | 35 | $1,800 |
| Forte | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 29 | 40 | 33 | $1,900 |
| Forte | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 27 | 37 | 31 | $2,000 |
| Forte | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,100 |
| Forte | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 32 | 28 | $2,250 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41457, 41458, 41459, 41455, 41456.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2020 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 (0)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseNo NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2020 Kia Forte. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 15
Most-cited components
What owners describe
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| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.
Other Forte model years
2024 Kia Forte
0 recalls · 24 complaints
D2023 Kia Forte
3 recalls · 61 complaints
A2022 Kia Forte
1 recalls · 26 complaints
B2021 Kia Forte
2 recalls · 67 complaints
B2019 Kia Forte
2 recalls · 147 complaints
C2018 Kia Forte
3 recalls · 136 complaints
C2017 Kia Forte
3 recalls · 301 complaints
A2016 Kia Forte
1 recalls · 137 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.