Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
The 2012 Kia Forte has 306 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, and engine is the part named most often, at 174 complaints. EPA rates it at 26 to 30 mpg combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $10,830 to $12,490 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns that may apply, covering brakes, engine, and air bags.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
26–30 mpgcombined; city 22–27, highway 30–35; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$10,830–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $9,680–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2012 Forte. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 306 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Forte. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
174
3
17
3
Air bags
38
15
2
12
Electrical system
33
0
6
0
Service brakes
30
3
0
1
Exterior lighting
23
0
1
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
21
0
3
0
Unknown or other
20
1
2
1
Vehicle speed control
15
3
0
2
Power train
12
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
9
2
1
0
Steering
9
1
0
1
Structure
9
2
2
2
14 more parts
Engine and engine cooling
5
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
0
0
0
Seat belts
3
2
0
2
Suspension
3
1
0
1
Visibility
3
0
0
0
Wheels
3
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
2
1
0
1
Tires
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Equipment adaptive/mobility
1
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, air
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2012 Forte over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Risk: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
Risk: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 72 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2012 Forte, the latest on Jun 9, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (19), electrical system (17), steering (17), structure (15), power train (11).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Audit query AQ23002 Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · covers 3 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2012 Forte.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Forte Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
25 / 35 / 29
Forte Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
25 / 34 / 28
Forte Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 31 / 26
Forte Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 31 / 26
Forte Eco Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
27 / 35 / 30
Forte Koup Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
25 / 34 / 28
Forte Koup Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
24 / 32 / 27
Forte Koup Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 30 / 26
Forte Koup Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
22 / 31 / 26
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data