2012 Kia Forte Electrical System Problems
NHTSA component category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How electrical system ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 289 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Kia Forte overview page.
What owners report
“THE STEREO WIRES MELTED AND STARTED A FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD. FIRE WAS PUT OUT. STEREO IS DAMAGED.”NHTSA complaint 11184940 — filed 03/07/2019
“MADE A TURN AT APPROX 12 MPH. CAR BUMPED INTO NEUTRAL WHEN GROCERIES TIPPED OVER. HEATER, RADIO, AND ENGINE ALL QUIT. COULD NOT BE RESTARTED…”NHTSA complaint 11065330 — filed 01/26/2018
“THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE CAR GOES OUT OFTEN SINCE I BOUGHT IT, MORE COMMONLY THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY CHECKED AND REPLACED FUSES…”NHTSA complaint 11022087 — filed 09/07/2017
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Electrical System complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Kia Forte have electrical system problems?
Electrical System is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Kia Forte: 32 of 289 complaints on file (11.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2012 Kia Forte have in total?
289 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 20 involved a crash, 21 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and 3 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's electrical system category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ELECTRICAL SYSTEM category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
