2015 Kia Forte Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

156Engine complaints

60.5%Of all 258 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE156 · 60.5%

Unspecified / other31 · 12%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24 · 9.3%

AIR BAGS23 · 8.9%

POWER TRAIN17 · 6.6%

Share of the 258 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2015 Kia Forte overview page.

What owners report

“PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE, MECHANIC NOTICE METAL PIECES IN THE OIL FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 11415203 — filed 05/04/2021

“JUST FINANCED FROM A DEALER ON 4/12, HAD MAJOR OIL LEAK, HAD TO RETURN TO DEALERSHIP. SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED, BUT CURRENTLY STILL HAVE…”NHTSA complaint 11414702 — filed 05/01/2021

“MY ENGINE JUST STARTED MAKING "KNOCKING" SOUNDS OUT OF NOWHERE...IM UP TO DATE ON OIL CHANGES AND I CHECK THE OIL OFTEN...IT KNOCKS WHILE IDLE…”NHTSA complaint 11414141 — filed 04/27/2021

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2015 Kia Forte: 156 of 258 complaints on file (60.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2015 Kia Forte have in total?

258 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 20 involved a fire, 11 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.