2019 Kia Forte Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 09/08/2026

36Engine complaints

24.5%Of all 147 complaints

#2Most-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

POWER TRAIN46 · 31.3%

ENGINE36 · 24.5%

Unspecified / other22 · 15%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20 · 13.6%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS14 · 9.5%

Share of the 147 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2019 Kia Forte overview page.

What owners report

“On [XXX] my son was driving on the highway when the car suddenly shut off.. thank god he was able to safely get to the…”NHTSA complaint 11682544 — filed 08/23/2025

“Have only 70000 miles on it and Kia refuses to replace the transmission that went out and they have lied to me repeatedly and need…”NHTSA complaint 11606688 — filed 08/06/2024

“Have had the car since it had 30,000 on it. It was one year old when we bought it. We changed the oil every three…”NHTSA complaint 11603854 — filed 07/22/2024

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2019 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2019 Kia Forte: 36 of 147 complaints on file (24.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2019 Kia Forte have in total?

147 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none 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 09/08/2026.