Model year

2012 Kia Forte

NHTSA lists 4 recalls and 292 complaints for the 2012 Kia Forte (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 4 recalls and 14 complaints under FORTE KOUP. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. 1 recall marked park outside. The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE (161), AIR BAGS (37), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (32). NHTSA lists 4 investigations, including 1 investigation with no close date in the file. NHTSA rated 2 variants 4 stars overall. EPA rates it 26–30 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,250–$2,600, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

23V652000 · Sep 25, 2023

Park outside

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

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…

20V750000 · Dec 2, 2020

ENGINE

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.

18V363000 · Jun 1, 2018

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

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…

17V773000 · Dec 1, 2017

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

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…

Complaints

292 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 20, fire flag on 23, injury field 16, deaths field 3. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

ENGINE161
AIR BAGS37
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
SERVICE BRAKES30
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC21
UNKNOWN OR OTHER20
EXTERIOR LIGHTING18
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL13
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
STRUCTURE:BODY9

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name	Recalls	Complaints
FORTE KOUP	4	14

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (4). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
Action	Subject	Opened	Closed
PE18003	Air bags may be disabled during crash · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR…	Mar 16, 2018	Aug 30, 2019
EA21003	Engine Fires · ENGINE	Dec 22, 2021	Feb 5, 2024
DP22003	Loss of Motive Power · ENGINE	Sep 12, 2022	Dec 12, 2023
AQ23002	Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE	Nov 17, 2023	No close date in the file

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-star variants matched to this model year (3). Rollover possibility is the API's published figure, shown as recorded.
Variant	Overall	Front	Side	Pole	Rollover	Photo
4 DR FWD	4	4	4	2	4 · possibility 0.103	NHTSA photo
5 HB FWD	4	4	4	2	4 · possibility 0.103	—
Koup 2 DR FWD	Not rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated · possibility 0	—

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
Configuration	Fuel	City	Hwy	Comb	kWh/100 mi	Range	Annual fuel cost
Forte Koup · 2L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	25	34	28	—	—	$2,400
Forte Koup · 2L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	24	32	27	—	—	$2,500
Forte Koup · 2.4L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	23	30	26	—	—	$2,600
Forte Koup · 2.4L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	22	31	26	—	—	$2,600
Forte · 2L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	25	35	29	—	—	$2,300
Forte · 2L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	25	34	28	—	—	$2,400
Forte Eco · 2L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	27	35	30	—	—	$2,250
Forte · 2.4L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	23	31	26	—	—	$2,600
Forte · 2.4L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	22	31	26	—	—	$2,600

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2012 Kia Forte at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All Kia Forte model years