The 2013 Kia Forte is a midsize cars vehicle covered by 9 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 195 owner complaints and 5 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 16 report a crash and 13 report a fire; 12 complaints report injuries totalling 17 injured people, and 1 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Engine, named in 107 complaints (54.9% of the total). The sections below reproduce the underlying records in full: crash-test ratings, every recall campaign with its NHTSA campaign number, complaint counts by component, and EPA fuel-economy figures for each configuration.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
NHTSA tested the 2013 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD under its 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not publish a score for that test for this variant.
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash — overall | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — passenger | ★★★☆☆ |
| Side crash — overall | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash — driver | ★★★☆☆ |
| Side crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side pole crash | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Rollover resistance | ★★★★☆ |
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard equipment on the tested variant, and NHTSA records no safety recall investigation rating adjustments for it.
Recall Campaigns (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) that include the 2013 Kia Forte. Each campaign below shows the official NHTSA campaign number, the affected component, and the manufacturer's own summary, consequence and remedy statements as published by NHTSA. To check whether a specific vehicle is covered, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
Campaign 20V750000 — Engine 02/12/2020
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Campaign 18V363000 — Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module 01/06/2018
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Campaign 17V773000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals and Linkages 01/12/2017
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Campaign 16V312000 — Seat Belts:front:retractor 17/05/2016
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2013 Forte vehicles manufactured September 10, 2012, to October 31, 2012. The screws that hold the front seatbelt retractor retaining plates may not have been properly tightened, and as a result, the seatbelt retractor retaining plates may break in a crash.
Consequence: If a retaining plate breaks during a crash, pieces of the plate could strike the occupants, increasing risk of injury.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace both front seatbelt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. The recall began July 1, 2016. Kia's number for this recall is SC132.
Campaign 23V652000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module 25/09/2023
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Owner Complaints (195)
Owners have filed 195 complaints about the 2013 Kia Forte with NHTSA. Complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — higher-selling vehicles naturally attract more complaints — but the breakdown by component shows where owners report problems most often.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 107 | 54.9% |
| Service Brakes | 38 | 19.5% |
| Electrical System | 25 | 12.8% |
| Air Bags | 16 | 8.2% |
| Hydraulic | 14 | 7.2% |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 7.2% |
| Steering | 13 | 6.7% |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 | 6.7% |
| Power Train | 10 | 5.1% |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 4.1% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 3.1% |
| Wheels | 5 | 2.6% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Engine, 107 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2023 with 28 filings. Owners filed 195 complaints in total across 15 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 16 and those involving a fire number 13; 12 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2013 Kia Forte as a midsize cars vehicle and published ratings for 9 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 26–30 MPG; the median configuration returns 24 city / 32 highway / 27 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 29 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27.5 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 |
Showing the 4 most common configuration groups of 9 EPA configurations.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and safety ratings databases and EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset, accessed October 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2013 Kia Forte have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 195 complaints for the 2013 Kia Forte when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Engine with 107 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2013 Kia Forte?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) covering the 2013 Kia Forte in the data accessed in October 2026, including campaign 20V750000 for Engine.
What is the 2013 Kia Forte's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2013 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with 4 stars for frontal crash, 4 for side crash and 4 for rollover resistance.
What MPG does the 2013 Kia Forte get?
The EPA rated 9 configurations of the 2013 Kia Forte. Combined fuel economy ranges from 26 to 30 MPG, with a median of 27 MPG (median city 24, median highway 32).