Are there open safety recalls?
3 open
Ask the seller for proof each was fixed. Repairs are free — and there’s also an open investigation.
FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
The 2017 Kia Forte has 3 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 300 owner complaints, and gets about 27 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA
2017 Kia Forte
- Engine 4-cyl 1.6L
- Drive Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Regular
- Body Compact Cars
Should you worry?
Be careful
Serious flags in the public record. Read below, and verify recall work was done.
What do owners report?
4 deaths reported
Out of 300 owner reports. Read the Owners section before you buy.
How did it score in crash tests?
5 out of 5 stars
5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.
Open recalls · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2017.
- 20151recall
- 20161recall
- 2017 · this car3recalls
- 20183recalls
Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked August 2, 2026.
SAFETY
Will it protect people in a crash?
These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.
- Overall
- 5 / 5 stars
- Frontal
- 4 / 5 stars
- Side
- 5 / 5 stars
- Side pole
- 5 / 5 stars
- Rollover
- 4 / 5 stars
Factory safety & driver-assist equipment
- Stability control
- Standard
Tested as: 2017 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD
Open safety recalls
3 openA recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.
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Air Bags
25/01/2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
How they fix it: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
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Latches/Locks/Linkages
09/08/2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
How they fix it: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
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Engine And Engine Cooling
13/04/2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
How they fix it: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
The government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.
From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked August 2, 2026.
OWNERS
What problems do owners report?
People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.
Owner reports · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2017.
- 2015258reports
- 20160reports
- 2017 · this car300reports
- 2018134reports
300 owner reports on file
23 crash mentions 9 fire mentions 21 injury mentions 4 death mentions
Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 300 total reports.
- ENGINE 97 of 300
The contact owns a 2017 KIA Forte. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was misfiring, severely shaking and was losing motive power suddenly while operating on multiple constantly for about 3 w
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 43 of 300
The vehicle exhibits a chronic, systemic electrical failure characterized by the intermittent loss of critical lighting systems, including turn signals and brake lights. This failur5e has persisted over several years and thousands of miles,
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 35 of 300
The vehicle went into Tasca Kia for a cam shaft replacement, this did not fix the issue and the vehicle needed an entire engine replacement under power train warranty. Since then, the vehicle has continuously stalled. The vehicle is not ind
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 29 of 300
Break lights, running lights and headlights go out at least every three months at different times. Apparently it’s a common problem with these cars when I go to online forums and I have recently been contacted by a class action attorney tha
- AIR BAGS 16 of 300
Kia has common problems on the airbags even tho my air bags is good but I want to still check it
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13 of 300
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a scanner dete
Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.
From NHTSA owner complaints · checked August 2, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.
FUEL COST
What does it cost to drive?
EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.
Combined MPG · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2017.
- 201529mpg
- 201628mpg
- 2017 · this car27mpg
- 201832mpg
$2,300
estimated fuel cost per year if you drive about 15,000 miles
Miles per gallon. Higher is cheaper to drive.
City driving 25 mpg
Highway driving 32 mpg
Combined (typical mix) 27 mpg
Over 5 years, compared to an average new car
This model is estimated to cost about $500 more on fuel.
Spends more Saves more
- Passenger space
- 92 cubic feet
- Cargo space
- 13 cubic feet
From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked August 2, 2026.
HOW IT WAS BUILT
Factory details
What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.
Engine
4-cyl 1.6L
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic (AM7)
Fuel
Regular
See all factory details (7)
- Engine
- 4-cyl 1.6L
- Cylinders
- 4
- Displacement
- 1.6 L
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (AM7)
- Body
- Compact Cars
- Fuel
- Regular
From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked August 2, 2026.
What this free check does not include
We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recalls were fixed
This model has 3 open NHTSA recalls (including the air bags). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
Have a mechanic check the engine
Owners report problems with the engine more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
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Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
-
Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
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Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
FOR SALE NEAR YOU
2017 Kia Forte listings
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2017 Kia Forte? +
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2017 Kia Forte, including the air bags. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Kia Forte get? +
The EPA rates the 2017 Kia Forte at 27 mpg combined (25 city / 32 highway), about $2,300 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2017 Kia Forte? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2017 Kia Forte 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2017 Kia Forte? +
Owners have filed 300 complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Kia Forte, including 23 involving a crash. The most-reported area is engine.
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