Kia Forte Koup
Registered from 2016 to 2017.
About this model
The Kia Forte, known as the K3 in Asia, the Forte K3 or Shuma in China, and the Cerato in South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia, is a compact car manufactured by South Korean automaker Kia from 2008 until its discontinuation in 2024, replacing the Kia Spectra.
From the Wikipedia article Kia Forte, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it stands out against its peers
- Engine: more complaints than 92% of 2016 cars — 49% of its 136 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 21%.
- Vehicle speed control: more complaints than 91% of 2016 cars — 10% of its 136 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 5%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- ENGINE — 42 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
- AIR BAGS — 10 owners reported this, 10 involving a crash
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 6 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 5 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
- POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 4 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN — 3 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
- POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 3 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 3 owners reported this
- WHEELS — 3 owners reported this
Crash test
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | No |
| Lane departure warning | No |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 201 hp · 1353 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 9.4 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway · Coupe, 2-door |
| 2016 | 173 hp · 1353 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway · Coupe, 2-door |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
80% of 2017 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
22V031000
Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
Kia filed 27 bulletins about the 2017 Forte Koup.
- Electrical system: 8
- Service brakes: 7
- Service brakes, hydraulic: 6
- Structure: 4
- Power train: 2
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC238 Flight #501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if… · July 2026
- PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2106 FLIGHT 501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software… · April 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information.… · February 2026
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses… · January 2026
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent… · December 2025
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SALT-STATE: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC238) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia conducting Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary,… · March 2025
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: BRAKE TUBE/LINE REINSPECTION/REPLACEMENT & ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL REAPPLICATION (SC238A) - This bulletin provides information to inspect and,… · August 2024
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER (RE)NOTIFICATION (SC238A) - The document is the owner (re)notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary,… · August 2024
19 more.
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.