2010 Kia Forte Reliability
The 2010 Kia Forte has 232 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. Compared with other Forte model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Forte's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
232
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
21
Complaints citing a crash
5
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Kia Forte complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80 | 34% |
| Air bags | 42 | 18% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 23 | 10% |
| Tires | 23 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 20 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 20 | 9% |
| Wheels | 18 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 16 | 7% |
2010 Kia Forte recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V114000 | Apr 1, 2013 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009… |
| 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… |
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | Service brakes — 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2010 compares with nearby Forte years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Forte analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | Engine | Too few reports |
| 2010 (this page) | 232 | 3 | Engine | Caution |
| 2011 | 162 | 3 | Engine | Solid |
| 2012 | 307 | 4 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2010 Kia Forte on the used market
- 18 of 138 2010 Kia Forte listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2010 Kia Forte
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Tires: check tread depth and date codes, and look for uneven wear that points to alignment problems.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Kia Forte can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2010 Kia Forte reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Kia Forte reliable?
The 2010 Kia Forte has 232 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. Compared with other Forte model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Forte's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2010 Kia Forte problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Kia Forte are engine (80), air bags (42), powertrain / transmission (23), tires (23). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Kia Forte have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2010 Kia Forte, including 13V114000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch) and 18V363000 (air bags — air bag/restraint control module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Kia Forte compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 1 complaint and 0 recalls (too few reports); the 2011 has 162 complaints and 3 recalls (solid). The 2010 has 232 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 Kia Forte?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Forte research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 Forte, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.