2019 Kia Forte: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2019 Kia Forte: CAUTION — 150 owner complaints (1.57 per 1,000 sold), 1.4× the Forte median year; top issue: powertrain / transmission (48 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2019 is 1.26, where 1.00 is a typical Forte year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. Severity drives it: 72% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, published U.S. sales, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2013–2024 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
150
NHTSA complaints
1.57
Complaints per 1,000 sold
101
Service bulletins
2
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2019 Kia Forte problems
Powertrain / transmission is the clear leader, named in 32% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2019 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 48 | 32% |
| Engine | 38 | 25% |
| Electrical system | 23 | 15% |
| Unknown or other | 22 | 15% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 17 | 11% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2019 Kia Forte recalls
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2019, reported between Oct 31, 2018 and Aug 5, 2020.
2019 Kia Forte service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 101 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2019 — close to the 99 of the median Forte year from 2013 to 2024. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (44), powertrain / transmission (29), engine & cooling (18). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2019 vs. the year before and after
From the 2018 to the 2019, owner complaints rose 10% (136 → 150) — a step backward. The 2020 that followed fell 48% (150 → 78), so the 2020 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Forte | SOLID | 136 | 99 | 3 | — |
| 2019 (this page) | CAUTION | 150 | 101 | 2 | — |
| 2020 Forte | BEST | 78 | 98 | 0 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Kia Forte years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2019 Kia Forte
Powertrain / transmission (48 complaints on the 2019): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Engine (38 complaints on the 2019): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Electrical system (23 complaints on the 2019): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Forward collision avoidance (17 complaints on the 2019): ask about false automatic-braking events and look for driver-assist warning messages.
Exterior lighting (15 complaints on the 2019): check low and high beams, brake lights and turn signals, and look for condensation inside the housings.
Recalls: confirm all 2 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2019 Kia Forte — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
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Found a 2019 Kia Forte for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
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FAQ
Is the 2019 Kia Forte reliable?
2019 Kia Forte: CAUTION — 150 owner complaints (1.57 per 1,000 sold), 1.4× the Forte median year; top issue: powertrain / transmission (48 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2019 is 1.26, where 1.00 is a typical Forte year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2019 Kia Forte problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2019 Kia Forte are powertrain / transmission (48, 32%), engine (38, 25%), electrical system (23, 15%). The manufacturer has 101 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2019 Kia Forte have?
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2019 Kia Forte, most recently 20V459000 (Aug 5, 2020, powertrain / transmission); 18V771000 (Oct 31, 2018, exterior lighting). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2019 Kia Forte before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2019 Kia Forte come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the per-1,000 rate divides complaints by published U.S. 2019 calendar-year sales; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.