Verdict
2020 Kia Forte: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2020 Kia Forte — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
More reported complaints than most sedan.
Owners filed 71 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 77% of 2020 sedans. Unknown Or Other leads the reports (31%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2020 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
71
Reports to NHTSA, 2020
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
30.5
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 77% of 2020 sedans
The bar is this car's percentile among 2020 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Unknown Or Other issues lead owner complaints (31% of 71 reports), followed by power train (21%).
+ 5 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 71 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11606939, ODI 11606940, ODI 11558895, ODI 11726147, ODI 11690225.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2020 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 29 | 40 | 33 |
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 27 | 37 | 31 |
| Forte | 1.6L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM7) | 27 | 35 | 30 |
| Forte | 1.6L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 25 | 32 | 28 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2020 Kia Forte: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2020 Kia Forte?
Owners filed 71 NHTSA complaints about the 2020 Kia Forte — more complaints than 77% of comparable 2020 sedans, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2020 Kia Forte?
The most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (31% of complaints) and power train (21%).
How many recalls does the 2020 Kia Forte have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2020 Kia Forte as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Kia Forte get?
The EPA rates the 2020 Kia Forte between 28 and 33 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.