The worst Forte year
The 2014 Forte has the highest complaint rate and 36 fire reports. Engine failures and steering couplers lead.
Updated November 2026 · based on 445 owner complaints and 3 recalls
642 2.8x the Forte average
3 free to fix at a dealer
Every Forte year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known problems on the 2014 Forte
Top problems and what they cost
Engine failure
Check engine light, knocking and failure.
Fix: Free under recall if eligible
Engine
Steering coupler
Clicking and play in the steering.
Fix: Coupler $200 to $400
Steering
Recalls
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing a...
If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2014 Kia Forte
- Check by VIN for open engine recalls.A recall is a safety fix the carmaker must do for free, even for later owners. Typing the 17-character VIN (on the dashboard and driver door) into nhtsa.gov/recalls shows any that were never done. Codes like 18V332 are recall numbers.The 2014 Forte has 3 recalls on record, listed below.
- Turn the wheel slowly and listen for clicks.Turning the wheel fully both ways at low speed loads the steering hardest. Clicks, grinding or heavy spots point to a worn coupler, rack or power steering fault.64 of the 445 owner complaints about the 2014 Forte involve the steering (14%).
Questions
Is the 2014 Kia Forte reliable?
The worst Forte year. The 2014 Forte has the highest complaint rate and 36 fire reports. Engine failures and steering couplers lead.
How many recalls does the 2014 Kia Forte have?
3 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2014 Kia Forte problems?
Engine failure; Steering coupler.
Crash rating shown for the 2014 Kia Forte 5 HB FWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.