Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.
vehicle
2020 / kia / forte
known issues
8 clusters (reviewed 2026-06-14)
complaints
75 on file (2019-09-22 → 2026-09-09)
recalls
0
investigations
0
fars
64 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
Engine knocking, oil loss, and stallingENGINE14 complaints2020-11 → 2026-06forte-2020-engine-failure
11736680 While driving, the vehicle suddenly began knocking severely, smoking, leaking oil, and then shut off unexpectedly without adequate warning. This created a serious safety hazard and near fire risk. The engine assembly failed catastrophically.…
11659646 My vehicle lost 3 quarts of oil between oil changes somehow. The engine is bad now and has to be replaced. Never did a check engine light or oil pressure light come on to alert me that my car was burning oil somehow and the oil was low.…
11589673 The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning light, and a message that Kia had been alerted of a failure was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the…
11670479 The engine light went on and engine is burning oil mechanic said it needs to be rebuilt it’s currently under financing from kia and not sure if they cover this
Transmission slipping and replacementPOWER TRAIN14 complaints2020-09 → 2026-05forte-2020-transmission-failure
11732868 I am reporting a transmission failure in my 2020 Kia Forte with approximately 54,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete transmission failure on March 19, 2026, on the highway from Cleveland to Cincinnati. after being owned…
11637111 My vehicle has 74,000 miles on it. While driving on the highway at 70 mph, the RPMs began fluctuating erratically, jumping from 2,000 to 3,000 and then from 2,000 to 5,000 before the car completely slipped into neutral. I was stranded in the…
11654037 Transmission from the original factory failed on it. I was driving when the engine check engine light came on and my car started ringing at me to get it serviced. I got the transmission replaced and not even 2 days later a brand new…
11668890 We were driving on vacation in the Nevada desert on a Sunday when the RPMs began to bounce between 2,000 and 4,000 RPMs causing the carto jerk back and forth when we were going up hill. This continued until it got to the point where the…
Theft and anti-theft security systemUNKNOWN OR OTHER9 complaints2021-11 → 2025-08forte-2020-theft-security
11558895 The antitheft software upgrade that Kia installed in my vehicle after it was stolen the first time DID NOT WORK. My car was stolen again WITH the software upgrade installed. The car was locked and parked in my apartment parking lot and the…
11451454 Two massive safety/security flaws led to theft: break-in through rear window didn’t trigger alarm AND lack of immobilization system. They KNOW this is a problem.
11531443 My car was stolen due to intentional & concealed absence of engine immobilizer.
11430545 When there is a YouTube tutorial on how to steal a Kia or Hyundai, it is time to stop the abuse, pain and suffering of the consumer!
Air bag non-deployment in collisionsAIR BAGS4 complaints2020-03 → 2026-02forte-2020-airbag-nondeployment
11717259 The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on a bend in the highway, a deer jumped over the barrier and landed on the top of the contact's front windshield. The contact stated that she was knocked…
11318580 I WAS TURNING LEFT THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT ONTO A CITY ROAD WHEN A CAR COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE RAN A RED LIGHT GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR IN A 35 MILES AN HOUR ROAD, CRASHING INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR. IT HIT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND DOOR,…
11717285 I was driving a vehicle two cars ahead did and illegal turn the car behind it stopped the truck behind them stopped I stopped behind the truck the car behind me did not stop and slammed me into the back of the truck in my airbags did not deploy
Forward collision avoidance activation and camera faultsFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE4 complaints2023-06 → 2025-11forte-2020-forward-collision-avoidance
11670245 The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance camera activated, causing the brakes to stop the vehicle unintendedly. The Forward Collision Avoidance system activated…
11526192 The forward collision warning system stopped working and the warning lights lit up saying the camera was obstructed, even though it was a clear day, and the car was clean (it had literally just been cleaned). This has happened previously at…
11560539 After 2 hours of cruise control om, Collision avoidance warning lights came on for 2nd time. Brought is to dealership the first time it happened and they could nt find anything wrong,
11682254 I own a 2020 Kia Forte LXS with approximately 136,000 miles. The check engine light came on with code P0420 (“catalyst system efficiency below threshold”), and an Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers location confirmed the catalytic converter…
11660909 The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was…
11623315 1st problem, catalytic converter code says it's bad, check engine light on ever since, car is only 4 years old. 2nd problem possible electrical or wiring issue. Had to replace front right headlight(2times), back brake lights both sides, rear…
11526961 Car took off. Zoomed. Out of control, my safety was put at risk since car speeded off. No one else safety was at risk since no one was around. The car is currently at a collision shop. Car has been inspected by insurance and being fixed. No…
11397278 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND REMOVED THEMSELVES TO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO OPEN THEIR GARAGE DOOR WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO…
11555184 There are significant idle issues (rpm’s shoot up & drop down irregularly while in park) and the car shut off while in park following irregular rpm movement, but was not exhibiting this behavior while previously parked elsewhere. I sent it in…
Trunk latch and lid operationSTRUCTURE3 complaints2019-09 → 2025-09forte-2020-trunk-latch
11257242 OPENING TRUNK MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO REAR WINDOW AS THE TRUNK SWINGS TOO FAST WHEN ITS OPENING. THE TRUNK MAY DETACH AND STRIKE THE REAR WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
11690225 Trunk open alone. Also trunk open when driver door open.
11416048 WATER LEAKING INTO TRUNK CAUSING MALFUNCTION TO SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM AUTO TRUNK RELEASE AND TRUNK LID OPEN SYMBOL TRUNK MALFUNCTION WARNIG SYMBOLS AND ALARM STAYED ON COULD NOT HERE ANY SAFTEY ALARMS WATER IN TRUNK DAMAGED SENSOR COULD NOT…
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.
Cite this
Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.
Wrench.Pro (2026). 2020 Kia Forte vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/kia/forte
@misc{wrenchpro_2020_kia_forte_2026,
author = {Wrench.Pro},
title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2020 Kia Forte},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/kia/forte}},
note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}
