Model year guide

2018 Kia Forte

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2018 Kia Forte is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 39 on record.

2018 Kia Forte — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2018 Kia Forte at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints134
Combined29 mpg
Typical price$13,898

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2018 Kia Forte recalls 3

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #22V031000 · 25/01/2022

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.

Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch NHTSA Campaign #21V622000 · 09/08/2021

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump NHTSA Campaign #21V260000 · 13/04/2021

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2018 Kia Forte common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

2018 Kia Forte MPG & running costs

Combined29 mpg
City26 mpg
Highway35 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,100

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2018 Kia Forte worth?

Low
$9,999
Typical price
$13,898
High
$17,988

From 28 comparable 2018 Kia Forte listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2018 Kia Forte costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$10,500
Depreciation (5 yrs)$4,400
Total$14,900
Per mile$0.20

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($13,898) with the same model 5 model-years older ($9,511), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2018 Kia Forte trims & engines on record

Trims
LX Pop,S,EX · LX Base · LX · EX
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 147 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 164 hp

2018 Kia Forte vehicles on record

2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Base3KPFK4A77JE198723 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A79JE272611 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A79JE239804 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LXKNAFK5A83J5773553 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A78JE240264 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A76JE196488 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A71JE219501 2018 Kia Forte LX Base3KPFK4A77JE209641 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A7XJE257034 2018 Kia Forte LX Base3KPFK4A79JE179753 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A77JE222128 2018 Kia Forte LX Base3KPFK4A74JE168157 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A83JE250726 2018 Kia Forte EXKNAFX5A80J5747638 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A75JE172330 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A70JE177208 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A70JE166628 2018 Kia Forte LX Base3KPFK4A72JE254566 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Base3KPFK4A71JE208954 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Base3KPFK4A74JE258294 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A7XJE259690 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A75JE212485 2018 Kia Forte 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A74JE169595 2018 Kia Forte LX Pop,S,EX3KPFL4A79JE197425

Other Kia Forte model years

2021 2020 2019 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010

2018 Kia Forte — frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Kia Forte have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2018 Kia Forte. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Forte?

Based on 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, service brakes, electrical system.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Kia Forte get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2018 Kia Forte at about 29 mpg combined (26 city / 35 highway).

How much is a 2018 Kia Forte worth?

Comparable 2018 Kia Forte listings run roughly $9,999–$17,988, typically around $13,898 (from 28 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.