Is the 2017 Kia Forte a good car?
An honest AI verdict — reliability, common problems, and real cost to own.
B8.5/10
A solid choice for budget-conscious buyers, but be aware of some potential reliability issues.
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Pros
- Affordable
- Good fuel economy
- Decent feature set for the price
Cons
- Mediocre interior materials
- Not particularly sporty or engaging to drive
- Some reliability concerns
Ownership at a glance
Fuel economy
25 mpg
Maintenance cost
$1,500/yr
Expected lifespan
220,000 miles
Common problems to watch for
- Engine knocking
- Transmission hesitation
- Fuel system issues
CarsJudge exclusive data
Active recalls (3)
The 2017 Kia Forte has 3 NHTSA recalls on record. Most recent: Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication — Pump (campaign 21V260000). All recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
- Air Bags — 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 a…
- Latches/Locks/Linkages — Trunk Lid — Latch — 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 su…
- Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication — Pump — 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.…
Real owner data from the CarsJudge fleet
4 2017 Kia Forte owners track this exact car in CarsJudge.
Recall data: NHTSA. Owner costs & MPG: anonymized aggregates from CarsJudge users who track this vehicle. Updated 2026-07-05.
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This AI-generated assessment is general guidance only, not a substitute for a professional inspection. Always inspect a used vehicle before purchase.