Model year 2020 · Midsize Cars
2020 Kia Forte: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2020 Kia Forte at 28–35 mpg combined across 5 versions. NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 78 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
0
EPA combined mpg
28–35
NHTSA overall rating
4/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Kia dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2020 Kia Forte recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 0 safety recalls for the 2020 Kia Forte, newest first.
No recalls are listed for the 2020 Kia Forte in NHTSA's recall file as of Oct 27, 2026.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2020 Kia Forte fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | City/Hwy/Comb | Fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forte | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 7-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 27/35/30 mpg | $2,250 | 296 |
| Forte | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 25/32/28 mpg | $2,400 | 326 |
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 29/40/33 mpg | $2,050 | 269 |
| Forte | 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 27/37/31 mpg | $2,150 | 290 |
| Forte FE | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 31/41/35 mpg | $1,900 | 256 |
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2020 Kia Forte crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Tested vehicle | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk | Forward collision warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Forte 4 DR FWD | 4 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars | 10.7% | Standard |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2020 Kia Forte owner complaints
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Forte, most recently on Oct 8, 2026. 9 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 6 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
| Component named in complaints | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 26 |
| Engine | 20 |
| Power train | 16 |
| Electrical system | 10 |
| Air bags | 5 |
| Forward collision avoidance: Warnings | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 |
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.
Other Kia Forte model years
| Year | Combined | Recalls | Complaints | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forte | 26–34 mpg | 0 | 26 | 4/5 |
| 2023 Forte | 26–34 mpg | 3 | 66 | 4/5 |
| 2022 Forte | 26–35 mpg | 1 | 28 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Forte | 28–35 mpg | 2 | 69 | 4/5 |
| 2019 Forte | 31–35 mpg | 2 | 150 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Forte | 25–32 mpg | 3 | 136 | 5/5 |
| 2017 Forte | 25–32 mpg | 3 | 305 | 5/5 |
| 2016 Forte | 24–30 mpg | 1 | 138 | 5/5 |
| 2015 Forte | 24–30 mpg | 1 | 259 | 5/5 |
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Other 2020 Kia models
Sources
- Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
- Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
- Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
- Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
- NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Kia.