Which Years Of Used Kia Forte Koups Are Most Reliable?
Kia Forte Koup by Benespit - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Once known for making boring, cookie-cutter cars, Kia began to make a name for itself with sharply designed vehicles like the Kia Forte Koup (Kia’s distinctive spelling for “coupe”). Debuting for the 2010 model year and lasting through 2016, the Forte Koup featured a sporty two-door body style in a market quickly becoming saturated with SUVs. While production ended several years ago, this stylish coupe is still readily available on the used car market. So, exploring the most reliable Kia Forte Koup years can be helpful.
We’ll look at what makes particular Forte Koup model years more dependable than others. This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, and carcomplaints.com. Importantly, we’re only looking at reliability. Be sure to research safety, fuel economy, and other factors that will help you make a fully informed buying decision.
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Before diving into the details of the most reliable Kia Forte Koup years, let’s look at the car’s design origin. Head back about two decades, and Kia’s frumpy designs weren’t helping sales. The Korean automaker and its corporate parent (Hyundai) had grand visions of taking more market share from its competitors.
Kia hired noted designer Peter Schreyer away from Audi to shake things up. One of Schreyer’s first projects was the Kia Forte, including the Forte Koup concept, which appeared to great fanfare at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. Eventually, the Forte lineup entered production in 2009 (as a 2010 model), taking over for the unremarkable Kia Spectra.
The creation of the Forte Koup represented a significant milestone for the automaker. Kia had built its reputation primarily as a value brand. With the launch of the Forte Koup, the company demonstrated it could also produce vehicles with strong emotional appeal. The Koup’s head-turning design showed Kia was evolving into a brand that could compete with more mainstream manufacturers.
THE KIA FORTE KOUP YEARS TO AVOID
If you’re buying a used Kia Forte Koup, know that some years are less reliable than others. Today, we walk you through the worst Kia Forte Koup years to avoid as a used car buyer.
The Forte Koup highlighted Kia’s design and engineering capabilities and gave the brand momentum. Buyers once focused on stylish cars from Honda, Mazda, and other automakers found the Koup to be eye-catching and inviting. Today, the efforts to upgrade its brand image and reputation are evidenced by Kia’s lineup that includes cars costing $50,000 or more, an idea unimaginable 20 years ago.
What To Know About The Infamous Theta II Engine
No conversation about the most reliable Kia Forte Koup years is complete without discussing the Theta II engine debacle. This infamous powerplant was used by Kia and Hyundai in numerous models (including the Forte Koup) and suffered from insufficient oil flow. Defects in certain components caused debris to circulate inside the engine and affect oil flow. Improper oil circulation or low oil levels led to catastrophic engine failure. There are also incidents of the engine catching on fire.
Kia and Hyundai issued several recalls, but the federal government felt these efforts didn’t adequately address the problem. In 2020, the two brands entered into an agreement with NHTSA for a more comprehensive approach, including engine replacement as needed. A total of 1.7 million Hyundais and Kias are involved.
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This affects the 2012-2015 Kia Forte Koup. So, if your shopping list includes these model years, you’ll want to determine if the car under consideration is impacted or has already been repaired. Visit the NHTSA website to check that vehicle’s recall status. Regardless of what we say below about Forte Koup reliability, don’t consider one of these cars dependable until the recall matter has been resolved.
Most Reliable Kia Forte Koup Years
Here’s an overview of the dependability for each Kia Forte Koup model year. These recommendations don’t reflect the Theta II engine issue mentioned above.
2010 Kia Forte Koup
Reliability Ruling: Avoid
As a standard practice, we advise against buying the first year of an all-new vehicle, which is exactly the case with the Forte Koup (and the entire Forte lineup). New car designs are vulnerable to “teething pains” that appear as glitches and other problems that can be hard to diagnose. Later models are less likely to have these issues.
2011 Kia Forte Koup
Reliability Ruling: Proceed With Caution
Although there are more than 100 owner complaints on file with NHTSA about the 2011 Forte Koup, there are no troubling patterns that may indicate greater reliability issues. In other words, while some owners had problems, most didn’t experience the same troubles. As with any used car, have a mechanic inspect a Kia Forte Koup before buying.
2012 Kia Forte Koup
Reliability Ruling: Avoid
We see a troubling uptick in the number of reports submitted to NHTSA that mention electrical troubles with the 2012 Kia Forte. Although not as problematic as an issue with an engine or transmission, a faulty electric system can be difficult to diagnose. Why risk the headache? Shop for a different Forte Koup model year.
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2013 Kia Forte Koup
Reliability Ruling: OK To Buy
Backed up by a solid J.D. Power quality and reliability rating (84 out of 100), the last year of the first-generation Kia Forte shows no concentrated signs of reliability issues (outside of the Theta II engine problem).
2014 Kia Forte Koup
Reliability Ruling: Avoid
2014 marks the first year of the second-generation Forte Koup. This alone (meaning the potential for first-year gremlins) should be enough reason to avoid this model year. Further, NHTSA data reveals more owner complaints about the 2014 edition than any other Forte Koup. In addition to citing engine issues, many of these reports relate to the fuel and electric systems.
2015 Kia Forte Koup
Reliability Ruling: OK To Buy
Owner reports are down significantly for the 2015 Forte Koup. It’s not a perfect car (no vehicle is), but many of the troublesome issues from the previous year have settled down. J.D. Power also gives this model year an 84 (out of 100) for quality and reliability.
2016 Kia Forte Koup
Reliability Ruling: OK To Buy
The final year of the Kia Forte Koup closes out with reduced owner complaints. In fact, there are fewer reports on file with NHTSA for the 2016 edition than any other model year—a significant turnaround from 2014. The 2016 Forte Koup also escapes the Theta II engine snafu.
Common Kia Forte Koup Problems
The Kia Forte Koup is far from the most problematic model out there, but it certainly has its fair share of common issues, including:
- Engine problems: Owners have reported engine noise, stalling, and, in severe cases, complete engine failure. These issues are particularly noted in the 2010 and 2013 (to a lesser extent) model years, especially in relation to the aforementioned Theta II engine.
- Transmission issues: Not surprising, but some Forte Koups have experienced transmission issues around 60,000 miles, including rough idling, scraping sounds during shifting, and complete transmission failures. Some owners had to resort to total transmission replacement to fix these issues.
- Faulty exterior lighting: Consumer complaints indicate that headlights, taillights, and signal lights malfunction and, in some instances, the fixtures overheat to the point of internal melting. This defect compromises visibility and signaling capabilities, posing a risk not just to the vehicle’s occupants but to all road users.
- Interior leaks: If you’ve got a Kia Forte Koup, you might have noticed some pesky water leaks around the doors and windows. When water sneaks into your car, it can create the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. Even worse, this water can start to corrode the metal inside your doors and under the seats.
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