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2022 Kia Forte problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
41%
9 of 22 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2022 Kia Forte are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Better than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2022 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 9 of 22 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Forte concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%), and the largest group is filed under engine (4). For comparison, the 2021 scores 48% and the 2023 scores 29%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
9
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
27
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
3 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 33%
ENGINE4 · 15%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE4 · 15%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3 · 11%
STEERING3 · 11%
SUSPENSION3 · 11%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2022 compares with other Kia Forte years

Of the 14 Kia Forte years with enough complaints to score, the 2022 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (41%). The worst is the 2015 (76%), the best the 2023 (29%). By volume, the 2022 drew 27 complaints (9 drivetrain), against 68 for the 2021 and 63 for the 2023.

Kia Forte years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2022 Kia Forte

  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM09/24/2026
We were told it was the fuel pump. This car has put my son in danger twice. The car stalls out while driving, completely shuts down. He is traumatized due to this occurring in during traffic hour. The car dies and you can’t put it in neutral nor have the hazard light turn on. Complete shut down of car. It has been at…

One of 9 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2022 Kia Forte engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2022 Kia Forte, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
steering: column22V304000 · May 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2022 Kia Forte? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2022 Kia Forte

Does the 2022 Kia Forte have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 9 of 22 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Forte concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2022 Kia Forte?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2022 Kia Forte is engine: 4 of 27 complaints (15%) name it, followed by forward collision avoidance (4) and electrical system (3). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2022 Kia Forte reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 41% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is better than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Kia Forte years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2022 Kia Forte?

No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2022 Kia Forte, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Kia Forte years are better?

Among the Kia Forte years we track, the 2023 (29%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2022 (41%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-forte

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.