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Honda Civic vs Kia Forte: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2024, owners filed an average of 435 complaints per model year about the Honda Civic and 160 about the Kia Forte.

Side by side

Honda CivicKia Forte
Model years compared2009-20242009-2024
Owner complaints6,9542,565
Complaints per model year435160
Recalls3318
Years to avoid201620142017
Best years201120202021202020212022
Most common problemSteeringEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy24-36 mpg combined (2024)26-34 mpg combined (2024)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2009 Honda Civic: 3962009 Kia Forte: 120092010 Honda Civic: 3982010 Kia Forte: 2212011 Honda Civic: 1692011 Kia Forte: 15420112012 Honda Civic: 4562012 Kia Forte: 2932013 Honda Civic: 3192013 Kia Forte: 19520132014 Honda Civic: 2932014 Kia Forte: 4442015 Honda Civic: 3812015 Kia Forte: 26220152016 Honda Civic: 1,0832016 Kia Forte: 1372017 Honda Civic: 6062017 Kia Forte: 30520172018 Honda Civic: 7502018 Kia Forte: 1362019 Honda Civic: 4442019 Kia Forte: 15020192020 Honda Civic: 2382020 Kia Forte: 782021 Honda Civic: 1482021 Kia Forte: 6920212022 Honda Civic: 8862022 Kia Forte: 282023 Honda Civic: 2602023 Kia Forte: 6620232024 Honda Civic: 1272024 Kia Forte: 26
Honda CivicKia Forte

Problems compared

CivicForte
Steering2,321166
Airbags766294
Electrical685326
Brakes557220
Transmission536218
Fuel system510125
Engine4991,187
Lights92179

Questions about the Honda Civic vs Kia Forte

Which is more reliable, the Honda Civic or the Kia Forte?

Between 2009 and 2024, the Honda Civic has 1 year to avoid and the Kia Forte 2. The Honda Civic has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Kia Forte drew fewer complaints per model year (160 vs 435), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Civic or the Kia Forte?

From 2009 to 2024, the Honda Civic was covered by 33 recalls and the Kia Forte by 18.

What years of the Honda Civic and Kia Forte should you avoid?

Honda Civic: 2016. Kia Forte: 2014 and 2017.

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