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Hyundai Elantra vs Kia Forte: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2024, owners filed an average of 371 complaints per model year about the Hyundai Elantra and 160 about the Kia Forte.

Side by side

Hyundai ElantraKia Forte
Model years compared2009-20242009-2024
Owner complaints5,9382,565
Complaints per model year371160
Recalls3018
Years to avoid20122013201720142017
Best years20212022202020212022
Most common problemEngineEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-54 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 Hyundai Elantra: 2552009 Kia Forte: 120092010 Hyundai Elantra: 3802010 Kia Forte: 2212011 Hyundai Elantra: 4332011 Kia Forte: 15420112012 Hyundai Elantra: 6542012 Kia Forte: 2932013 Hyundai Elantra: 1,3172013 Kia Forte: 19520132014 Hyundai Elantra: 3862014 Kia Forte: 4442015 Hyundai Elantra: 2622015 Kia Forte: 26220152016 Hyundai Elantra: 2932016 Kia Forte: 1372017 Hyundai Elantra: 7712017 Kia Forte: 30520172018 Hyundai Elantra: 2842018 Kia Forte: 1362019 Hyundai Elantra: 2532019 Kia Forte: 15020192020 Hyundai Elantra: 2552020 Kia Forte: 782021 Hyundai Elantra: 1322021 Kia Forte: 6920212022 Hyundai Elantra: 1022022 Kia Forte: 282023 Hyundai Elantra: 1042023 Kia Forte: 6620232024 Hyundai Elantra: 572024 Kia Forte: 26
Hyundai ElantraKia Forte

Problems compared

ElantraForte
Engine1,6281,187
Steering970166
Electrical809326
Brakes762220
Airbags603294
Transmission400218
Lights275179

Questions about the Hyundai Elantra vs Kia Forte

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Elantra or the Kia Forte?

Between 2009 and 2024, the Hyundai Elantra has 3 years to avoid and the Kia Forte 2. The Kia Forte has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Kia Forte drew fewer complaints per model year (160 vs 371), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Elantra or the Kia Forte?

From 2009 to 2024, the Hyundai Elantra was covered by 30 recalls and the Kia Forte by 18.

What years of the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte should you avoid?

Hyundai Elantra: 2012, 2013 and 2017. Kia Forte: 2014 and 2017.

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