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Kia Forte vs Nissan Sentra: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2024, owners filed an average of 160 complaints per model year about the Kia Forte and 205 about the Nissan Sentra.

Side by side

Kia ForteNissan Sentra
Model years compared2009-20242009-2024
Owner complaints2,5653,284
Complaints per model year160205
Recalls1824
Years to avoid2014201720132014
Best years20202021202220092022
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-34 mpg combined (2024)33-34 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 Kia Forte: 12009 Nissan Sentra: 5520092010 Kia Forte: 2212010 Nissan Sentra: 1442011 Kia Forte: 1542011 Nissan Sentra: 14220112012 Kia Forte: 2932012 Nissan Sentra: 1802013 Kia Forte: 1952013 Nissan Sentra: 63820132014 Kia Forte: 4442014 Nissan Sentra: 3812015 Kia Forte: 2622015 Nissan Sentra: 35220152016 Kia Forte: 1372016 Nissan Sentra: 2702017 Kia Forte: 3052017 Nissan Sentra: 23120172018 Kia Forte: 1362018 Nissan Sentra: 1852019 Kia Forte: 1502019 Nissan Sentra: 22320192020 Kia Forte: 782020 Nissan Sentra: 2082021 Kia Forte: 692021 Nissan Sentra: 13320212022 Kia Forte: 282022 Nissan Sentra: 812023 Kia Forte: 662023 Nissan Sentra: 2020232024 Kia Forte: 262024 Nissan Sentra: 41
Kia ForteNissan Sentra

Problems compared

ForteSentra
Engine1,187518
Electrical326503
Airbags294354
Brakes220365
Transmission2181,108
Lights17997
Driver assistance106300

Questions about the Kia Forte vs Nissan Sentra

Which is more reliable, the Kia Forte or the Nissan Sentra?

Between 2009 and 2024, the Kia Forte has 2 years to avoid and the Nissan Sentra 2. Both are about equally consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Kia Forte drew fewer complaints per model year (160 vs 205), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Forte or the Nissan Sentra?

From 2009 to 2024, the Kia Forte was covered by 18 recalls and the Nissan Sentra by 24.

What years of the Kia Forte and Nissan Sentra should you avoid?

Kia Forte: 2014 and 2017. Nissan Sentra: 2013 and 2014.

More compact cars comparisons

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