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Kia Forte vs Volkswagen Jetta: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2024, owners filed an average of 160 complaints per model year about the Kia Forte and 320 about the Volkswagen Jetta.

Side by side

Kia ForteVolkswagen Jetta
Model years compared2009-20242009-2024
Owner complaints2,5655,112
Complaints per model year160320
Recalls1839
Years to avoid20142017200920102011
Best years202020212022201720202021
Most common problemEngineElectrical
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 Volkswagen Jetta: 88920092010 Kia Forte: 2212010 Volkswagen Jetta: 8522011 Kia Forte: 1542011 Volkswagen Jetta: 60720112012 Kia Forte: 2932012 Volkswagen Jetta: 5002013 Kia Forte: 1952013 Volkswagen Jetta: 51820132014 Kia Forte: 4442014 Volkswagen Jetta: 3882015 Kia Forte: 2622015 Volkswagen Jetta: 19420152016 Kia Forte: 1372016 Volkswagen Jetta: 1622017 Kia Forte: 3052017 Volkswagen Jetta: 16020172018 Kia Forte: 1362018 Volkswagen Jetta: 322019 Kia Forte: 1502019 Volkswagen Jetta: 55320192020 Kia Forte: 782020 Volkswagen Jetta: 542021 Kia Forte: 692021 Volkswagen Jetta: 7120212022 Kia Forte: 282022 Volkswagen Jetta: 432023 Kia Forte: 662023 Volkswagen Jetta: 4320232024 Kia Forte: 262024 Volkswagen Jetta: 46
Kia ForteVolkswagen Jetta

Problems compared

ForteJetta
Engine1,1871,122
Electrical3261,237
Airbags294283
Brakes220522
Transmission218813
Lights179182
Fuel system1251,102

Questions about the Kia Forte vs Volkswagen Jetta

Which is more reliable, the Kia Forte or the Volkswagen Jetta?

Between 2009 and 2024, the Kia Forte has 2 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Jetta 3. 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 320), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Forte or the Volkswagen Jetta?

From 2009 to 2024, the Kia Forte was covered by 18 recalls and the Volkswagen Jetta by 39.

What years of the Kia Forte and Volkswagen Jetta should you avoid?

Kia Forte: 2014 and 2017. Volkswagen Jetta: 2009, 2010 and 2011.

More compact cars comparisons

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