Are you a new owner of the Kia Forte Sedan car, or are you preparing to get one and wondering what the Kia Forte tune-up cost and maintenance cost could be? The Kia Forte is increasingly becoming popular among car owners, and one good feature of this car is its affordability and dependability.
In this article, we are going to be talking about everything you need to know about how to own and care for Kia Forte. Its complete maintenance guide, tune-up cost, and running cost.
Kia Forte’s maintenance cost is quite affordable. The estimated annual maintenance cost for Kia Forte is around $451, which is lower than the average of $526 annually for compact cars. Also, the tune-up cost for Kia Forte will be around $339, which includes the replacement of spark plugs.
Are Kia Forte Expensive to Maintain?
Kia forte is not only inexpensive to purchase but also has considerable maintenance and running cost, all thanks to its great reliability.
Like every good investor, it is always a good culture to check for future expenditures and other feasible expenses in future before you buy a new car or other new automobiles to ensure that you can properly maintain it and take care of it. Furthermore, Kia Forte tune-up cost and maintenance cost is relatively low when compared to other compact cars tune-up cost. In comparison with Hyundai tune-up cost which has a similar price range although the Kia Forte still has a lesser tune-up cost, it will be right to say that Kia Forte tune-up cost is very affordable for first time car owner and those who want to stay on the budget.
Not properly maintaining and serving a car will lead to poor reliability and reduce the lifespan of your car.
We have compiled a complete price breakdown of some of the most common costs for Kia Forte in the list below.
Kia Forte Maintenance | Cost |
Average annual repairs and maintenance | $451 |
Tune-Up Cost | $339 |
Alternator replacement | $650 – $711 |
Oil change | $113 – $125 |
Wiper blade replacement | $97 – $104 |
Air filter replacement | $53 – $61 |
Battery replacement | $209 – $218 |
New brakes | $173 – $199 |
Coolant change | $114 – $144 |
New tires (set of 4) | $344 – $492 |
New tire (one only) | $86 – $123 |
New spark plugs | $163 – $185 |
Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance | $79 – $100 |
New transmission | $3500 |
Insurance | $1404 / year (average) |
How Much Does a Tune-Up on a Kia Forte Cost?
The estimated amount you can pay for a fairly comprehensive Kia Forte tune-up is around $339.
Although your location and some other factors such as the year model of your car, how often you drive, and your maintenance history. You may likely pay higher when you take it to a Kia dealership around you than when you take it to a local mechanic workshop in your locality.
The recommended duration before a tune-up, according to Kia, is every 5000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
Below is a list of services you would get for a comprehensive Kia Forte Tune-up:
- A complete and thorough inspection of engine components
- Changing of Filters
- New spark plugs
- Coolant flush
- Cleaning IAC valve (idle air control)
- Cleaning of the Throttle body
- Change of Transmission and differential fluid
Note: It is recommended that you take your Kia Forte for servicing at a registered Kia dealership while your Kia forte is under warranty.
Why do you need to go for Regular tune-ups for your Kia Forte?
It is recommended that you take your Kia forte for regular tune-ups because of a lot of benefits. Some of the benefits of going for regular tune-ups for your car are listed below:
- Going for regular tune-ups will bring more power back to your engine.
- Regular tune-ups will help you get an efficient engine operation and start smoothly, which translates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
- It will also ensure long-term engine performance and better engine health.
How often should you get a tune up on a Kia Forte?
Kia recommends having a tune-up every 5,000 miles or six months whichever comes first. However, these are just the recommended guidelines and you should adjust appropriately according to how often or less you drive. Your Kia Forte might be due for an oil change much earlier than it needs new spark plugs or brakes.
Below are some of the signs you need to look out for in case you don’t know when your car is due for a tune-up:
- Your Gas Mileage is reducing
- Your Check engine light has turned on
- Your Car is slower to accelerate than the usual rate
- Difficulty starting your engine
- Strange noises coming from the engine
What is the Alternator Replacement Cost for Kia Forte?
Fixing a new alternator on your Kia Forte will squeeze out some bucks from you in the range of $650-$711, but that would last you about 80,000 to 150,000 miles or between 5 to 10 years.
While the battery of a car is used to start up a car when the engine is off, the alternator, on the other hand, is used to keep your car alive when the engine is on and running.
The job of the alternator is to power most electronic components when you are cruising around or idling, and it is also responsible for charging your car battery when you are driving.
Kia Forte Oil Change Cost?
One of the most vital and critical car services for your car is a regular oil change. Changing oil for your car should cost anywhere between $113-$125, and this cost includes the parts and labor but does not include taxes and fees.
- You should make an oil change for your Kia forte after every 3,000 to 5,000 miles for conventional oil.
- Synthetic oil should be changed after every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.
Your oil change interval should not exceed 10,000 miles, 350 hours of engine runtime, or 12 months to be on the safe side.
Wiper Blade Replacement Cost for Kia Forte
There is not much skill needed to change a wiper blade, so you can save yourself a few bucks here by buying and installing them by yourself. You will see many videos on Youtube showing you how to fix a wiper blade for your car.
Most Kia forte cars use a 28″ wiper blade for the driver side and 14″ for the passenger’s side.
Wiper blades for Kia Fortes cost about $30, and you can easily get this and install them yourself for free. However, if you don’t want to install them by yourself, be ready to pay around $97 – $104 for a professional to fit them for you. This fee includes labor, taxes, and other fees.
Air Filter Replacement Cost for Kia Forte
Air filter replacement cost for Kia forte is around $53 to $61, according to Repairpal. Taxes and fees are not included in this cost. The good news is that this task is not something you perform frequently; it usually takes a year before you can change an air filter or whenever the filter gets clogged or dirty. Another good news is that it is a straightforward DIY task.
Replacing your air filter is quite easy to do; simply open the hood, then locate and open the air filter’s housing, then you can remove the old one, and thereafter, insert the new one and gently replace the housing cover. There are lots of tutorials on Youtube showing how to do this. Changing your car air filter will help both your bank account and your car to breathe some fresh air.
Battery Replacement Cost for Kia Forte
The estimated battery replacement cost for Kia Forte, according to RepairPal, is around $209 – $213.
Although there is no recommended specific mileage that a battery has to reach before it can be replaced, batteries do die off after some time of use. It is a good idea, however, to replace your battery after every 4- 5 years.
There are plenty of factors that affect the lifespan of a car’s battery, including climate, battery type, and driving habits. All these factors have varying effects on the lifespan of your car battery.
To help your battery last longer:
- Ensure that your battery is always tightly fastened: The vibrations produced by your car whenever you are driving can loosen the battery connection terminals, potentially resulting in short circuits and internal damage.
- Reduce short rides: Short-distance rides hinder your battery from fully charging.
- Take Control of Corrosion: Ensure that you clean the battery terminals (dip a toothbrush into a baking soda and water mixture) and ensure you prevent any build-up.
New Brakes Cost for Kia Forte
The estimated cost to replace Kia forte Brake pads is around $173 – $199, according to RepairPal.
There are some factors that affect the wear of a car’s brake pad, and these factors will determine how quickly a car brake pad will wear out; some of these factors include the climate and your style of driving. If you would want to prolong the life of your car’s brake pad, avoid speeding in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.
Change Coolant Cost for Kia Forte
The estimated cost to change a Kia Forte coolant, according to RepairPal, is around $114 – $144, and this is excluding taxes and fees.
If it’s just some little top-up that your Kia Forte needs, then this is a simple task that you can do by yourself.
You can purchase a coolant at any gas station around you and top-up according to the required level. It cost just a few bucks.
However, if you need to change the coolant itself, then this will cost you a bit more than topping up. Changing the coolant involves draining the coolant from the bottom of the radiator and then replacing it with fresh fluids.
How Much Does a Kia Forte New Transmissions Cost?
The transmission lifespan for Kia Forte generally last for about 200,000 miles, and this is dependent on some factor such as how well they are maintained and how well they are driven.
The estimated cost for a Kia Forte rebuilt, or aftermarket transmission, is around $3500. This range may vary when considering the year of the car.
Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost
The estimated cost for Kia Forte Tire and wheel assembly, rotate, and balance cost, according to RepairPal, is around $79 – $100, and this is excluding taxes and fees.
Tire rotate is done so as to make sure that your tires are evenly worn while, on the other hand, balancing ensures that they roll smoothly without vibrations, and it also helps in economizing fuel consumption.
How much does Insurance Cost?
The average cost of insurance for Kia Forte is around $117/month or $1,404 annually (as opposed to the national vehicle average insurance rate, which is $1,506).
These prices can differ depending on some factors, such as driving record, age, and state requirements.
- It is always a good practice to shop around and get at least 3 quotes from different companies and ensure that the company you choose is a reputable one.
- Make use of price comparison websites such as compare.com.
- There are always huge discounts available for people who wish to take additional driving courses or being a senior.
Driving safely is the best way to keep your Insurance cost down.
Kia Forte Repair/Maintenance Costs Compared to Similar Models
Model | Avg. Annual Repair Cost |
Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs (per year) |
Probability of Severe Repairs |
Toyota Corolla | $362 | 0.4 | 7% |
Kia Forte5 | $424 | 0.2 | 8% |
Honda Civic | $368 | 0.2 | 10% |
Toyota Matrix | $396 | 0.5 | 7% |
Chevrolet Cobalt | $453 | 0.2 | 9% |
Kia Forte | $451 | 0.2 | 9% |
Hyundai Elantra GT | $397 | 0.3 | 9% |
Hyundai Elantra | $452 | 0.3 | 9% |
Mazda3 | $433 | 0.3 | 10% |
Ford C-Max | $557 | 0.3 | 10% |
Kia Forte Koup | $469 | 0.3 | 11% |
Hyundai Elantra Coupe | $497 | 0.4 | 9% |
Chevrolet HHR | $542 | 0.3 | 10% |
Nissan Sentra | $491 | 0.2 | 12% |
Buick Verano | $478 | 0.2 | 12% |
Dodge Caliber | $501 | 0.2 | 12% |
Dodge Avenger | $541 | 0.3 | 11% |
Chevrolet Cruze Limited | $498 | 0.4 | 11% |
Hyundai Veloster | $493 | 0.3 | 12% |
Mitsubishi Eclipse | $510 | 0.2 | 13% |
Volkswagen Jetta | $609 | 0.3 | 10% |
Mazda5 | $581 | 0.4 | 10% |
Nissan 370Z | $504 | 0.3 | 13% |
Volkswagen Beetle | $612 | 0.4 | 10% |
Volkswagen Golf | $630 | 0.4 | 11% |
Chevrolet Cruze | $545 | 0.4 | 12% |
Ford Focus | $569 | 0.3 | 13% |
Dodge Dart | $597 | 0.3 | 13% |
Mitsubishi Lancer | $646 | 0.2 | 15% |
Chrysler PT Cruiser | $641 | 0.2 | 14% |
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen | $606 | 0.8 | 11% |
Subaru WRX | $682 | 0.3 | 14% |
Subaru Impreza | $653 | 0.3 | 17% |
Volkswagen GTI | $791 | 1.0 | 11% |
Volkswagen Eos | $824 | 1.1 | 13% |
Subaru WRX STI | $758 | 0.5 | 21% |
Avg. Compact Car | $526 | 0.3 | 11% |
How Reliable is the Kia Forte Compared to Other Car Models?
Model | Reliability |
Toyota Corolla | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Kia Forte | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Honda Civic | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Toyota Matrix | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Chevrolet Cobalt | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Hyundai Elantra GT | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Hyundai Elantra | 4.5 / 5.0 |
Mazda3 | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Ford C-Max | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Kia Forte Koup | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Hyundai Elantra Coupe | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Chevrolet HHR | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Nissan Sentra | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Buick Verano | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Dodge Caliber | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Dodge Avenger | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Chevrolet Cruze Limited | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Hyundai Veloster | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Mitsubishi Eclipse | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Volkswagen Jetta | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Mazda5 | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Nissan 370Z | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Volkswagen Beetle | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Volkswagen Golf | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Chevrolet Cruze | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Ford Focus | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Dodge Dart | 4.0 / 5.0 |
Mitsubishi Lancer | 3.5 / 5.0 |
Chrysler PT Cruiser | 3.5 / 5.0 |
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen | 3.5 / 5.0 |
Subaru WRX | 3.5 / 5.0 |
Subaru Impreza | 3.5 / 5.0 |
Volkswagen GTI | 3.0 / 5.0 |
Volkswagen Eos | 3.0 / 5.0 |
Subaru WRX STI | 2.5 / 5.0 |
Avg. Compact Car | 4.0 |
How Long is the Kia Forte Manufacturers Warranty?
At the point where you drive off your Kia Forte out of the dealership lot, you have a warranty of 60,000 miles / 5 years of basic coverage and 100,000 miles /10 years powertrain coverage, and this is according to the Kia factory warranty.
Remember that you can check for your car warranty status, view your owner’s manual, and track your service history and other services on Kia’s official website.
In conclusion, Kia forte tune-up and maintenance cost is quite affordable when compared to other models of cars, and it is also a durable and reliable sedan car that can serve the same purpose that other regular sedans would serve.
If you are considering getting a new car for running around, maybe it is time you give the Kia forte a try.