Interchangeable parts between various model years of the Kia Forte are helpful to enhance its performance, restoring its functionality, or customize it according to your requirements.
What Year Kia Forte Parts Are Interchangeable? You can interchange different parts of Kia Forte from 2010 to 2022. The alternator, heating and cooling parts, brakes, and suspension system are compatible with 2010-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-2022 models. You can swap engines like the 2.0-liter CVVT, 2.4-liter I4, or 1.6-liter turbo I4 for the 2010-2013 and 2014-2018 years. You can replace its transmission systems from 2010, 2011-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-onwards models with the same engine type.
In this guide, we’ll explore several categories of parts that are often swappable within the Kia Forte models. From engines and lights to body parts and interior components, we’ll provide insights into which years and trim levels are compatible, explaining the practical and technical considerations for each swap.
Engine
The engine is the most critical part of the Kia Forte, and its various aspects, including specifications, mounting positions, electronics, and transmission system, should be ensured before going for a swap. You can replace the 2.0-liter CVVT and 2.4-liter I4 engines between the 2010-2013 variants.
However, you should consider the respective trim levels like LX, EX, and SX and body style, including sedan, hatchback, and coupe.
For 2014-2018 models, you can replace the complete engine or its parts for a 2.0-liter GDI I4 engine for LX, S, and EX trim levels. SX trim levels during these years have a compatible 1.6-liter I4 turbocharged engine.
The third generation of the car has a 2.0-liter I4 engine that you can swap for 2019-onwards models. While going for a swap, you should check its compatibility with other drivetrain parts like the transmission.
Furthermore, you also have to do some modification work like welding or fabrication to cater to the limited space available according to the car’s body shape.
Lights
You can replace the headlights between Kia Forte from 2010-2013, 2014-2015, 2016-2018, and 2019-onwards models. However, there is a difference in their design and lights options depending on the trim levels.
For example, for third-generation models, S, GT, and EX trim levels have LED DRLS installed in the headlight assembly and fog lights, while FE and LXS variants use halogen bulbs. A similar convention also follows for the taillights in all three generations of the car.
You can interchange the LED tail lights assembly from the 2019 S model to the 2020 LXS variants in a plug-and-play arrangement.
Turn signals and side markers/clearance lights are swappable for 2010-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-present variants of Kia Forte. You can also use the parts instead of whole light assemblies from models within the same generation or trim levels.
Body parts
Kia Forte has 3 body styles, including sedan, hatchback, and coupe (Koup) with 4, 5, and 2 doors, respectively.
Therefore, all body parts can be swapped within the same generation for the same body shapes, while you must carefully check their dimensions and mounting points for different styles.
For example, hood and radiator support are the same for the 2010 S model for both sedan and coupe styles, but headlights and fenders differ.
You can swap the front-end parts like bumpers, fenders, and hoods for the 2010-2013 and 2014-2016 variants of the Kia Forte between sedan and coupe body styles.
For hatchback body styles, you can replace these parts for the 2010-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-present model years.
Transmission parts
Several manual and automatic transmission options are available for Kia Forte models, and you can also expect variations for different trim levels. 5-speed manual, 4 and 5-speed automatic are compatible for the 2010 year.
6-speed manual and automatic transmissions are interchangeable for 2011-2013 variants with the same engine variants.
For 2nd generation models, you can swap the 6-speed manual and automatic transmission for 2014-2018 for LX trim levels, While the SX trim level has a 6-speed automatic transmission for 2014-2016 and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) for 2017-2018 variants.
For 3rd generation models, you can interchange the 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, 7-speed DCT, and CVT transmissions for 2019-onwards model years.
Moreover, swapping a manual or DCT with an automatic transmission is quite expensive because of a lot of modification work involved.
Therefore, you should avoid it and interchange the car instead of the transmission. Moreover, there can be changes in specifications for different trim levels with the same transmission type.
Wheels and tires
You can swap the wheels between different model years and trim levels of Kia Forte by checking their diameter (15-18 inches), tire width, and offset. It becomes essential if you choose to replace with larger or smaller diameter wheels than the stock ones.
All variants have a 5-lug nut pattern. However, wheel size is different for different generations and trim levels.
EX trim level has 16-inch alloy wheels for 2014-2015 variants and 17-inch alloy wheels for 2016-2018 variants, while base trim level LX has 15-inch wheels for all model years in 2nd generation.
If you select larger than stock diameter wheels, you also have to adjust the speedometer for correct readings and carefully choose the tire’s offset so that it does not rub with the body.
Alternator
The interchangeability of alternators between different model years of the Kia Forte can vary depending on the engine options, trim levels, and other factors.
Usually, you can swap them within same-generation variants with the same engine size. Therefore, they are interchangeable between 2010-2013, 2014-2018 and 2019-onwards car models.
To install an alternator with more amperes, you must change the wiring gauge according to current ratings. Otherwise, it can result in wires heating and cause a fire in severe cases.
Starter motor
The starter motor has a special design and mounting points according to the engine type, as its starting gear engages with the flywheel. You can replace it in most of the model years of Kia Forte in 1st and 2nd generation variants.
Therefore, its specifications and replacement procedure are identical for the 2010-2018 model years. For the 3rd generation variants with a 2.0-liter I4 engine, it is interchangeable for 2019-onwards car models.
Moreover, there is no difference in terms of starter motors for different trim levels and body styles.
Cooling and heating parts
For the Kia Forte, heating and cooling components, such as the A/C compressor, heater core, blower motor, and temperature sensors, are mostly interchangeable within the same generation model years.
You can swap the compressor for 2010-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-onwards models for the same engine option because the engaging clutch and coupling mechanism depends on its design.
Other HVAC components, including the blower motor, heater core, and some sensors, are compatible with 2010-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-onwards models.
There is a difference in air conditioning features for 1st generation variants for different trim levels that you should take care of while going for a swap.
Brakes
Front and rear Brake pads and rotor parts are interchangeable for all model years and trim levels within the same generation models. However, there are a few exceptions for the coupe variant of the car.
You can swap the brake pads, roots, and calipers for the 2010-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-present years. For Kia Forte Koup models, you can interchange them for 2010-2013, 2014-2016, 2017-2018, and 2019-onwards models.
SX trim level in this variant has 18-inch wheels. Therefore, larger-sized front brakes are compatible with the SX variants.
Suspension parts
Suspension parts consisting of ball joint assembly, strut bars, control arm, stabilizer bar, sway bar links, bushings, and coil springs are interchangeable for the 2010-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-2022 models of the car.
Moreover, the front and rear suspension have different designs. However, other body styles like coupe, sedan, and hatchback have the same coupled torsion beam suspension design with minor differences in spring stiffness, and you can swap between any of them, irrespective of their trim levels.
Interior parts
Interchangeability of interior parts like seats in the Kia Forte depends on factors such as seat design changes, mounting points, trim levels, and electrical connections for features like power adjustments, heating/cooling, and airbags.
You can swap them in 2010-2013, 2014-2016, 2017-2018 and 2019-later models. Higher-end trim levels, including EX and SX, have seats with advanced features like dual heated, ventilated, and power-adjustable options with leather upholstery.
You can also swap the steering wheel between various model years. However, you must reprogram the body control module (BCM) and wiring changes for diverse features like the heated option, cruise control, and other advanced features.
But I will recommend swapping it between the same years and trim levels to avoid any complications due to wiring changes.
The instrument cluster is swappable for some variants within the same generation, like 2010-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-2022.
However, you have to make wiring changes for additional features. Moreover, to interchange between two trim levels, you have to do a lot of modifications; otherwise, it will not be successful.
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