Kia Forte Complaints
2,563 consumer complaints on file.
- #10865412May 17, 2016ENGINE
BACK IN APRIL 2016 THE HOSE THAT TRANSFERS TRANSMISSION FLUILD WAS RECALLED I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT FIXED. ON 05/16/2017 MY CAR STARTED SHIFTING WEIRD AND THEN (WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WITH MY TWO MONTH OLD DAUGHTER) IS NOW LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE HOSE IS BROKE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FLUID AND BROKEN HOSE IT SHIFTS OUT OF CONTROL AND STALLS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10865029May 15, 2016FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ECO BOOST TO LOUD AND VIBRATION ON ENGINE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10862416May 1, 2016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST NALLEY KIA, LITHONIA, GA, AND THE EFFECTIVE TIRES THEY ARE PUTTING O THE KIA FORTE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER CHAD DALTON, THAT THE TIRE WITH THE BUBBLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. HE TRIED TO SAY I HAD HIT A POTHOLE AND THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE TIRE. I HAVEN'T HIT A POTHOLE. I HAVE LOOKED ON YOUR SITE AND I SEE OTHER ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THIS TIRE REPLACED, I HAVE ONLY 34,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL 50,000 MILES TIRE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10860329April 19, 2016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WINDSHIELD ON 2010 2014 KIA FORTE SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY WEAK. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD TWICE ON THE 2010 FORTE DUE TO SMALL ROCK HITTING WINDSHIELD AND HAVE TO REPLACE 2014 KIA FORTE WINDSHIELD DUE TO SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. IN COMPARISON MY 2003 COROLLA HAS ENDURED THE SAME DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR MUCH LONGER WITH NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10854338April 8, 2016SEAT BELTS, SEATS
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT TRACK BREAKS AFTER 66,000 MILES OR NINE MONTHS MAKING THE SEAT SHIFT WILDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAS NO SEAT TRACKS IN STOCK AND NO ETA FOR BACK ORDER. THE SEAT LETS DO NO UNCLASP UNLESS JERKED IN SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE RELEASE BUTTON IS PRESSED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10853461April 5, 2016ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 2013 KIA FORTE EX, THE VEHICLE ROUGHLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED VIA OIL CHANGES, FILTERS, ETC ON TIME WITH QUALITY NAME BRAND FULLY SYNTHETIC OIL AND FILTERS PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WHICH IS EVERY 7500 MILES. I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE HOME ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY ON THE EAST COAST. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE OF 5 LANES ON THE SOUTH BOUND SIDE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS SLOWING DOWN AT AN UNSAFE RATE OF SPEED BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER AND DID NOT WANT TO TOUCH THE BRAKES OBVIOUSLY. I PANICKED BUT WAS ABLE TO PUT MY RIGHT SIGNAL ON TO TRY AND GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY I CONTINUED TO PANIC BECAUSE MY CAR WAS STEADY SLOWING AND EVENTUALLY WOULD COME TO A STOP BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND I KNEW THE CAR SHUT DOWN BECAUSE ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE DASH AS IF YOU WERE STARTING THE CAR. THANKFULLY SOMEONE WAS WATCHING OVER ME THAT DAY AND I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE CAR ROLLED TO A COMPLETE STOP. IF I WERE UNABLE TO SAFELY MOVE OVER TWO LANES AND MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON MOMENTUM I WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED IN A LANE OF TRAVEL ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND WHAT WOULD I HAVE DONE? I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AND BEEN PART OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH I DID MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER I WAS STILL PANICKING BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY BUSY FREEWAY AND I FELT HELPLESS. THE CAR WOULD NOT START IT WOULD MAKE A FUNKY NOISE AND THAT'S IT BUT WOULD NEVER START SO I WAS STRANDED. I LOOKED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL AND CALLED KIA, THE DEALERSHIP WAS 10 MINUTES FROM MY LOCATION. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A TOW TRUCK AND I WAS ON MY OWN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED THERE AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND IT WAS THE BOTTOM END. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE TIMING SYSTEM AND KIA IS LYING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10852998April 1, 2016SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE IN MARCH OF 2016. I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND BEGAN TO PUSH THE GAS TO BACK OUT. THE CAR ENGINE REVVED LOUDLY AND THE CAR SHOT OUT OF THE GARAGE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THINKING I POSSIBLY HAD MY FOOT ON THE WRONG PEDAL (EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE), I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FEET AND VERIFIED THAT MY FOOT WAS INDEED ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE GAS PEDAL. I THEN PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT SLOW DOWN; IT CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED. AT THIS POINT, I HAD GONE DOWN MY DRIVEWAY ACROSS THE STREET AND WAS IN MY NEIGHBORS' DRIVEWAY HEADED TOWARD THEIR HOUSE. THEN, I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND THAT STILL DID NOT STOP OR EVEN SLOW DOWN THE CAR. IT JUST MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE. MY NEXT STEP WOULD HAVE BEEN TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT I HAD ALREADY HIT THE OUTSIDE WALL OF MY NEIGHBORS' GARAGE AND THAT IS WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AND BEGAN IDLING NORMALLY. I TOWED IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THEY RAN TESTS ON THE BRAKES, THROTTLE, ETC. AND FOUND NO ABNORMALITIES. WHEN I ASKED WHAT INFORMATION WAS GATHERED FROM THE CONTROL MODULE, I WAS TOLD THAT NO HISTORY CODES WERE SHOWN. SO, ACCORDING TO THEM THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ME BRAKING OR THE CAR ACCELERATING. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE. I ASKED TWICE FOR COPIES OF THE ACTUAL TESTS AND DATA THAT WAS DOWNLOADED FROM THE CONTROL MODULE, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE THEM. I WAS TOLD THE INFORMATION WAS TYPED WORD FOR WORD IN THE SUMMARY SECTION OF THE RECEIPT. I AM NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR, SINCE I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS ONE AND EXPRESSED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. HOW CAN THEY ALLOW A CAR BACK ON THE ROAD WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR WHY IT ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY? I'M BAFFLED BY THIS. UNFORTUNATELY, MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10851931March 28, 2016SEAT BELTS
I PURCHASED THIS USED VEHICLE TWO WEEKS AGO. I NOTICED THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT HAS ABOUT A 1-INCH FRAY ON IT. I ASKED MY SALESPERSON TO CHECK IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER KIA'S "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY. HE CHECKED WITH HIS MISHAWAKA INDIANA KIA DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK A PICTURE AND TOLD ME HE WOULD SUBMIT IT TO HIS BOSS. TWO DAYS LATER, HE LEFT ME A MESSAGE SAYING HIS BOSS WAS "DECLINING" TO REPLACE THE BELT BECAUSE IT WAS FRAYED. THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I WAS ASKING IT BE FIXED. I'VE OWNED HONDAS FOR 25+ YEARS AND NEVER HAD A SEATBELT FRAY. PLUS, IT DISTURBS ME THAT KIA IS IMMEDIATELY DECLINING TO HONOR THEIR "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY, ESPECIALLY ON WHAT SHOULD BE A RELATIVELY CHEAP FIX. SHOULDN'T THIS BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY ON SUCH A NEW VEHICLE?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10850671March 21, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
FIRST, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND SHOW INCORRECT RANGE AND FUEL LEVELS. SPEEDOMETER SHOWS CAR IS GOING 0 MPH EVEN WHEN CAR IS MOVING. TACHOMETER SHOWS 0 RPM EVEN WHEN CAR IS IDLING OR MOVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES SINCE 3/8/16. SECOND, BRAKE PADS PROVIDED ON CAR ARE CHEAP AND DO NOT HAVE RANGE I CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 10K MILES. THIRD, VENTILATION SYSTEM DOESN'T OPERATE PROPERLY AND I CAN INTERMITTENTLY SMELL BURNING PLASTIC COMING FROM VENTS, FAN DOESN'T OPERATE OVER THE 3 SETTING AND A/C DOESN'T BLOW COLD. FINALLY, SHOCKS AND STRUTS ARE SUB PAR HAD TO REPLACE AT 10K MILES DUE TO TIRE CUPPING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10845985March 10, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
I REAR-END A SUV AT 50 MILES PER HOUR, HIT MY NOSE AND MOUTH ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FRONT END IS SEVERELY DAMAGE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, FLUIDS WERE LEAKING BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10845617March 8, 2016ENGINE
I HAVE KIA FORTE WHICH WAS RUNNING FINE. UNTIL I CHANGE THE STARTER THEN THE OIL WAS PUMPING TO THE ENGINE IT WOULD KNOCK LOUDLY & IF I WOULD ANY LONGER IT WOULD BLOW THE ENGINE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10839863March 4, 2016TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN N5000 TIRES, SIZE: 215/45ZR/17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THE BLOWOUT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS AND THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES HAD BUBBLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10836473February 16, 2016VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN PULLING INTO THE GARAGE TO PARK THE CAR, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW/STOP. THE CAR EXELLERATED VIOLENTLY AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO SOME STORED ITEMS AT THE BACK WALL. I INSTINCTIVELY STOMPED HARDER ON THE BRAKE AND TURNED THE KEY OFF. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN - THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T OUT IN TRAFFIC OR POINTED OUT MY DRIVEWAY, SINCE THAT IS A 60 FOOT PLUNGE TO THE LAKE! THE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT - WON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE INTERNALLY UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETED. I SEE ONLINE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH OTHER KIA FORTE OWNERS, BUT KIA HAS NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO DO A RECALL "SINCE THEY CANNOT RE-CREATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES". PLEASE INVESTIGATE FURTHER BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10825862February 12, 2016SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES DON'T RETRACT BACK UP AFTER THEY BEEN APPLIED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BELOW 32 DEGREES. DEALER COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG, WHEN I GET TO THE DEALER ITS NOT COLD ENOUGH TO HAVE THE PROBLEM, ITS NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM, BUT CAN BE DANGEROUS AT TIMES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10823289January 31, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
JUST RECENTLY (WITHIN THIS MONTH) I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I TURN ON MY BLINKER EITHER WAY, OR STEP ON MY BREAK MY RADIO OR MUSIC FROM MY PHONE CUTS OUT. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME AND I DO NOT NOTICE IT HAPPENING AT A PARTICULAR SPEED. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY ON THE FREEWAY BUT I JUST NOTICE IT DID IT ON A SURFACE STREET TODAY. MY HEADLIGHTS AND MY INSIDE ROOF LIGHTS FLICKER ALSO. HAD A FRIEND CHECK IT OUT AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. CHECKED ALL THE WIRING FOR CORROSION, SOMETHING GROUNDING WHERE IT SHOULDN'T BE, CHECK MY BATTERY VOLTAGE AND MY TRANSMISSION. CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE DUE TO ME DRIVING 100+ MILES A DAY, 6 DAYS A WEEK. LAST THING I NEED IS FOR MY CAR TO CATCH FIRE...
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10822754January 28, 2016POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO A CRASH, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS DAMAGED AND STARTED TO CORRODE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE DAMAGE AND CORROSION WAS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. UPDATED 04/04/16*LJ *CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10821413January 21, 2016ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES FROM A STOP, THERE IS SEVERE VALVE PINGING SOUND. KIA MOTORS AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT ARE NOT TAKING ANY STEPS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE "AS IT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR". THE NOISE IS VERY SEVERE ON THE 2015 FORTE AND IT IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. THE WIND NOISE AND THE VALVE PING MAKE THE CAR VERY LOUD. THE DEALER SAYS THAT SINCE KIA MOTORS AMERICA IS NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, NOTHING CAN BE DONE. KIA MOTORS AMERICA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS BUT HAVE FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT AS THEY ARE DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE UPGRADING TO BETTER GAS, BUT THE NOISE STILL PERSISTS. KIA RECOMMENDS AND ADVERTISES REGULAR UNLEADED FOR THE FORTE, BUT A MORE EXPENSIVE PLUS OR PREMIUM GRADE IS NEEDED TO DECREASE THE SOUND OF THE PING. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL ADDED EXPENSE TO THE CAR THAT KIA FAILS TO ADDRESS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10821427January 21, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE HEAD THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,616.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10821478January 21, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AS HE WALKED OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDOWS WERE BLACK FROM THE RESIDUE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF BEFORE THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10820680January 17, 2016AIR BAGS
ON 1/15/2016, I HIT A MASSIVE 10-POINT BUCK (DEER) HEAD ON. IT WAS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND I DROVE INTO IT DOING 65 MPH. THE FRONT OF MY CAR SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE; THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS PUSHED BACK AND THE HOOD WAS BENT BACK TO THE WINDSHIELD. YET, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE WORKED AS A PARAMEDIC/FF FOR OVER 15 YEARS, AND I HAVE WORKED HUNDREDS OF ACCIDENT SCENES. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW... THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED. WITH THE FRONT END DAMAGE THAT MY CAR SUSTAINED, THAT AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO KIA WITH NO RESPONSE, SO PERHAPS THE NHTSA CAN FORCE KIA TO FIX THIS. BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME FATALITIES IF THIS ISN'T FIXED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0