Kia Forte Complaints
2,563 consumer complaints on file.
- #10429916October 12, 2011TIRES:VALVE, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM PROBLEMS *LN *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10428312October 3, 2011POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE WILL SPORADICALLY JERK HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS. I HAVE ONLY EVER EXPERIENCED THIS SAME FEELING WHEN A TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW ON 06/24/11 FROM A DEALERS LOT, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN USED AS A DEMO. THE VEHICLE HARD JERKED WHEN CHANGING GEARS, FOUR SEPARATE TIMES BETWEEN 06/25/11 AND 07/05/11. PER THIS WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM/KIA-FORTE-CERATO-TD-KOUP-DISCUSSION/55002-SX-2-4L-W-AUTO-TRANS-2.HTML I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425506September 14, 2011TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES
2ND SET OF TIRES USELESS AFTER 29,000 MILES PASSENGER SIDE TIRE UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED CONTACTED DEALER REPLY TOUGH LUCK. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10417104August 4, 2011AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INJURIES INCLUDING BROKEN RIBS, CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK PAIN, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS, AND THE PASSENGER NEEDED KNEE SURGERY. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10415487July 28, 2011ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE BECAUSE THE BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,100. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATE 09/09/11. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10413506July 19, 2011EQUIPMENT
PURCHASED A 2010 KIA FORTE KOUPE IN FEBRUARY 2011. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO KIA MOTORS, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT KIA DOES NOT PROVIDE A DRIVER'S FLOORMAT THAT LOCKS INTO THE TWO CARPET-MOUNTED STUDS THAT ARE DESIGNED INTO THE CAR. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S MAT ONLY LOCKS INTO ONE STUD, WHICH ALLOWS THE MAT TO PIVOT AND SWING LEFT TO RIGHT UNDER THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10408870June 25, 2011STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
MY MOTHER PURCHASED A NEW KIA FORTE A FEW DAYS AGO. CAME HOME FROM FOOD SHOPPING OPENED THE TRUNK TO TAKE OUT HER GROCERIES. SHE BENT OVER REACHED IN THE TRUNK TO REMOVE A BAG AND THE TRUNK SLAMMED DOWN ON THE BACK OF HER NECK CAUSING SEVERE BRUISING. I WENT OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG . THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I RAISED THE TRUNK AND LET GO IT SLAMMED DOWN. I WAS WITH HER WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE TRUNK STAYED OPEN BY ITSELF . WE COULD NOT FIND ANY VISIBLE REASON WHY THIS HAD HAPPENED. I THEN MOVED THE VEHICLE UP AND PARKED IT UNDER THE CARPORT AND WAS GOING TO TAKE OUT THE REST OF THE GROCERIES. THE TRUNK STAYED OPEN THIS TIME AND DID NOT SLAM SHUT BY ITSELF. THE DIFFERENCE WAS THAT NOW THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL SURFACE, BEFORE IT WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. MY MOTHER IS 85 YEARS OLD AND SMALL IN STATURE.. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE SHE PURCHASED A CAR THAT SHE FELT COMFORTABLE AND SAFE IN. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT AN INJURY OCCURRING WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. HER DOCTOR WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BRUISING AND SWELLING ON HER NECK AND SHE HAS HAD A HEADACHE AND PAIN. SHE WILL SEE HER DOCTOR ON MONDAY, AND I WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. SHE IS LUCKY THAT THE TRUNK DIDN'T SLAM ON HER HEAD AND KILL HER. I DO HOPE THIS WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND THAT NO ONE ELSE WILL BE INJURED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10409753June 25, 2011POWER TRAIN
CAR WILL NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY UNDER MANUAL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10408704June 23, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA MOTOR FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. UPON RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD HEAR SCREECHING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,532. UPDATED 09/02/11*LJ UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405543June 8, 2011AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS A COSMETIC FAILURE TO REPAIR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER AND HAD BEEN THERE FOR THREE WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE ARRIVING FROM KOREA AND WOULD TAKE SOME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399192May 5, 2011STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AS THE FRONT HOOD FLEW OPEN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE HOOD AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND STATED THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398385April 30, 2011AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN OUR 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP, SHE WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A DOG IN THE ROADWAY WHEN SHE OVER CORRECTED AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A DITCH, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED "TOTALED", DURING THIS ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER, MY WIFE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER FOREHEAD, NOSE, AND UPPER CHEST. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10389799March 10, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2010 KIA FORTE EX SEDAN, 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT COULD DEFINITELY LEAD TO INJURIES OR DEATH. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME, BUT MOSTLY OCCURS DURING OR AFTER GOING UP A SIGNIFICANT HILL, BUT MAY HAPPEN ON LEVEL GROUND. THERE'S 23,000 MILES ON MY KIA AND IT'S UNDER FULL WARRANTY. I TOOK THIS TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM; THEY SUGGESTED FLUSHING THE TRANSMISSION FOR $150, SO I DID THAT. IT DID NOT HELP. IT STOPPED FOR ABOUT A WEEK, THEN IT STARTED SEIZING UP AGAIN, TODAY (3/10/2011) IT SEIZED TWICE ON MY WIFE. WHAT IT DOES IS NOT ACTUALLY STOP THE CAR, BUT "FREEZE" YOU AT ONE SPEED, TYPICALLY EITHER 20MPH OR 45-50MPH IT TAKES UP TO 30 SECONDS TO SHIFT, AND IF YOU ARE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC AND IT SEIZES AND WON'T LET YOU GO BEYOND 10-20MPH IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER SAYS THEY WON'T HAVE A REPLACEMENT LOANER UNTIL NEXT WEEK, SO WE'LL WAIT. I'M IN NORTHERN UT. IT'S HAPPENING IN DRY WARM (50-60 DEGREE) WEATHER. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SEVERELY, THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT HAPPEN. THE KIA OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS TO INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 40,000 AND ONLY CHANGE THEN IF NEEDED, SO THE VERY EXPENSIVE FLUID SHOULD BE GOOD. THIS IS SOME UNIQUE FLUID YOU HAVE TO BUY FROM THE DEALER, NORMAL AUTO PARTS STORES DON'T HAVE IT. OTHER DRIVERS ARE REPORTING THIS WITH THE KIA FORTE EX ALSO ( HTTP://WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM/KIA-FORTE-CERATO-TD-KOUP-DISCUSSION/56086-NEW-TRANSMISSION-NEEDED-6900-MILES.HTML). I AM CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING A CAR I CAN'T PREDICT WHEN IT WILL SEIZE UP AND NOT SHIFT. LETTING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS DOES NOT HELP. IT DOES HAVE TO BE WELL WARMED UP TO HAVE THIS DIFFICULTY, AT LEAST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386626March 6, 2011TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND PASSENGER FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TIRE. ORIGINAL TIRES WHEN VEHICLE PURCHASED. ONLY 11,000 MILES ON TIRE; GOODYEAR EAGLE LS 2. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10380977February 7, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE SEDAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SHIFTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WOULD SWITCH FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER AND THE TIRES WOULD SKID. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING, HE COULD SMELL RUBBER BURNING. ALSO, THE SPEEDODOMETER WORKED ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10374859January 5, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING, TIRES
FRONT TIRES ON 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP WAS WORN SO SEVERELY ON THE INSIDE EDGE THE CORDS WAS SHOWING. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ALIGNMENT CHECKED. DEALER ADVISED ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN SPECS. YOU CAN NOT SEE THE TIRE WEARING UNLESS YOU GET UNDER THE CAR AND LOOK AT THE INSIDE EDGE. THE REST OF THE TIRES STILL LOOK IN GOOD CONDITION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10352984August 31, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING MY KIA FORTE THE ENGINE STALLED. IT HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN THE LAST PAST TWO MONTHS. AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FIND ANY CODE ON THE COMPUTER. THEY KEEP SENDING ME HOME AND TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10350157August 17, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SECOND INCIDENT OF STALLING WHILE OPERATING A 2010 KIA FORTE EX W/ AUTO TRAN AND THE "FUEL ECONOMY" PACKAGE. IN BOTH INSTANCES I HAD COME TO A STOP -- THE FIRST TIME (ABOUT 2 MOS. AGO) WAS UPON EXECUTING A HARD STOP, BUT TODAY I HAD SLOWED GRADUALLY AND THEN STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. BOTH TIMES, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND RADIO REMAINED ON BUT THE ENGINE SIMPLY CUT OUT. CAR WAS IN "DRIVE" AND IN BOTH INSTANCES WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH PRIOR TO STOPPING. THE STEERING DID NOT LOCK. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AFTER PUTTING IT IN "PARK." I WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM ONCE I HAD A CHANCE TO SAFELY TRY DOING SO. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT I COULD BRING THE CAR IN BUT THAT IF THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM, THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE/FIX IT. THEY DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. TODAY'S INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAD CLOSED BUT I WILL CALL THEM IN THE MORNING TO REPORT IT. THIS TIME I INTEND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AS I HAVE A LONG DAILY COMMUTE WITH A SMALL CHILD AND AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10346909August 2, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER DID A TEST DRIVE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT DID NOT PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,246.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10332606May 28, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
I JUST BOUGHT A KIA FORTE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SO FAR WHEN THE CAR HAD 425 MILES ON IT, THE GAS PEDAL HAS ACTED LIKE IT WAS DEPRESSED--THE ENGINE REVVED UP VERY HIGH, BUT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE PEDAL. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALSO DRIVING AND IT ALSO HAPPENED TO HER, IT FELT AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING COVERING THE PEDAL---MAYBE THE RUG OR SOMETHING BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS THEY RAN AND SENT ME HOME. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 800 MILES ON IT NOW AND I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ANY OTHER SUCH PROBLEMS, YET. I AM AN EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVER AND I DO NOT ACCEPT THAT THIS WAS DRIVER ERROR. THE TIMES THIS HAPPENED TO ME MY RIGHT FOOT WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND MY LEFT FOOT WAS DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH FULLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0