Kia Forte Complaints (2011)
154 consumer complaints on file.
- #11440277November 12, 2021AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The driver airbag light came on in June 2021 - I called Kia dealership and they said there was no recall. Last month the passenger airbag light came on. Both appear to not be working. I do not have extended warranty and my car is past warranty. I am wondering if any other Kia owners have a similar problem. I have never been in any major accidents and am an excellent driver. I am hoping there is a recall issued in the near future.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11432614September 11, 2021UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In the last few months, the engine makes increasingly louder knocking/ticking sound. Took it to the Ray Skillman KIA service shop in Southern Indianapolis/Greenwood area . They say they have seen other cars with the same problem and that the engine will die and needs replacement, at a massive cost. KIA has recalled several other models in the same model years with this problem, but somehow skipped on the KIA Forte 2011 EX. Not sure if this is an oversight on their part or cunning. PLEASE INVESTIGATE URGENTLY. Several others are reporting this issue on NHTSA and the Dealers have probably seen a 100x number of complaints relative to what's reported here. Thanks in advance.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11429492August 17, 2021UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The following situation has happened three times - once a few years ago, and again twice today (8/17/2021); When driving through standing water (estimated depth of 1 to 3 inches) like accumulates with moderate to heavy rain, the vehicle instrument panel displayed a low-battery alert and the power steering became inoperable. This lasted only about 3 to 5 seconds before returning to normal - but during those few seconds the car becomes extremely difficult to steer. This is a situation that could cause an accident. The rate of speed when this happened was low (approximately 20 mph one of the times - and barely moving (less than 5 mph) the other two times while entering intersections from a standstill). Fortunately this has not caused any accidents - But it needs to be investigated.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11413731April 25, 2021ENGINE
I HAVE HAD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE FOR A WHILE AND JUST IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS THE TICKING HAS GOTTEN MUCH LOUDER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WENT OFF- I HAD TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE TICKING SOUND STILL CONTINUES -BROUGHT TO KIA THOUGHT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE STARTING TO OCCUR BASED ON SOUND OF ENGINE BUT NOTHING DEFINITE. I HAVE FELT SAFE WITH THIS CAR BUT NOW NOT SO SURE. I HAVE FAITHFULLY CHANGED MY OIL EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2011.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11408500April 16, 2021SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN CAR IS OFF, I HAVE TO PUSH UP ON BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN IT OFF. WHILE DRIVING IT SEEMS LIKE THE BRAKE ENGAGES CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER, I HAVE TO STEP OFF THE GAS, AND REAPPLY AND SOMETIMES IT STILL FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE IS STILL ENGAGED. THIS ISSUE DOES HAPPEN AT LEAST 3 TIMES DAILY. PUSHING UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES GET IT TO STOP UNTIL I HAVE TO BRAKE. WHILE DRIVING MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TWICE IN 2021, THINKING THIS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE AND IT DOES NOT. HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11405273March 28, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11404931March 25, 2021AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS IN MOTION, TURNING LEFT FROM 13TH STREET NORFOLK NE, INTO THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR DOOR DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN, AND THE FRAME BETWEEN BOTH DOOR WAS DENTED IN.*DT
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11404388March 22, 2021ENGINE
AROUND 85,000 MILES ON A 2011 KIA FORTE KOUP THE ENGINE STARTED TICKING AND BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING TO KIA BECAUSE SO MANY WERE BEING RECALLED. IT'S ROD BEARING. I'VE HAD ALL NECESSARY OIL CHANGES AND WORK DONE TO IT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399300March 5, 2021AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD FRONT COLLISION AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ISSUE RECALL NOTICE LETTER FROM KIA I NEVER RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP NOTICE TO FIX.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11396697February 17, 2021ENGINE
AFTER OWNING MY 2011 KIA FORTE FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS IT HAS DEVELOPED A TICKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. IT IS VERY MILD WHILE IDLING, AND WHILE RPMS ARE UNDER 1500. AFTER RPMS GO PAST 2000 THE TICKING NOISE IS PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD ROUGHLY 85,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW HAS $125,000. I HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON IT, EVERY 3000-5000 MILES. AFTER HEARING THE TICKING I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THIS IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE WITH KIA FORTES AND THAT THE ONLY FIX IS REPLACING OR REPAIRING THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND READING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT KIA ENGINES GOING BAD AROUND 100,000 MILES AND I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO KIA FOR THIS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON KIA'S ENGINES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11387807January 13, 2021ENGINE
HI I BELIEVE U SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THE ENGINES FOR AN EXAMPLE WHEN I LOOK UP THE TIMING CHANGE ITS SAYS MOST HAD TO REPLACE THEN THE PISTON SLOP IS KNOCKING AND IT SEEMS LIKE MOST HAD TO REPLACE THAT. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A REBUILD KIT FOR MY KIA AND WOULD LIKE TO JUST REBUILD IT MYSELF BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A 2.0 REBUILD KIT FOR A 2011 FORTE EX ONLINE... WHY IS THAT?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11384045December 18, 2020ENGINE
THERE IS A CONSTANT KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND LOUD NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING THE ENGINE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO TURNING ON AND OFF. 2012-2015 KIA FORTE KOUPS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT THE 2011 MODEL. THIS CAR HAS THE SAME THETA 2 ENGINE AND THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE IS SHOT AND WILL NOT LAST MUCH LONGER. I SINCERELY HOPE THE RECALL IS EXTENDED TO THE 2011 MODEL KIA FORTE KOUP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11378194December 7, 2020ENGINE
BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A SMALL DEALERSHIP AND IT HAD A TICKING IN THE ENGINE. THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS FROM SITTING. THE TICKING GOT WORSE AND I TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT I'D NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11362492October 2, 2020ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I HEARD A SOUND LIKE METAL SCRAPING METAL, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH GOING STRAIGHT DOWN S. MAIN ST DOWNTOWN WARRENTON, OREGON AND WAS PLANNING TO PULL OVER WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STOPPED DEAD AFTER A HORRIBLE NOISE OF WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A HEAVY METAL SNAPPING/CRUNCHING NOISE. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND EVERYTHING LOOKED OK, BUT SOME BLACK FLUID WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED ABOUT FOUR DAYS BEFORE THIS AND THEY SAID IT WAS 2.5 QUARTS LOW. I HAD ALSO TAKEN IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO SEE IF IT NEEDED ANY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS IT WAS MAKING AN ODD SCRAPING NOISE BEFORE THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND HE SAID HE SUGGESTED SOME THING TO DO WITH THE CAM BUT IT WASN'T URGENT AND TO JUST KEEP THE OIL FILLED IN CASE THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE. THE OIL RESERVOIR WAS FULL WHEN I LEFT THAT MORNING WHEN IT SEIZED UP. IF I HAD BEEN GOING MUCH FASTER, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN KILLED AS IT STOPPED COMPLETELY, NO COASTING TO A STOP. IT JUST STOPPED. FROM 20MPH TO 0 AND THE CAR JUMPED WHEN IT STOPPED. I DID NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES. IT WAS TOWED TO MARK'S AUTO REPAIR IN SEASIDE, OREGON. HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT DID SAY THAT METAL FLAKES ARE IN THE OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID AND OTHER PLACES TOO. HE HAS A WORK ORDER HE IS WORKING UP BUT SAID HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A MINIMUM. THEY CAN ONLY FIND SHORT BLOCKS FOR SALE AT THIS TIME AND SO THE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON USING A SHORT BLOCK. MY OIL GETS CHANGED REGULARLY EITHER AT KIA OR A LOCAL OIL CHANGE SHOP.*DT*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11349555August 15, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
ENGINE ISSUES! THIS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS AND POSSIBLE LEMON. MY CAR HAS ONLY 106,890 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A TAPPING NOISE. THEN I STARTED TO HAVE A LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING OR GOING UP HILL. HAD THE CODES READ AND IT SAID THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. REPLACED THAT. THEN IT STARTED TO IDLE ROUGH. HAD CODE READ AGAIN. IT SAID MAP SENSOR AND NUMBER 2 CYLINDER MISFIRE. REPLACED PLUGS, COILS, AND MAP SENSOR. NOW IT WON'T START. IT HAS NO SPARK. NOW IT IS SHOWING CODES FOR MAP SENSOR AGAIN. NUMBER 2 CYLINDER MISFIRE, THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SENSOR AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. OTHER MODEL CARS WITH THE SAME 2.0 ENGINE HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE 2.0 ENGINE NEEDS TO ALSO BE RECALLED IN THE 2011 KIA FORTE KOUP EX. I'M NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS MODEL CAR THAT HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES AND OR TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11349195August 14, 2020ENGINE
KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE STARTED ABOUT 90,000 MILES, MAYBE EARLIER ALL SERVICE DONE TIMELY BY DEALERSHIP. KIA DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO HEAR ANYTHING UNUSUAL - STATES CAR'S GETTING OLD (7 YR). KNOCKING WHEN CAR STATIONARY AND MOVING. KNOCKING IS GETTING MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS THE SAME FOR SO MANY KIAS - ROD BEARING. CAR IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME SITTING IN THE DRIVE - I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S SAFE FOR ANY TRIP - OR FOR ANYONE. RECOMMENDED SOLUTION: NEW ENGINE. WHY WOULD I PUT A NEW ENGINE IN A, NOW 9 YEAR OLD CAR - SO THAT I COULD KEEP A KIA PRODUCT. NOT HAPPENING! WHAT IS HAPPENING IS ME LETTING EVERYONE KNOW TO STAY AWAY FROM ANY KIA PRODUCT!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11344137August 9, 2020ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY 70 MPH LOUD CLANKING SOUND BEGAN AND ENGINE QUIT WORKING, I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED MY FLUIDS,ALL WERE AT OPERATING LEVELS, THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE BUT NOT IF IT'S IN A FORTE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11327224June 4, 2020SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BRAKE LINE BURST NEAR CENTER OF CAR WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. MAINTAINED ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF BRAKE LINES RUNNING FROM FRONT TO REAR OF VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY AT CONTACT POINTS WITH EACH RESTRAINT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321722April 20, 2020ENGINE
CAR DEVELOPED A KNOCKING SOUND AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT AND THEY TELL ME NEED TO REPLACE MOTOR. ALSO TOLD ME THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM WITH MOTOR LIKE MINE. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE RECALLED SAME MOTORS IN DIFFERENT MODELS BUT NOT THE FORTE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11310219February 19, 2020AIR BAGS
TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL SC165. WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR REMOVING/READING THE AIRBAG SENSORS. THE ESTIMATE TO READ THE CODES IS $150 THAT CAN THEN GO TO COST OF REPAIRS. WHY WOULDN'T A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM INCLUDE READING THE SENORS AND ENSURING THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0