Kia Forte Complaints

2,563 consumer complaints on file.

#11382784December 9, 2020
ENGINE
AT AROUND 125,000 MILES - I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND AND TAPPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE ON MY 2.0L MPI "THETA II" 2012 KIA FORTE. AT FIRST IT WENT AWAY QUICKLY AFTER STARTUP BUT THEN WHEN IT GOT COLDER THAT WINTER IT GOT NOTICEABLY LOUDER AND IS NOW CONSTANTLY PRESENT AT 157,930 MILES, SPEEDING UP AS I ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AT AROUND 128,800 MILES AND HE SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE ENGINE TAKEN APART TO DO MORE DIAGNOSIS AND THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO JUST DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT GETS WORSE. I'VE GOTTEN DOCUMENTED REGULAR OIL CHANGES SINCE I WAS THE OWNER IN 2017, SWITCHING TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT MY MECHANIC'S SUGGESTION AFTER HAVING THEM CHECK OUT THE TAPPING/TICKING ISSUE. THESE OIL CHANGES HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, INSTEAD IT'S CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH EACH WINTER MAKING IT SLOWLY GET WORSE. IN DOING SOME SEARCHES, I'M NOT ALONE IN MY EXPERIENCE AND I'M APPARENTLY LUCKY THAT I'VE MADE IT THIS LONG WITH MY THETA II ENGINE. WHEN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BEGAN FOR THE GDI ENGINES I WAS HOPEFUL THAT KIA WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND INCLUDE THE MPI ENGINES. HOWEVER, WHILE THEY HAVE EXPANDED THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MPI ENGINES, THEY HAVE NOT EXPANDED IT TO INCLUDE 2.0L MPI ENGINES WITH THE SAME COMPONENTS THAT CAN WEAR EXCESSIVELY INCLUDING CONNECTING RODS/CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. MANY 2.0L MPI OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES, INCLUDING FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS THAT LOVE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR VEHICLES, AND I WORRY ABOUT THE DANGER THAT CAN OCCUR WITH A SUDDENLY FAILING ENGINE, LET ALONE THE POTENTIAL FIRE RISKS. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2.0L MPI ENGINE KIA FORTE MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION FROM PARTS DIAGRAMS THAT SHOW THE PARTS COMMONALITY BETWEEN THE 2.4 MPI AND 2.0L MPI ENGINES. I
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378481December 8, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND WASN'T WORKING. I WAS UNABLE TO START IT AGAIN. NO OIL LIGHTS, NO ENGINE LIGHTS, OR ANY OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO IT DYING. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THERE IS NO OIL IN THE MOTOR AND I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3-5,000 MILES. THE CAR SHOULDN'T HAVE STOPPED OPERATING WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF. I WAS TRAVELING ON A CITY STREET DURING THAT TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378597December 8, 2020
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE MADE A REALLY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME. HAS A CONSISTENT KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378189December 7, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I SAW THAT KIA RECALLED THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF THIS CAR FOR FAULTY ENGINES WHICH MAY CATCH FIRE DUE TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION, ROD BEARING FAILURE AND FUEL LEAK BUT, ONLY FOR THE 2.4L ENGINE. WHEN TECHNICALLY SPEAKING THE 2.0L ENGINE WHICH IS NOT RECALLED IS NEARLY IDENTICAL BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY BESIDES CUBIC INCHES. IN FACT WHEN ORDERING PARTS FOR THE 2.0L ENGINE ON KIA'S SITES AND OEM PARTS DISTRIBUTORS, THE PART NUMBERS ARE THE SAME FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, INTERNAL BEARINGS, THE ONLY VARIANCE IN MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN ARE THE CRANKSHAFTS, CAMSHAFTS AND OIL PUMPS DUE TO THE DIFFERENCE IN DISPLACEMENT. FURTHERMORE MY CAR RECENTLY BEGAN LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL DELIVERY TUBE GOING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE RAIL WHICH IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THAT ON THE 2.4 AND SAME DESIGN AND ROUTING. DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE EXHAUST THE FUEL COULD HAVE IGNITED IF NOT CAUGHT JUST THE SAME AS THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2.4L WHICH PROMPTED THE RECALL. HOWEVER THE 2.0L OWNERS ARE NOT PROTECTED AND ARE AT THE SAME RISK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378194December 7, 2020
ENGINE
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
#11378195December 7, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN WARMING UP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OF THE KNOCKING SOUND RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC OR A KIA DEALER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378248December 7, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED FOR A SPLIT SECOND. A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS THE VEHICLE DEACCELERATED, THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS SMOKE PRESENT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THERE WAS OIL ON THE ROAD AS ODOR APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD A HOLE AND THAT THE ROD FORCEFULLY FRACTURE THE STARTER. CENTURY KIA OF TAMPA 4340 W HILLSBOROUGH AVE, TAMPA, FL 33614 WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTIES EXPIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THE DAY BEFORE THE FAILURE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ENGINE CLEANING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378323December 7, 2020
ENGINE
THIS ENGINE HAS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM OF TICKING COMING FROM THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE, AND ISSUES WITH OIL INCLUDING BURNING OIL. I PERSONALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED BOTH DESPITE MANY EFFORTS TO TRY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. MANY OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THESE SAME ISSUES WHICH HAVE LED TO SCORING IN THE CYLINDERS AND COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. I MYSELF AM ALSO VERY CLOSE TO ENGINE FAILURE. MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN UNDERLYING ISSUE(S) CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS IN THE THETA II ENGINES. MANY PEOPLE IN CANADA HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINE REPLACED FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378094December 6, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT DOESN'T WORK/ASIC IS DAMAGED. TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE KEEPS LEAKING FLUID THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING A CRASH.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378120December 6, 2020
ENGINE
2012 KIA FORTE KOUP CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVEING AND VERY LOUD KNOCK IN THE ENGINE TOOK IT TO KIA IN LANCASTER OHIO VEHICLE THROWING NO CODES WHY IS THIS ENGINE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL I HAVE SEEN OTHERS ASK THE VERY SAME QUESTION FOR EXACT VEHICLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378044December 5, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALL OF THE HEADLAMPS / ALL TAIL/PARK/MARKER / ALL I/P ILLUMINATION LAMPS GOES OUT WHEN TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNALS WHILE DRIVING & SIGNALING FOR AN UPCOMING TURN. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY & IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. THE LAMPS USUALLY RETURN TO NORMAL WITHIN A SECOND OR TWO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377876December 4, 2020
ENGINE
53,000 NO WARNING WAS DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY CAR STARTED TO KNOCK. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN CAR SHUTS OFF AND I PULL OVER. COME TO FIND OUT ENGINE THROUGH A ROD IN THE BLOCK AND WAS NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SAID I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PROOF OIL WAS NEVER CHANGE EVEN THOUGH I GAVE THEM ALL MY RECEIPTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377904December 4, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
MY VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME UNDER A WARRANTY. UPON DRIVING THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. WOULD NOT RESTART. ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY KIA. AS WELL AS A REPLACEMENT OIL PAN RANDOMLY. MY LONG TIME MECHANIC SAID THE OIL PAN WASN'T NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 1ST REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. IN TOTAL THE CAR HAS HAD 3 ENGINES. EMISSIONS PROBLEM EVER SINCE. LIGHT ON AND KIA HAS BILLED AND USED ALL OF THE WARRANTY COVERAGE. ALL DOCUMENTATION PROVIDABLE. ALL OIL CHANGES PROVIDABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377821December 3, 2020
ENGINE
BACK IN 2018 MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT MY ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD KEPT REGULAR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH THE 2012 FORTE USES HYUNDAI AND KIA'S 'THETA II' ENGINE. THE THETA II ENGINES COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROCESS ISSUE. SURE ENOUGH I DID INDEED HAVE ENGINE FAILURE AND HAD TO PAY AN ARM AND A LEG TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. NOW I FEAR THAT THIS SECOND ENGINE WILL FOLLOW SUIT. ONLY SOME MODELS FELL UNDER THE RECALL BUT KIA REALLY NEEDS TO CONSIDER THE 2012 FORTE MODELS AND ANY OTHER MODEL THAT FALLS IN RANGE. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE! I HAD TO CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES TO RESPOND TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WENT OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377386December 1, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE AUTOMATIC TRUNK LATCH WILL NO LONGER WORKS , SO THE TRUNK OF MY CAR IS OPENED. THE BUTTON ON THE KEY PAD WORKS FINE BUT THE LATCH WILL NOT LOCK . MY CAR WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376959November 29, 2020
ENGINE
DRIVING WHEN IT STALLED ALONG WITH MINOR SMOKING FROM ENGINE AREA ON SEVAERAL OCCASIONS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL KIA TO SEE IF THEY MAY HAVE INSIGHT AS TO WHAT MIHJT BE THE CAUSE ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY WOULD NEED TO INDSPECT CAR ALONG WITH A HEFTY HOURLY FEE. AND WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS IT STALLED , THE ENGINE CAME ON THEN DIED. I TOWED CAR HOME. IT WOUL START AND RUN FOR APPR. 2 MINUTESWITH A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I THEN HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED TO BE TOLD IT WAS BLOWN DUE TO THROWED RODS AND WOULD NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT WGICH I DID HAVE DONE. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE SHOP TO THE ISSUES KIA HAD HAD AND WAS HAVING WITH THE THETA ENGINE AS THATS WHAT MY CAR HAD. IVE CONTACTED THE MAIN KIA OFFICE WITH MY ISSUE AND COMPLAINT ONLY TO BE TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND THEY COULDD NOT ASSIST ME AND DECLINED ANY OTHER CALLS IVE TRIEDTO PLACE TO THEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376696November 27, 2020
ENGINE
MY CAR HAS OR SHOULD I SAT HAD 143,000 MILES WHEN I WAS DRIVING LIKE I DO ANY OTHER NORMAL DAY TO GO HOME. I GAD TO TAKE A SLIGHT DETOUR BEFORE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF AND HAVING ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH POP UP. AFTER I PULLED INTO A SAFE PARKING SPOT MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AT ALL. THE ENGINE KEPT MAKING A TICKING NOISE. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP THEN TO MY HOUSE!! THE CAR STATS ON FOR 10 SECONDS BEFORE SHUTTING OFF! WHY IS THIS NOT BEING RECALLED. I HAVE SEEN STORIES AND SIMILAR COMMENTS TO MINE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS NOW MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR TWO MONTHS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376768November 27, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE NHTSA WEBSITE SAYS I HAVE A RECALL UNDER MY VIN NUMBER BUT WHEN I GO TO THE KIA WEBSITE AND ENTER IT FOR SERVICE IT SAYS NO RECALL FOUND, SO I CAN NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376122November 24, 2020
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
SEAT AIR BAG DETECTION IS ON, WENT OFF THEN CAME BACK ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11375927November 23, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS NOW AND I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE REAR TAIL LIGHT/ BRAKE LIGHT BULBS CONTINUOUSLY BLOWING OUT. I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM ALMOST EVERY 1-2 MONTHS. WHEN REPLACING THEM, THEY ARE VERY HOT. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A WIRING ISSUE AMONG MANY OTHER FORTES AS I HAD READ UPON NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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