Kia Forte Complaints
2,563 consumer complaints on file.
- #11481768August 29, 2022ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated the vehicle was previously involved in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) where they received an engine knock test as the remedy. The contact stated that at that time they had no failures with the engine. Approximately 2 months after while driving approximately 30 mph when the vehicle began to make a loud knocking noise inside the engine. The contact decided to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and while doing so they began to smell smoke within the cabin of the vehicle. Once the contact had successfully pulled over and exited the vehicle they began to notice smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the smoke with a fire extinguisher. The fire department did arrive and confirmed the smoke was successfully extinguished and there no longer was a fire. There was no damage, injuries, or medical attention needed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The contact then had the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle nor had the vehicle been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000. The contact stated the vehicle shut down on its own, but contact was able to veer off the road.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11481383August 26, 2022ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, she checked the fluids and noticed that the oil was unexpectedly low. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where the battery was recharged; however, a diagnostic test was undetermined. The contact then stated that without warning, the engine started to require an excessive amount of oil. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had consumed 3.5 to 4 quarts of oil per 1,000 miles driven. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000. The consumer is reiterating the request for a engine replacement at no cost. Further stating the engine had multiple issues which includes failing to start, white smoke coming from the tailpipe of the vehicle, and extreme oil consumption. The consumer is requesting the dealer perform repairs to the vehicle stated in the recall at no expense to the owner.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11481152August 25, 2022ENGINE
Engine is making a knocking noise, independent mechanic as well as Kia dealer inspected and said engine is about to fail, which could leave driver stranded or impede traffic. No warning lights are on, vehicle has been regularly maintained.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11480711August 23, 2022ENGINE
In mid July 2022, the engine light was flickering on and off and my car started shaking. The KIA dealership told me the car needed the spark plugs to be replaced so I replaced the ones that they recommended. Then 2 weeks after that service the engine light came on again and my car began to shake so I took it in and they found a recall on the the ignition coils. They replaced those and then the next day the engine light came on and my car started shaking but this time, I started loosing acceleration in the car and the engine light stayed on. The KIA dealership tried to charge me $364.55 per ignition coil. It is scary to drive because I still have to go to work and church.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11480800August 23, 2022ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that his daughter received recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) and the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software was updated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software was reset. However, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Gerald Kia of Naperville (1661 Aurora Ave, Naperville, IL 60540), where it was diagnosed that the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software was operating as designed and the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the second dealer informed the contact that the first dealer had misdiagnosed the vehicle during the recall repair as the engine should have been replaced then. The dealer filed a claim with the manufacturer and informed the contact that the manufacturer would partially cover the repair. The contact followed up with the manufacturer, however, the manufacturer did not provide any additional assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11480167August 19, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car was stolen. Steering column busted ignition switch taken out. Passenger side window busted.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11479835August 17, 2022FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated while making a stop the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the fuel pump, but the failure occurred several times. On a different occasion the vehicle stalled and shut down completely. The vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to a repair facility where they replaced the vapor canister purge valve and the canister solenoid, but it did not repair the vehicle. The vehicle then was towed to a Kia dealer where they did a fuel injector service and clear codes and a transmission fluid flush on the vehicle, but the failure reoccurred. The dealer was not able to determine the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 94,777.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11479502August 16, 2022ENGINE
last fall my car would turn off while i was parked or driving at low speeds, i brought it to my Kia dealership and they could not find an issue, it happed a few more time in the winter, then in this summer it started happing more and more, including when i was driving at low speeds, my car would turn off, the battery and check engine light would come on, i would have to put the car in park in the middle of the road, then turn it back on and all the lights would go off and it would drive perfect again. I brought it to my Kia dealer again, they kept it all day and again found noting wrong. Now this care is Turing off while I'm driving 2-3 times a day including while i'm on the highway in bumper to bumper traffic. again when this happens i put the car in park take out the key, turn it back on and its fine. I have taken a few videos of this issue, and my dealer refuses to help anymore. This is an extremely dangerous situation that is putting my life in jeopardy because of a defect with this car
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11479543August 16, 2022AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the contact stated he rear-ended the vehicle in front of him causing damage to the front end of his vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. The contact had several cuts and bruises, but no medical attention was required and he stated that no one else was injured. It was unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The contact stated he later find out that his VIN was under recall NHTSA Campaign Number:22V031000(Air Bags) The dealer was not contacted, and the manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 64,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11479685August 16, 2022POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
Powertrain, engine light on, losing power
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11479365August 15, 2022ENGINE
While son was driving on I10 at 65-70 mph engine died. Was able to restart to pull off the side of the highway. Car driven to Kia dealership with loud knocking noise, using side roads with another driver following. Kia confirmed that engine needs replacement and is a known issue. Our vehicle was in the Kia system under a different owner's name/address so we did not receive the 'courtesy notification' to have a fix that would extend warranty to cover engine problem. Many calls to Kia have not resulted in an agreement to fix or acknowledge severity of issue as far as engine failing while driving at a high rate of speed with an issue that is known to them.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11479101August 13, 2022ENGINE
My car stalled in the middle of a busy rotary …no lights or warning…never had an issue with the car until that day …I always was on top of all maintenance…was very dangerous as I was in traffic and it just stopped working..,was luckily not rearended…when brought to a mechanic he inspected it and stated it was the engine and that it was no good anymore…I did some research and found a lot of other Kia Forte of this year have had same issue but dealership said it’s not recalled and they would not replace until the government recalls it..This is a major safety issue as there was no warning at all that the engine had an issue, and this has happened to my last Kia …that was a 2015 optima and that engine was recalled so was able to get it replaced by dealership and I still have the car …I love my Kia but this is unexceptionable and DANGEROUS The car is currently at a mechanic waiting for a new engine to be installed at my expense…extremely expensive …do not have invoice yet as it’s not a completed job but I will be keeping in the event that this does become a recall as it is a hazard as there is no warning at all
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11479147August 13, 2022ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I recently inherited this car from my mother and it appears that the engine may have issues. There is a loud noise that comes from the engine intermittently. It is louder at times then other times. The oil level is fine and recent. I've done a lot of research and it appears this is a common problem for the 2.0 engine. I feel as though this could turn into a bigger scenario if something is not done for the lack of expense a person must put into these engines.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11478339August 9, 2022FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
Car shakes a lot with AC in setting 1 & 2. Kia official has checked and rechecked and stated to be “normal”. Car getting average of 17mpg and 250 miles per tank average. Despite being up to date. Car shakes excessively at idle
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11478395August 9, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There is a way to remove a piece of the steering component and start the car with a USB (general - doesn't need to be any specific USB, can be an iPhone charger). There are many Kia's being stolen and damaged, some to the point of unrepair. This needs to be recalled ASAP. Many people are getting hurt. They call themselves the "Kia Boys" and it's now a social media trend to steal Kia's. The government needs to step in and force Kia to recall their vehicles with this capability before more people die because of this stupid trend. I'm answering the following questions with what I know from other reports from news; not to my actual vehicle.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11478137August 8, 2022AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the contact rear-ended the vehicle in front of her however the air bags failed to deploy. The air bag warning light was illuminated. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained injuries to her back but did not receive medical attention. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477509August 4, 2022ENGINE
engine burning oil, engine knocking, entire engine needed replaced
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477535August 4, 2022ENGINE
The engine is malfunction. My car is shaking feally bad, as well as while driving it seems like it wants to shutdown. My engine warning indicator stays lit.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477579August 4, 2022ENGINE
I was driving in the highway in front of a semi truck and the car engine failed. I couldn’t accelerate or slow down and I could barely turn the wheel. The semi just barely missed me. This is the second engine failure in a year. Kia replaced my engine with a brand new one in January of 2022 but have not added my vin number to the engine recall.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477635August 4, 2022EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
My car was stolen from in front of my home, they were able to steal my brand new car because they popped off the bottom steering wheel cover and used an iphone charger to start the ignition and drive away.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0