Kia Forte Complaints (2019)
150 consumer complaints on file.
- #11373247November 5, 2020FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THERE IS/WAS A FLIMSY PLASTIC "SHIELD" COVERING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THIS CAR BENEATH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CALLING IT A SHIELD IS A STRETCH CONSIDERING HOW FLIMSY IT IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS CALLED AND APPARENTLY NO ONE AT KIA USA OR THEIR DEALERSHIPS DOES EITHER. I HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS PARTS DEPARTMENTS AND CORPORATE FOR MONTHS NOW AND NONE OF THEM SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE PART OR TELL ME WHAT IT IS CALLED. THREE TIMES NOW THE LEADING EDGE HAS COME LOOSE AND DRAGGED THE ROAD. IT SCRAPES AND EVENTUALLY BREAKS OFF IF I DON'T CUT IT OFF FIRST. THERE IS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF IT NOW. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE SECOND TIME IT STARTED SCRAPING I THINK IT SCOOPED SOMETHING UP OFF THE ROAD AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE, BECAUSE WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED I SMELLED GASOLINE. THERE WAS A PINHOLE IN THE FUEL LINE AND IT WAS SPRAYING OUT UNDER PRESSURE. THIS FLIMSY PLASTIC PIECE IS THE ONLY THING BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND ANY ROAD HAZARDS THAT MIGHT DAMAGE THE FUEL LINE. IF I HADN'T GOTTEN OUT TO CHECK ON IT, MY CAR MIGHT WELL HAVE CAUGHT FIRE! IT'S NOT VERY FAR FROM THE EXHAUST, FORTUNATELY IT WASN'T SPRAYING ON THAT! THE LINES ARE RECESSED IN A CHANNEL, BUT THIS OBVIOUSLY WASN'T ENOUGH PROTECTION. A METAL PLATE OVER THE CHANNEL WOULD PROVIDE SOME ACTUAL PROTECTION. AS IT STANDS NOW, I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A SIGNIFICANT LENGTH OF THE FUEL LINE EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARDS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PART IS CALLED TO ORDER IT FOR ME. I DO NOT RECALL THE EXACT DATE, SO I PICKED ONE SINCE IT WOULDN'T LET ME CONTINUE WITHOUT. I BELIEVE THE MONTH IS CORRECT, BUT AM NOT EVEN 100% SURE ABOUT THAT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11365987October 23, 2020POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON MA 495 NORTH NEAR HAVERHILL MA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR WAS OVER-REVVING AND NO POWER WAS GETTING TO THE WHEELS. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS LUCKY I MADE IT TO A REST STOP. I TALKED TO THE TECH AT KIA AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BEING A "COMMON THING" AND I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THANKFULLY IT IS UNDER WARRANTY STILL. I FEEL KIA'S COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR CUSTOMER SAFETY IN THIS MATTER IS APPALLING. LOSS OF POWER LIKE THAT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR CRASH AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE. IF THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES AND REPLACE EVERY TRANSMISSION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11365803October 22, 2020POWER TRAIN
THE IVT TRANS WENT BAD WITH OUT WARRING I WAS DOING 70 MPH ON I 77 IN NC WITH CRUSE ON . THEN THE ENGINE TACKED UP TO 7000 RPM A FUE TIMES THEN I SHIFTED TO SPORT MODE THE RPMS STOPED JUMPING AROUND TILL I GOT TO HICKORY NC . WHEN DRIVING TO DEALER SHIP THE CAR WOULD NOT HARDLY PULL ITS SELF/ NO WARRING LIGHTS OR ANY TYPE OF WARRING OF LOST OF POWER. OTHER THEN HIGH RPM ON THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP NOW TO GET A NEW TRANS . IT ONLY HAS 17500 MILE ON IT THIS IVT IS TRASH AND DANGEROUS. IT WILL KILL SOME ONE THAT DONT KNOW AUTOS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11355709September 18, 2020STEERING
HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND I HAVE TO HAVE A NEW STEERING SHAFT PUT IN. I WAS HEARING A GRINDING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD IT CHECKED AND THAT IS WHAT THEY FOUND. THANK GOD IT WAS COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTEE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11354836September 14, 2020STEERING
ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO MY STEERING WHEEL STARTING MAKE A GRINDING NOISE I TOOK IT TO MY KIA DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. AFTER THAT WAS REPLACE MY STEERING WHEEL IS STILL MAKING THE NOISE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11352979September 3, 2020POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RPMS WOULD REV UP TO APPROXIMATELY 4,000 RPMS OR MORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD INTENTIONALLY SLOW THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE RPMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IDLE AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD UNINTENTIONALLY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED HOWEVER, THE TIRES CONTINUED TO SPIN WITHOUT MOVING THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GENE MESSER KIA (6006 19TH ST, LUBBOCK, TX 79407, (806) 776-5600) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT RECEIVED A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11348606August 11, 2020ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EVERYTIME I AM ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN EITHER COME TO A COMPLETE STOP OR TRY TO TURN TO GO UP A HILL. IT WON'T KICK IN TO GEAR. THD RPMS GO WAY UP AND IT ALMOST STOPS RUNNING. ITS BEEN HAPPENING LIKE FOR A WEEK NOW. ITS GETTING WORSE. MY HEADLIGHTS ALSO SEEM LIKE THEY ARE POINTED TO LOW TO THE GROUND. PLEASE HELP I USE MY CAR FOR WORK. THANK YOU
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11343480August 5, 2020ENGINE
IT'S MAKING A RATTLING NOISE, I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11343338August 4, 2020STEERING
WHEN DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL "GROWLS" WHEN MAKING TURNS WHILE IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP PUT ME IN A LOANER DUE TO ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS REPLACING AND CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 13 MONTHS WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11342510July 31, 2020POWER TRAIN
IVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CAR HAS ABOUT 27K MILES, PURCHASED AT 22K USED. AFTER DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY FROM 70MPH TO A NEAR STOP AT THE FEEDER ROAD STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE, SEEMS LIKE THE GEAR RATIO DID NOT ADJUST BACK DOWN. THEN NOTICED SEVERE JERKS WHEN TRANSMISSION TRIES TO CHANGE THE GEAR RATIONS, AND RPM WOULD SHOOT UP ERRATICALLY. TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER, HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 10 DAYS FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THEY CONFIRMED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION IN ABOUT 5 DAYS.. NOT SURE HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST. DEFINITELY A SCARY AND SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DESIGN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11327532June 6, 2020UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1: THE CAR RANDOMLY SENDS A COLLISION WARNING MESSAGE WHEN THERES NOTHING IN FRONT OF IT, SEVERAL TIMES ON THE INTERSTATE AND SEVERAL TIMES ON SURFACE STREETS WHEN NOTHING WAS IN FRONT OF IT. ONE TIME IT AUTOMATICALLY SLAMMED ON BRAKES SLOWING THE CAR TO A CRAWL WHEN NOTHING WAS IN FRONT OF IT. ON A SURFACE STREET. THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE ISSUE ON A MICROSCOPIC CHIP MISSING IN THE WINDSHIELD AT THE EXTREME 7 O'CLOCK POSITION OF THE CAMERA. WE WERE TOLD THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE UNTIL THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, WHICH WOULD COST OVER $800.00 JUST FOR THE WINDSHIELD. 2: THE CAR ALSO RANDOMLY SWITCHES DRIVING MODES ON ITS OWN. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THAT THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY CHANGED ON ITS OWN ACCORDING TO INPUT FROM THE GAS PEDAL FROM THE DRIVER. THE LEAD TECH INFORMED US THAT WE WERE SOMEHOW ACTIVATING THE SWITCH BY TOUCHING IT SOMEHOW WHILE ITS BEING DRIVEN CAUSE THERES NO WAY IT SWITCHED ON ITS OWN. THE CAR IS AN INHERENT SAFETY HAZARD AS THESE ISSUES RANDOMLY POP UP WITH NO NOTICE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11327338June 4, 2020POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A 2019 KIA FORTE IN DECEMBER OF 2018. STARTING AROUND 7,200 MILES, I NOTICED THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD FLUCTUATE ESPECIALLY UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. FLUCTUATIONS WERE BETWEEN 200-500 RPMS. THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR SERVICE WITH ABOUT 7,450 MILES AND I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT WAS COMPLETED QUICKLY BY THE DEALER. T SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A HIGH FAILURE RATE EARLY ON WITH THESE KIA IVT TRANSMISSIONS. THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED. I IMAGINE IN ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF I WILL BE BACK INTO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. VERY DISAPPOINTING AS THIS IS NOT A VEHICLE YOU CAN RELY ON FOR LONG TRIPS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11324950May 18, 2020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AIR CONDITIONER CABIN THERMISTOR DON'T WORK. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSORS DON'T WORKS. THIS CAR START TO FAIL IN JUST NINE MONTHS AFTER BUY IT BRAND NEW. DON'T WORK IN ANY TIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11323682May 7, 2020POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN DECEMBER FOR 2018. IN OCTOBER OF 2019, IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE RPMS BOUNCING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO WAIT FOR 3 MONTHS TO GET MY CAR BACK AS WE WAITED ON A TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED THE RPM BOUNCING WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. ON 5/7/2020, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I VOICED MY CONCERNS ABOUT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE SAME MODEL THAT HAD ISSUES. I REQUESTED THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FIND OUT WHAT MODEL THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS SO WE DO NOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11320814April 11, 2020POWER TRAIN
I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I FELT IT STRUGGLING TO ACCELERATE AND OVERALL BEING "JERKY" DRIVING 30-40MPH ON A CITY STREET WITH MINIMAL HILLS. DEALERSHIP FOUND NOTHING WRONG AS NO CODES WERE SHOWING ANY ERRORS. NO MORE THAN 2-3 WEEKS LATER, TRANSMISSION DIED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON A HIGHWAY WITH ONLY 8,800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE THE CAR WITHOUT THE RPM HITTING THE RED LINE EVEN THOUGH I WAS BARELY PRESSING ON THE GAS. I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T GET RAMMED BY THE TRUCK THAT WAS COMING BEHIND ME AS I QUICKLY ENGAGED MY EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHTS AND PULLED OVER WHEN A SAFE OPPORTUNITY AROSE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW (NO PRIOR OWNERS). I DID SOME RESEARCH, AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE FIRST COMPLAINT OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THIS MODEL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11307414February 6, 2020AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, LIGHTING WAS LIMITED, THE SENSORS DID NOT WORK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11306811February 3, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PROBLEM 1, LONG CRANK HARD START. HAVE TO CYCLE THE IGNITION KEY SEVERAL TIMES TO GET ENGINE STARTED. NO PCM CODES. HAD TO KIA DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. CANNOT DUPLICATE ISSUE. PROBLEM 2, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES BLANK, RADIO GOES BLANK AND ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11302528January 28, 2020FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, STEERING, SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE CRASH RESPONSE SYSTEMS TURNS ON & SHOWS ERROR CODES WHICH HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP BY IT SELF. ALSO THE DRIVER ASSIST HAS PULLED MY WHEEL OUT OF MY HAND & JERKED HAD TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES.... THE LEFT STRUT MOUNT BEARING IS ALSO DEFECTIVE ON THE VEHICLE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11299025January 13, 2020POWER TRAIN
HAD CAR FOR JUST ONE MONTH. I PURCHASED A FLEET CAR WITH 20K MILES. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 24K MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, AND THE CAR STARTED REVVING VERY HIGH 6-7K WHEN ACCELERATING, WHERE IT'S USUALLY 2-3K. THE CAR FINALLY GAVE OUT (SHAKING AND SPUTTERING) AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE ANY LONGER. HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON, AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO MY PARENTS HOUSE CLOSE BY AT LOW SPEED TRYING TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM RED-LINING. I KNEW IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE OF THE SYMPTOMS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS A NEW MODEL, AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR WILL GET FIXED BECAUSE IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT REALLY GIVES ME RESERVATION ABOUT DRIVING IT GOING FORWARD. SUCH A CRITICAL FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND WILL STAY ON THE BACK OF MY MIND ALWAYS. I CALLED KIA AND THEY TOWED IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I AM GETTING A RENTAL FROM THEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11297478January 6, 2020FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE 'CAMERA OBSTRUCTED' WARNING SYMBOL STARTED TO FLASH. ALSO, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED FLASHING. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JT'S KIA OF COLUMBIA (230 KILLIAN COMMONS PARKWAY, COLUMBIA, SC 29203) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, IT WAS ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DEALER'S CUSTODY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0