10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 1
Average Mileage:
64,067 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #15

Apr 282016

Forte

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte Ex. The contact stated when at a complete stop, the driver in front accelerated with the vehicle in reverse and crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The entire front vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning lights. The contact was stuck in the vehicle, the seat belt was not functional. The police were notified; however, there was no police report. The contact was not injured or had any medical treatments. The vehicle was driven to the home, then towed to the local auto body shop. There was no diagnosis of the failure with air bags or seat belts faulty. The contact believes the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number 18V363000 (Air Bags). The vehicle has been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #14

Feb 102021

Forte

  • miles
I received an email from carfax notifying me of a recall for my car pertaining to a possible fire, I called dealership to set up appointment and found out there was 2 recalls for my car but never once received any notification from Kia. My appointment was for the coming Saturday but on Wednesday after I parked and ran into the grocery store for less than 15mins I came out to a gentleman who asked if this was my car, when I looked at it I was confused because all the windows were black and smoke was coming I believe from either the hood or window, he said your car is on fire. Before I knew what was happening there were fire trucks and police. My entire inside of my car behind the dashboard and all electrical wires were burned the entire dashboard steering wheel radio everything. My car was destroyed, I called my insurance company right away as the police advised me too and later on a friend gave me the number to the Kia consumer assistance where I notified them.

- Holbrook, NY, USA

problem #13

Dec 172020

Forte

  • 120,000 miles
I have a 2013 Kia Forte with the airbag light on. I found a recall on 2011-2013 Kia Forte for air bag: Air bag/restraint control module where in an event of a crash, the air bag control may short circuit preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying. I looked up my VIN # to find out that it was not on the list. It was diagnosed by a Kia service department to be the driver anchor pretensioner. My question is why my Forte is not on the recall list? my request is to have my vehicle place on the list so we can have this issue taken care of. Thank you, mary denise brown

- Wadsworth, OH, USA

problem #12

Mar 212016

Forte

  • miles
Wife got killed in it went thru a bridge closed

- Findlay, OH, USA

problem #11

Aug 152019

Forte

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while attempting to place the vehicle into park and the vehicle would not shift gears. The contact tried to depress the brakes but they failed to operate as well. The contact made impact with a pole and the air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact hit her face and chest against the steering wheel. The contact went to the hospital where she was treated for whiplash. The vehicle was destroyed due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to her home. A police report was not filed. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle had been involved with three accidents prior to her owning the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they are investigating the matter. The failure mileage was 63,000.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #10

Oct 172018

Forte

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 17V773000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and 18V363000 (air bags) however, the parts needed for the repairs were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact called gene messer Kia dealer, located at 6006 19th St, lubbock, tx 79407, (806) 776-5600, and it was informed parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnects.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #9

Mar 302019

Forte

  • 132,000 miles
I was looking up the blue book value and noticed that it was a recall on my car dealing with the breaks, seatbelt, and airbag. I made a call to Kia, gave them the VIN number and they said the car haven't been fixed. I was not aware of this and I did not get a carfax sheet.

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #8

Jan 172019

Forte

  • 108,000 miles
The steering wheel locked onto one side, I could not regain control of the vehicle as the brakes stopped working as well and it made a U-turn onto the same street I was driving on, hitting the curb, rolling over. I was found upside down in my car unconscious from the crash because my air bags did not deploy.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #7

Jul 282018

Forte

  • 100,000 miles
I was traveling at a speed of 40mph, on a two lane state highway, when a vehicle veered into my lane going the opposite direction and hit the car in front of me. The vehicle in front of me was pushed into the front passenger side wheel. The front corner panel was damaged upon impact, and my car totaled, but my airbags never deployed. I took the full brunt of the blow, and had neck, back, and knee problems due to the accident. Collision report information: Date 7/28/2018 time: 0442 ncic number: 9655 officer's id number: 19234

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #6

Jul 282018

Forte

  • 100,000 miles
I received a letter from Kia dated July 27 regarding a recall on airbags. On July 28, I was in a car accident with a drunk driver, and my airbags did not deploy. The car is totaled, and I no longer have it. There is a police and collision report. - (recall related incident)

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 012018

Forte

  • miles
My car dash board shows iarbag sign and it stays. I called to Kia talked to them they said we will call you and nobody called me. I know that my car got affected by the recall SC165. Please help me with my car because I don't feel safe.

- Concord, OH, USA

problem #4

Apr 062018

Forte

  • 128,000 miles
I had an accident in April where my entire front end was damaged. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt did not catch me causing me to smash my face into the steering wheel.

- Calvert, TX, USA

problem #3

Oct 122017

Forte

  • 10 miles
Car accident on 10/12/2017 @6:30am air bag did not work (totally my car

- Fairburn, GA, USA

problem #2

Aug 162017

Forte

  • 100,000 miles
Air bags and seat belts did not work during an accident. Car was traveling 40 mhp on a city street when it struck another care from behind. Front driver and passenger seat belts did not lock and air bags did not deploy resulting in facial injuries and concussion for driver and passenger.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #1

Jul 172016

Forte

  • 76,000 miles
I was in an accident. I was sitting still when I was struck from the rear by a dully truck that was traveling greater than 40 miles per hour. I was pushed approximately 4 feet into the car in front of me. My airbag did not deploy and my seat broke. The seat is in the reclined position. The adjuster totaled the car due to damage.

- Knoxville, TN, USA