10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,932 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #5

Feb 272019

Forte

  • 60,100 miles
Vehicle was in motion when the electrical went out. The ABS, traction control, and steering warning lights came on. The vehicle was difficult to steer to the side of the road. Car had 60K miles. Battery is now on its 3rd replacement. Other prior warning signs were headlights flickering and occasional clicking when starting. These other prior warning signs have occured since 30K miles.

- Brea, CA, USA

problem #4

Mar 262018

Forte

  • 146,899 miles
On Saturday March 26th, 2018 I wss driving North bound on I471 in Kentucky. Doing about 50-55 mph while it was snowing/sleeting outside. As I was traveling another vehicle swerved over to get in exit lane while at same time on a right turn around exit lane. Once car did so, I had to press hard, slam on my brakes to avoid being clipped by other vehicle. As I did this I began to spin nor, the ESC or traction control took over and I spun out of control striking guard rail at unknown speed. I was uninjured, however as U can see lots of damage to front and driver side airbag did not deploy. I contacted Kia right away do to the recent recalling brake stop pedal. I took pictures they required andcs3nt them as, too they were concerned of non airbag deployment. They determined via an engineer with in their dept. Just by looking at photo's that airbag should not have deployed. So, my issue with this is they are making a determination by not physically having vehicle damage to make assumption airbags never deployed. Upon looking at other complaints on here about the same time as mine. This maybe a concern going forward. I have given said automaker to help with repairs from accident. And they seem to trying to avoid these problems with said vehicle.

- Amelia, OH, USA

problem #3

Jun 182016

Forte

  • 27,000 miles
Intermittently, on days of excessive heat (110+) the car will start up with all sensor lights illuminated, cannot shift into gear without pushing the gear shift override button, power steering doesn't work, skid control on, and ac blows hot air. Once it cools down the issue stops and won't present itself again unless very specific conditions are met. Happened first year after having the car, in the summer. Service center couldn't reproduce the issue. Summer year 2, issue happened again, with pictures, service center used heat gun to reproduce the problem. Transmission range sensor/neutral safety switch was replaced. Summer year 3. issue happened on 118 degree day when starting up car. A week later happened on the freeway while driving on another 118 degree day. New issues include tachometer and speedometer stay at 0 even while driving. Also, display that shows range and gas mileage stopped working properly. Range would adjust when gas peddle pushed, mpg stayed blank and did not come back after car had rested and cooled down.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #2

Jul 262014

Forte

  • 9,612 miles
Kia Forte ex 2014 ESC light came on and my brake lights wont light up when stepping on the brake. The brake pedal feels stiff when braking to a stop. Checked all plugs and bulbs and they all are good, called dealer and was told it might be the brake light switch and will take me in on Monday.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 262014

Forte 4-cyl

  • 1,050 miles
On two occasions I have smelled gas when starting the vehicle. The date above is the second time. The first was after the car had been parked for 3-4 days after a snow storm in late 2013. The brakes vibrate when stopping on a rough surface. Kia Consumer Affairs attributes this to the design of the anti-lock system and apparently does not consider it a problem. On one occasion - again during a period of cold weather in late 2013 - the gears ground when turning at maximum rotation to parallel park the car in a tight spot, a common occurrence in the urban area where I live. Unlike the braking and gas-leak problem, this only happened once. Due to an issue with possible odometer tampering I have not taken the car to a dealer to address the other problems for fear they will try to mask evidence other than the scratch on the driver door.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA