10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,784 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 #19

Sep 152022

Forte

  • miles
I as at work and received a message that there was a large oil spot where my car had been parked overnight at home. I checked my oil and it was not low. After work I was on my way to get my oil changed/checked and after 13 miles I heard a light knocking sound. I pulled over and checked my oil. My oil level was still good. I started my car and the noise was gone. I only had a few miles to the oil/lube express. Just as I pulled in the driveway of the business, the noise started again. The problem was the Oil Pressure Sender Unit was bad. The mechanic pushed it back on and I made it home without any noise. I called the dealership and the earliest they could make me an appt was 3 weeks out. No loaner car, my car had just ran out of warranty, and my car did not come up on recall for the list of Engine recalls. I bought the part and a recently retired certified KIA mechanic replaced it. Fast forward 4,000 the issue of the gas pump clicking off when my tank isn-€™t full has happened again. It started at aprox 36,000 when the engine light came on and it was impossible to put gas in. The car was checked out but nothing showed to be wrong. The code sensor was reset and I was able to fill up. Well this time, nothing is working. After a few seconds, gas spits out. This car has been a. issue for the last 45,000 miles and my dealership was always booked. I-€™ve always had the oil changed on time as well as the other maintenance. None of my other vehicles have been so unreliable. I don-€™t feel I should have to pay for these things when 80,000 miles is not very many in 5 years.

- Greenwood, AR, USA

problem #18

Jun 102022

Forte

  • miles
Engine can stall at lower speeds (10-30 mph) after being on the highway for an extended amount of time. Can also happen after being on the highway, parking and waiting for some time (30 min), and start driving again at lower speeds. Issue becomes more prominent when going uphill slowly (little to no pressure on gas pedal). A rumble can sometimes be felt through the gas pedal too, but not always. Usually the engine starts making some noise ('gurgling') to indicate that the engine is in this state and it usually stall after coasting for some time or pressing very little on the gas (noise may become louder when doing this). I've seen the engine stall around 1000 rpm when doing this. Sometimes the oil light will also start appearing and it seems that the engine is not being responsive when pressing on the gas pedal. Car can stall in these cases or may recover and eventually stall. I've had this issue since the beginning of the year, but an engine check light has not come on for it since then (other than one for a spark plug and coil, but this was addressed in February 2022). Safety concern is mostly when driving in cities or at lower speeds and making unprotected left/right turns where the car may possible stall. Mechanic was able to reproduce this in February but suggested that I take the car to the dealer after difficulty finding the cause. Dealer was unable to solve it in April and suggested waiting for a check engine light.

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

problem #17

May 182022

Forte

  • miles
My car is stalling. Stalled on the highway. Has knocking sound. And if i let up off the gas at all it stalls. Will stall in neutral as well. Was involved in an accident last year and airbags did not deploy even though they should have. My car started stalling at 86,000 miles with regular oil changes. I-€™ve only had the vehicle about a year and a half. My lights also are shorted out due to the trunk not closing all the way and rain water getting in. I-€™m still making payments. I do not know what to do. I-€™m a sole caregiver to my terminally Ill mother. I need this car. I do not make very much money.

- Oklahoma City , OK, USA

problem #16

Jan 012020

Forte

  • 80,000 miles
I already filed a complaint on this previously, however in 2020 my engine failed stop working. And I was unable to drive it or fix it. I lost my job, I had to get a rental car. The car lost speed while driving and would not go anymore..

- Hazel Green, AL, USA

problem #15

Aug 052020

Forte

  • 30 miles
Rough idling. Rough gear shift from 1st to 2nd and srutter on 3rd. Loss of power during take offs. Car is only 20,800 miles. Checked twice on dealer. Only wiped code and reset computer. Claim not to be able to replicate. Issue comes back with check engine light 30 mins after driving away.

- Chester, PA, USA

problem #14

Aug 122020

Forte

  • miles
About a week or two ago while going up a hill I noticed the car trying to stall out. It has begun to do more frequently now while driving and while in idle and/or park also. You cannot hear the car 'knock' but it's as if you can feel it trying too. One instance I was in a turning lane and the car literarily tried to cut off in the middle of traffic. The RPM's dropped and car just felt real shaky and jumpy. Total episodes approximately in about 2 weeeks I would say are close to maybe 10? the engine light came in at first instance when I was going up a hill and has never gone off. But the proble has not been corrected but seems to have gotten worse.

- Jackson, SC, USA

problem #13

Jun 042020

Forte 4-cyl

  • 97,000 miles
When coming to a stop, or slowing down, the oil pressure light will come on and the car will die suddenly. At first it would crank right back up, but now it is getting more and more difficult to get started again. Vehicle also takes awhile to get going, even pushing all the way down on the gas, after getting it restarted.

- Church Point, LA, USA

problem #12

Jun 032020

Forte 4-cyl

  • 26,000 miles
Car driven 300 miles on one tank of gas, time to get gas, gas won't go in and when I try to put gas in my car, it sprayed out all over me and the car. Very scary. I can't get gas into my car. This just happened today. Never happened before and I filled up fine last week. Can't drive my car because it's empty and won't fill up.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #11

Jan 182020

Forte 4-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
When I can to a stop while car is running most of the time the car is sputtering and when I go to accelerate it sputters and it doest take off normally unless I push down on the gas pedal 1/2 to full power while driving on city streets.....

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #10

Mar 062020

Forte

  • 8,700 miles
I was pulling out onto a main road. My car completely lost power and almost stalled. The car barely moved forward and tbe rpms were erratic. I almost got hit by a tractor trailer. When I finally sputtered into work, the rpms in park were jumping between 1000 and 2000 rpms. I do not feel safe in this car.. it only has 8,700 miles...

- Pittston, PA, USA

problem #9

Jun 122018

Forte

  • 5,000 miles
While driving smoke started to come from under the hood.... I stopped and had a person stop and he looked under hood to see a gas line broke and was making its way on the motor

- Warrensburg, NY, USA

problem #8

Dec 122019

Forte

  • 64,750 miles
While driving my check engine light came on and the car began increased vibration. The light would go off when coasting and turn back on when accelerating. By the time I got home the vibrations continued even when in park as well as not acceleraing. Engine code P0303 was read from the engine light. I have now replaced the second coil pack on a cylinder in the past 5 months.

- Platteville, WI, USA

problem #7

Apr 012019

Forte

  • 32,769 miles
When driving the engine light comes on causes car to lose power and starts to shake I was coming up a hill and almost got rear ended have taken to Kia place twice now and I was told can't be fixed until a recall comes out this is very dangerous for me to be driving with my kids I pay a good penny for my vehicle now can't drive it because of this issue it's constant

- Morganton, NC, USA

problem #6

Jul 012018

Forte

  • 5,000 miles
On numerous occasions, without any obvious cause, acceleration is delayed for several seconds. Then the engine will suddenly rev high without shifting up. The problem began about one year or 5000 miles into ownership of the new vehicle.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #5

Mar 172019

Forte

  • 11,800 miles
The vehicle had been driven for over 300 miles one this particular tank of gas, so I'm certain that the fuel gauge is correct; the gas light is also on. I parked at a gas station and put the car in park and turned off the car. I attempted to fill the tank, but the fuel will not go in. The fuel splashes back out and will not go into the tank.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #4

Mar 142019

Forte

  • 17,200 miles
Ignitions coil springs part Kia 27303 2E601qqk was replaced by Kia delaler as part of a recall according to dealership. When I arrived, service advisor said that I was there for oil change and two recalls. I set appt. For oil change, was unaware of recall till dealership service advisor mentioned. When I checked with NHTSA no recall is listed. Kia never sent letter requesting we bring in car for recall parts. In addition they were not able to 2nd part replacement due part is on back order. Ydm rear combination lamp.

- Germantown, TN, USA

problem #3

Jan 012019

Forte 4-cyl

  • 22,500 miles
Hello: Forte has intermittent strong gas smell thru vents. Is at dealer for second time. To me https://www.NHTSA.gov/recalls#vehicle please contact us and dealer as to next step for our safety. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #2

Sep 282017

Forte

  • miles
My car the gas shoots out, I have to go through all this with a new car my engine light been on from the time I bought it this car gave me problems every time I bring it back they said just drop it off so we can try fixing it it take up to three days are more plus they don't give out loaner car at all so how I suppose to get to work so I continue to drive it like that.I don't know why I brought this car. It wasted my money and time.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #1

Dec 272017

Forte

  • 6,150 miles
I was parking my car yesterday at 7/11 and the car accelerated on it's own and crashed into a cement pillar. The airbag did not deploy. I have seen a blog where dozens of Forte owners complained about the same issue, sometimes more than once. I was injured and the car needs $9000 in repairs, also I am sure my insurance will increase.

- Lindenhurst, NY, USA