10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,144 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Kia Forte:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #14

Nov 112020

Forte

  • miles
Pulling out drive way going to the left felt like passenger wheel was locking up and does it quite a bit. Also ntb in cleveland, tn said there was lots wrong with under neath, also it still feels like it's running after being cut off. And it has a rim that is cracked and when I got it I thought it needed tires cause I had to air tire every day or so but now it's more than a few times daily and I just learned how unsafe that is to be driving for my kids and I but for others as well

- Dayton, TN, USA

problem #13

Dec 062020

Forte

  • 212,435 miles
My brake lights don't work. Engine light keeps coming on. Airbag control unit doesn't work/asic is damaged. Transmission cooler hose keeps leaking fluid the vehicle stopped on the freeway causing a crash.

- Crowley, TX, USA

problem #12

Nov 152019

Forte

  • 74,000 miles
After braking to stop at red light on a highway on a hill, Kia Forte 2010 kept moving uphill at low speed (5mph or less). Brakes did not respond. Car stopped after hitting bumper of another vehicle. Brakes worked normally after that, but car sometimes rocks after being put in park.

- St. Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #11

Nov 032019

Forte

  • 93,000 miles
Car did not stop when placed in park, shifters gets stuck. When placing the car in reverse park, the car moved forward instead of reverse, not stoping, had to push the brake pedal and the emergency brake as the car was moving forward ( while on reverse) kept moving fwd at approximately 5 miles without pressing the fas pedal. Had to stop by using emergency brake. Turned off the car took it to the dealer. When placing the car in reverse the car kept moving dangerously forward

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #10

Aug 012018

Forte

  • miles
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact stated that there was a brake system failure progressing with no warning. As the failure progressed, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard and was unresponsive so the contact had to maneuver the brake pedal each time the failure happened. A dealer had not diagnosed the vehicle. An independent mechanic had not inspected and diagnosed the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was not available.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

problem #9

Mar 162018

Forte

  • 130,000 miles
Took my Kia Forte in to the auto repair shop because the engine started making a knocking noise. I have the oil changed regularly just as it is supposed to be done, and just had it changed less than 2 weeks ago. The shop said the engine has major engine failure and that there was nothing I can do about it. They said I will have to replace the engine. I called the Kia dealership to find out about the recalls on Kia motors and they said that my engine is not on the recall list but that there are many of the same motors that are failing and I would have to call Kia Consumer Affairs to find out if maybe they will add my engine. I see nothing but where other Kia owners are having the same issue with both the 2L & 2.4L engine and Kia is being nasty about replacing them. I am very upset as my car is not part of their recall and know that it should be.

- Provo, UT, USA

problem #8

Jun 012017

Forte

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact was pulled over by the police because the passenger side brake bulb failed, was not properly secured within the holster, and had fallen into the trunk. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the stop lamp switch had failed and needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic made the contact aware that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000 (service brakes, exterior lighting). The vehicle was repaired, but the brake light failed and the vehicle would not maneuver from the park position. A tow company was called, but the vehicle was not towed. The tow driver showed the contact a trick to get the vehicle to move out of the park position. The contact then notified universal Kia hickory hollow (5406 target dr, antioch, tn, 37013) and universal Kia rivergate (1536 gallatin pike N, madison, tn, 37115) of the failures. The dealers confirmed the recall and stated that the vehicle had already been serviced under the recall, but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Springfield, TN, USA

problem #7

Jul 152015

Forte

  • 30 miles
I was pulling out of a parking spot vertically when I needed to give the car some gas rather than just lift foot off brake to get out of spot. The car delayed--would not accelerate. I tried again and it shot out rapidly uncontrollably out of the spot, side swiping the car next to me and going into a reverse figure eight swerving over parking lot and would not brake. The car ended up swerving into the back of a parked range rover as I threw my car into park since it would not stop. There was another complaint like mine on line about someone with the same model and about 38 K on car whose car acceleration did this moving going forward. I ended up with sustained injuries with body out of alignment, hip, and back pain. No one else was hurt because no one was in parking lot or cars.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #6

Jun 232014

Forte 4-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
I recently had brake problems on my 2010 Kia Forte. It was not due to brake wear or any of the normal brake problems. The problem was all my brakes seized up and the rear ones in particular heated up to the point where they were close to failing. The dealer said it may have not occurred, if the car had been driven more miles daily yet no further information could be provided on the brake issue. I live in an area that has many classic cars and my wife"S own aunt owned a car even though she could not drive it in her later years, so it would be available to those who would drive her to appointments and elsewhere. As long as a vehicle is being driven daily, which this was, I don"T believe this potentially dangerous problem should have occurred. Kia motors also did not know why this happened and could provide no explanation. I am writing to you because of my concerns of possible brake failure and that the brake parts supplied on the Kia apparently do not contain any anti-corrosive materials of any type and the intense heat caused my brake fluid to become contaminated. From service order: Customer states when driving sometimes right and left wheel breaks get very hot; inspected front and rear brakes found pads are stuck in the anchors and needs slide service while performing service found rear pads got so hot they are separating and need to be replaced; performed front and rear caliper slide service and replaced rear pads all working as intended at this time. Flush old fluid from system, check linkage and hoses, bleed air from system, road test; performed brake fluid flush as needed, flush contaminated fluid, installed fresh fluid and bled system as required, road tested

- Glens Falls, NY, USA

problem #5

Sep 152013

Forte 4-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the rear brakes seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

- Necedah, WI, USA

problem #4

Oct 142013

Forte 4-cyl

  • 31,000 miles
ESC light stays on, brake lights don't work, and cruise control works sporadically, all fuses are working, a quick google search reflects that the a faulty brake light switch might be the cause, which in fact it was.

- Bayamon, PR, USA

problem #3

Jul 302013

Forte

  • 30,000 miles
I was driving home from work and a man flagged me down at a red light to let me know that none of my brake lights were working. I have also noticed the cruise control as well as traction control buttons not working properly. There doesn't seem to be any issue with the fuses. If I can not find a fix to this problem it may result in myself getting rear ended.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #2

May 202013

Forte

  • 26,000 miles
Upon parking my vehicle, I could not shift out of drive or neutral, resulting in an inability to put my car in park and remove my keys. As I was unable to do this, I could not leave my vehicle and feared it could roll from its parking spot. At this time, the rear brake lights were not coming on when I would press the brakes. Also, my ESC control lights came on indicating this function was no longer working. When talking with the dealership, I learned there is an identical problem with other models that has resulted in a recall. However, my Forte was not included in this recall. After many attempts to restart my vehicle over fifteen minutes, I was finally able to put the car in park. However, my ESC light remained on after this.

- Bakersfield , CA, USA

problem #1

Dec 122012

Forte

  • 65,555 miles
While driving from my kids pediatrician office. I noticed the traction control stayed off and would not turn on. That affected my brake lights. I noticed that same part is put as a recall for the sorento and soul but not for the Forte. If it is the same recall the Forte should be included. For the vehicle being only two years old it should be covered as a recall and due to the safety impact that it may cause rear end collision due to the driver not noticing that the tcs affects the brake lights.

- Gila Bend, AZ, USA