10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,202 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 2013 Kia Forte:

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

problem #10

Mar 022024

Forte

  • miles
There's a very dangerous fire hazard warning recall for my vehicle and no remedy offered. It's been 6 months since the recall announcement. I do not want to be driving around a match waiting to be sparked. It's a danger to me and the public. I request a remedy as getting a I still currently owe around $7,000 on this vehicle. I feel like everyday I'm driving I'm taking a risk considering an "engine compartment fire could take place while parked or driving."

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

problem #9

Sep 032023

Forte

  • miles
As a loyal customer one of my KIA was stolen and the officer said to contact KiA so the cars can get the update on anti- theft software and a safety car lock to prevent this from happening again. Spoke with [XXX] and gave me this # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Austin , TX, USA

problem #8

Jan 032022

Forte

  • miles
We have not been able to get this vehicle to pass emissions, ive taken it to multiple kia locations and no one has been able to help. The engine light has been on and theyve changed the sensor as thats what repair shop suggested it may be, but still nothing. Then just out of the blue its stopped working. I took it to a smaller shop as i no longer trusted the kia dealership and the guy told me it was a recall as this is not an old car and it needed engine work. I contacted kia and they said yes there was an important sfety recall that we should of received a letter, suggested to call 18003334542 for a tow, but i have spoken to 6 people who i cant understand and have been able to get a tow to a kia dealership

- Platteville, CO, USA

problem #7

Jul 072021

Forte

  • miles
When I-??m driving down the road it-??s starts losing power and the icon of car with dizzy lines starts flashing but if the car gains any speed the icon goes out.And like today when I tried to push brake to stop and pull over it started shaking so bad I felt like the whole front in was going to fall out, The last time I had smoke come out when I tried to give it a little gas to move.

- Snow Camp, NC, USA

problem #6

May 052021

Forte

  • miles
I was in a car accident, pushed on my brake the car kept moving and I had no warning, my car is now totaled

- Westerville, OH, USA

problem #5

Feb 102021

Forte

  • 74,000 miles
My Kia went on fire and I was never notified by Kia, I found out from carfax and set up appointment to have this recall fixed and found out there was 2 recalls. Set up the appt for Saturday, while my car was parked and off I ran into the store came out and my car was on fire all of the dashboard all behind it. My car was totaled by insurance. 2 days after my car goes on fire I am suddenly getting red emergency recall notices in the mail. Dealership will not speak with me, the Kia consumer assistance gave me a case number but has done nothing in over 2 weeks. I still had my 10yr warrantee and Kia said I would settle with your insurance you will get more money from them. They do not return calls or emails and they do not want to take responsability at all.

- Holbrook, NY, USA

problem #4

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 #3

May 052018

Forte

  • 30,000 miles
Driving on interstate engine made loud noise shut down when oil pan was dropped to see what happened the engine blew a rod destroying the engine car was financed still owe $10,000 car engine destroyed Kia is recalling all 2.0 engines due to this defect except the Forte so I pay a payment monthly carry full coverage for a car that doesn't run only response from Kia is it is not under warranty!!!

- Kingwood, WV, USA

problem #2

Jul 222012

Forte

  • 20 miles
I bought my car in 2012 brand new with about 2 miles on it. Everything was going smooth until I would get down to a average speed around 10 miles an hour. I was getting on a ramp, and when I was getting over I had to gun it because a car was coming and a huge jolt hit so hard it felt like a car just rear ended me. I was so scared thinking a car hit me where I let off the gas and the car that was coming swerved to miss me. So I take it to Kia and they say nothing is wrong with the transmission or shifting gears. So I went on with my life. So all of a sudden it does it again. This time it jolted so hard where the seat belt locked up and I almost hit the side of the highway wall. So after that I repeatedly told Kia I'm going to get hurt if this dont get fixed and they say the same thing the computer system is showing nothing is wrong. So I took it to a transmission place and they said it could need a software update because the gears are not shifting correctly. I've talked to Kia over and over and noting has happened. I still have my warranty 100,000 miles or 10 years. The car only has 75K miles on it. I don't know what to do about this situation. Now its so bad I'm afraid to drive it. Its getting so bad that when im doing 65 and have to come to a slow stop or what that the car shakes so bad you can feel the gears shifting. Its dangerous and Kia is doing nothing

- Jeffersonville, IN, USA

problem #1

Sep 302014

Forte

  • 18,000 miles
Car makes loud noise while driving down fwy sounds like engine is going to drop out from underneath it - shakes and vibrates and acts like it's going to stop any moment. Brakes will not disengage, thereby making the gas pedal unable to engage. Car loses power while driving when brake doesn't disengage because the gas pedal doesn't engage. Brakes smell of burning rubber. Car rides like all 4 tires are flat - car shakes and vibrates as well. This has happened numerous times - more than 10 - took to dealer - they told me there was nothing wrong with the car. It is extremely dangerous to drive - I had the brake system line flushed and bled and the shop told me that what was in the brake line was not brake fluid - written right on the invoice. Kia is not standing behind their cars and screwing people - especially women. Service managers would just smirk and laugh when I took it in with the complaints - like I was an idiot.

- Riverside, CA, USA