10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 29,808 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The steering coupler went bad. Started hearing loud clicking noise when driving called Kia they are aware of the issue but only warranty is on optimal and souls as of now for it. The piece cost $1.08 the labor is $350 was what I was quoted. Also told they replace tons of them a week. Ridiculous Kia make it across the board. The coupler is an important piece.
- Fort Myers, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Forte. While driving 45 mph, the steering wheel made an abnormal knocking noise while turning left and right. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called the local dealer (orlando Kia East, 8701 East colonial drive, orlando, fl 32817, (407) 678-1717) and a diagnostic appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 76,908.
- Orlando, FL, USA
We are a driving school with about 100 different cars from Kia, we have about 95 vehicles right now in use that are Forte models between the years of 2010-2017. This is now the second vehicle this has happened to of ours over the past year. The last time was the Kia Forte 2015, and now this time it is the Kia Forte 2014. The steering wheel becomes misaligned with the wheels and eventually the entire assembly of where the steering wheel column is falls down completely into your lap and you lose all control of the vehicle. We took the 2015 vehicle to the mechanic and they were able to fix it, now the same thing happened again with the 2014. The specific part which failed is called the "reinforced beam"- Kia. It is the bar assembly which connects the steering wheel column. The metal from the beam which secures the steering column tears, and causes the steering column to become unsecured and it falls, leaving no control over the vehicle whether it is in motion or at a standstill. Also, it blocks the brake while driving. The previous 2015 Forte luckily fell apart in a parking lot while an instructor was teaching parking and had to be towed to the mechanic. This week the 2014 driver (one of our instructors) was driving on the highway with a student when she started noticing the disconnect. Since it sounded familiar we took it straight to the mechanic and they were able to diagnose the same failed part again. This is an extreme safety hazard. Retail it is about $2,000 to fix. It's about $500 for the part, and $1,500 for the labor. Thank you.
- Mt.Airy, MD, USA
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
When driving at any speed, and often times when coming to a stop and then starting to accelerate again, the vehicle loses power and turns off. At this point the check engine light, battery light, oil light and others come on. The vehicle then needs to be put in park, and turned off, and restarts with no issue. The fuel pump has been replaced but has failed to resolve the issue. Fucillo Kia is also refusing to honor the warranty and continue working on the vehicle until the issue is identified. A flight recorder box was put in the vehicle to record the issue if it were to happen again on one of the occasions they gave me back the vehicle stating they were unable to duplicate the problem. The issue did occur again with flight recorder box in place but they said it did not send any signal stating there was an issue with the vehicle. The vehicle has been to them 6 times and at this point they will no longer work on the vehicle despite it being well within the 100,000 mile/10 year warranty. The issue started at 15085 miles and now at 19,000 miles the problem persists.
- Schenectady, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Forte. While reversing out of a driveway with a steep incline, the vehicle failed to stop. The steering seized and the contact was unable to stop or turn the vehicle. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The contact sustained head injuries that required medical attention. The contact was unaware if a police report was filed. The contact stated that the failure occurred before when the traction control light illuminated on the instrument panel or when the vehicle drove through water. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a body shop. The failure mileage was 20,500.
- Amsterdam, OH, USA
Turned onto a fairly narrow street with cars parked on both sides; I was driving down the middle of street until I passed all parked cars; attempted to move back into my lane and steering wheel froze and started jerking; I was headed toward a stop sign pole; I jumped the curb and scrapped right from bumper and tire rim; ignition shut off. Took car to dealer; they kept it for testing and inspection for about 2 weeks and found nothing; we wanted to exchange it but they refused since they did not find anything mechanically wrong with it; we took car back and it has been driving well so far but incident is still in the back of our minds every time we drive it. Updated 10/1/2014
- El Paso, TX, USA
This is our 2nd 2014 Kia Forte ex with navigation everything top of the line... well the first one had a knock in the motor so the dealership "exchanged" it and this one the seat takes about 5 min to lock into place after you adjust it and you have to be driving for it to lock in. There is a knock when you turn the wheels and the dealership says Kia is working to fix it & try not to drive it as much as you can... the fuel tank keeps leaking and needing to be replaced but there working on that too I'm sure.... haha after our car being in the shop for 36 days I finally was called by Kia and offered a settlement until they can fix the issues... the settlement was not easy the girl who called me was extremely rude and everything I had looked up about the laws she didn't know she had to keep either "googling" it or she went to ask her boss & then would come back oh your I guess right... Kia was doing good for awhile but sadly I think they are very close to having the buy 2 get 1 free sale again...
- Bonney Lake, WA, USA
- Lincolnton, NC, USA