10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,451 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 #13

Aug 202016

Forte

  • miles
Going down an incline the brakes can go to the floor. Usually if the pavement is a little bumpy. It-??s like you loose all braking.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #12

Dec 082022

Forte

  • miles
Kia issued recall to inspect/repair potential corrosion of brake lines. Dealer inspected car on 12/8/22 and advised repair/replacement was needed and parts would be order. Now almost 2 months later and still no part. Dealer states back ordered. Complaint filed with Kia customer service and no meaningful response. In fact other than acknowledging complaint no response whatsoever. Yet Kia advises this is a potential safety issue and should be repaired ASAP so as to avoid accidents/damage, etc.. Kia cannot or will not provided any information regarding parts availability and subsequent required repair. If transportation is needed we are forced to drive a vehicle with known safety issues because of manufacturers lack of response.

- South Bend, IN, USA

problem #11

Jan 022023

Forte

  • miles
I start to notice the lamp as well as a knocking sound in October of 2022 I was concerned so I took it to a local mechanic and was told that this particular model car was on a recall for engine fire hazard. He then advised me to call the dealership I purchased the vehicle from. I then called them to let them know what is going on with the car, the employee tells me they can't do the work and referred me to another dealership that's a larger facility. To my knowledge of doing research, I then found out that the engine can catch fire when shut off or in process of being driven so it's very dangerous regarding me and my family. I then called the dealership and they asked for my VIN number, they then tell me yes, this car has 3 different recalls that are showing, and I made an appointment to have it inspected on Jan 2 of 2023 and I took my car to the dealership, and they confirmed I need a new engine. They then told me they will not repair my vehicle. I've never gotten anything in the mail stating there was a recall on any of the parts for my KIA 2015 until the knocking from the engine and the lamp coming on and was told by a local mechanic that there's a recall on this model.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #10

Sep 272022

Forte

  • miles
Received inspection letter dated 8/19/22 from Kia to inspect/replace if necessary brake line. First available appointment was 9/27/22. Inspection revealed a severely rotted brake line and invoice notation that vehicle is unsafe to drive. I contacted 3 other Kia dealerships and was given the familiar response that the parts are on back order with not estimate time for arrival. I contacted Kia customer service for a remedy but experienced hour long wait on hold only to be disconnected. Several attempts later customer service suggested I seek an off dealer shop and pay for the repair and be reimbursed by Kia. I was not able to get service through a third party either. I was assigned a case number 15188053 but no viable resolution.

- New Baltimore, MI, USA

problem #9

Oct 092022

Forte 4-cyl

  • miles
Kia recalled my brake line but won-??t fix claiming parts in Korea on back order going on months. They took pics of corrosion. They said if something happens it-??s my fault.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #8

Sep 142022

Forte

  • miles
I received a recall notice from KIa Corporation notifying me of a recall for brake lines rusting on my car and told me to take it to dealer to have issue inspected. If found to be in need of replacement they would be replaced at no charge to me. I took the car into dealership and they took photos of the rusted brake lines and informed me they would be replaced by KIA at no charge. That was on September 14 2022. Dealership told me the parts would come in the week following and they would call me. They never called and I called them weekly and they told me on the last call that KIA did not have the parts and they did not know they would receive them.

- Barnesville, OH, USA

problem #7

Aug 192022

Forte

  • miles
Brake lines failed while driving. All of the brake fluid leaked out while driving making this a dangerous situation. Brake light came on and loss of all brakes came next. Had it towed to a service station where it was confirmed the brake lines had rusted causing the leak. This is a known issue for Kia and they have issued a voluntary recall. This should be made a mandatory recall ASAP.

- Dover, NH, USA

problem #6

Aug 012021

Forte

  • miles
Water leaks from under the dash covering the floor. And making the brand and acceleration peddles wet and slick. Slowing to stop at my hom and my foot slide from the brake peddle and was unable to safely slow down before impacting my husband-??s truck.

- Nicholasville, KY, USA

problem #5

Feb 182021

Forte

  • miles
After hearing the car was making a strange sound while in motion and bringing it into the dealer 3 times over the span of a year, it was identified that both front calipers were frozen/broken and needed to be replaced. Before realizing that this was the issue, the front left wheel bearing, front brake pads, and rear brakes all were replaced as a result of overcompensating for the calipers.

- Vista, CA, USA

problem #4

Feb 032018

Forte

  • 75,461 miles
Takata inflators? receive voluntary emission recall notice from Kia 1/16/18 took car in to be service for the recall 2/3/18 to Kia of East hartford, ct- drove car off the lot onto the highway. Loud sound and black smoke from rear end of the car, all lights came on and car stalled. Call service department immediately and was told to turn car on and off, that the computer had to reset. Car came back on but the airbag, low tire pressure and engine light remained on. Brought car back to Kia of East hartford several times was told nothing was wrong, instead that the sensor were off. Then eventually took the car to columbia Kia and was told the air bag clock spring was defective but not cover under warranty, the fuel canister was also cracked but not covered under warranty and the tps module was also damage (which was repaired by columbia Kia that actually took my claim serious). Made a complaint ticket with Kia manufacturer ref#12976894 but has gotten no where. In addition complaint was made 07/07/18 that when trying to make a stop and the ground surface is uneven the car would jerk and propel forward. Was told by the service department that that is how the anti-lock brake system work. Complained to Kia regarding the multiple times of near missed accidents due to mechanical braking system and car stalls. After purchasing the car with all of the warranty offered, was only able to get Kia to agree to fix the tps module. All of the other issues with the car was noted by Kia service department that they were defective, not wear and tear, but are not covered under warranty. Having problem with finding anyone that would even attempt to fix the airbag issue due to possible liability concerns and ongoing recall.

- Hartford, CT, USA

problem #3

Aug 012016

Forte

  • 0 miles
Takata recall: My brake lights from both driver and passenger sides are always gong out. I constantly have to replace bulbs. I've even taken to a mechanic and had the entire lighting wires brand new and still have this issue.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #2

Jan 032019

Forte

  • 40,400 miles
Bought car from Kia 2015 Forte 4 door with their certification with 32500 miles took car in for 2nd oil change at 40400 miles was told rear brakes were into the rotors and front brakes were starting to do the same. What were the brake pads like when they were certified?

- Braddock, PA, USA

problem #1

Mar 142016

Forte

  • 20,000 miles
The incident happened as I backed out of my garage in March of 2016. I put the car into reverse and began to push the gas to back out. The car engine revved loudly and the car shot out of the garage. I put my foot on the brake and the car continued to accelerate. Thinking I possibly had my foot on the wrong pedal (even though I have never done that before), I looked down at my feet and verified that my foot was indeed on the brake and not the gas pedal. I then put both feet on the brake and the car still did not slow down; it continued to pick up speed. At this point, I had gone down my driveway across the street and was in my neighbors' driveway headed toward their house. Then, I tried putting the car in park and that still did not stop or even slow down the car. It just made a terrible noise. My next step would have been to pull the emergency brake, but I had already hit the outside wall of my neighbors' garage and that is when the car finally stopped and began idling normally. I towed it to the Kia dealership, and they said they ran tests on the brakes, throttle, etc. And found no abnormalities. When I asked what information was gathered from the control module, I was told that no history codes were shown. So, according to them there was no record of me braking or the car accelerating. I do not understand how that is possible. I asked twice for copies of the actual tests and data that was downloaded from the control module, but did not receive them. I was told the information was typed word for word in the summary section of the receipt. I am now looking for a new car, since I no longer feel safe driving this one and expressed this to the dealership and their corporate office. How can they allow a car back on the road when they don't have an answer for why it accelerated uncontrollably? I'm baffled by this. Unfortunately, my story is not unique.

- Romoland, CA, USA