10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 2
Average Mileage:
21,667 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #38

Jul 092024

Forte

  • miles
The hood latch doesn't always work and the hood could fly up and obstruct vision and cause a wreck, the gas door sticks and won't open on the first try, engine is slow on excelleration some times. Not sure when it all started

- New Carlisle, OH, USA

problem #37

Apr 012024

Forte

  • miles
The light that marks the low oil of the engine, never turned on and the engine-??s time belt was damaged as a result of this, and one of the valves too, and the car just consumed the synthetic oil in just about 7 months, and this is a factory defect because the low oil light inside the car never turned on. And I need that the company replace my engine as a result of this manufacturing defect. My car after that incident has a code P0011.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #36

Dec 152023

Forte

  • miles
I have 2 complaints with my Kia Forte. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" Yes it can be inspected. 1st complaint-The component or system that malfunctioned was the brakes, possibly caused from the entire braking system, the electronic parking brake software and any damaged intermediate shafts. The problem is like the Telluride SUV KIA. 2nd complaint is an intermittent burning smell mostly in the rear area after I get out of the car to park in the garage for the night. It does not occur all the time. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? After I was outside of the parked car on a level road, I saw my car rolling. I had to open the door and jump in to pull the emergency brake on with it moving. I was not able to get my left leg into the car with it moving so my left leg was dragging outside on the rough pavement and ruined my brand new shoes and hurt my left leg and big toe. I was shook up. Ever since, I always pull on my emergency brake when parked. 2nd issue- I am not sure of the safety issue with the burning smell. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, I did not know what to do. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" No warning and no symptoms prior to the issues. The 1st issue with the brakes occurred this past Dec. 2023 and was then only occurrence. The 2nd issue has occurred several intermittent times in the past 2 years with the burning smell.

- Monongahela, PA, USA

problem #35

Dec 202023

Forte

  • 164,872 miles
My car started sounding like a diesel truck. The car didn-??t want to changes gears right. It was shutting off randomly. I got on the freeway and it wouldn-??t shift out of 3rd gear the way it was suppose to, the car speedometer was reading 60-70 mph but when I switched it to manual it was only in 3rd gear. I almost got rear ended by a diesel truck with a trailer due to it not wanting to shift. I had a mechanic look at it and put it in the code reader. It came up just the cam sensor which were replaced. Went to drive off and it sounded way worse than before. Reput it on the code reader and it said something about the oil pump. Got a second opinion and this mechanic said that it was the bearings in the motor. And now it-??s going to be a problem and that-??s I-??m better off getting a new car.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #34

Nov 272023

Forte

  • miles
My engine shutoff/misfired while I was driving. The rest of my vehicle maintained power, dashboard headlights, radio. I took it to an autoshop where the issue was replicated. When my engine shut off the I had three check lights come on eps, oil, and battery. There was no warning prior to the engine shutting off.

- Redlands, CA, USA

problem #33

Jun 012023

Forte

  • miles
Headlights started to flicker off and on after using the blinkers. Just randomly. The alarm won't arm or disarm unless I put the key into the ignition, the alarm (and horn) is set off, I have to take the key out and disarm the alarm it with the remote. The car still starts, all the alarm does is make noise. The dashboard displays FUSE and the clock is always displayed at 1:00 when I start my car. They couldn't diagnose my car when I Took the car in for a recall software update, after the update hours later the headlights and dashboard lights turned off while I was on the freeway-no blinkers used when this happened. It happened several times after that. The dealer said they would need to keep my car and though it is under the extended warranty I pay for, there wouldn't be a rental car until it was diagnosed and if it is covered then they would reimburse me or my car rental. I had to wait several weeks until I could get an appointment, and my own car rental. Now the dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong. They kept the car because they had not addressed the inside fuse display on dashboard, clock, or alarm issue.

- Reseda, CA, USA

problem #32

Apr 172023

Forte

  • miles
My car was stolen on 4-17. They tore up the steering column. KIA knows what's going on with the TICK TICK challenge and is doing nothing about it. They quoted me $800 for labor only!!! This is unacceptable. I had to replace my window, my insurance won't cover, I had to purchase a club. I feel violated. I don't know if my car was used in the commission of a crime or will be stolen again. Why isn't KIA recalling or fixing these vehicles. I qualify for the starter immobilizer kit, but they should fix their problem first. I am livid!!!! Its all over the media in 17 states on the rise of these thefts. When is someone going to make them accountable, when someone has to die first.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #31

Jan 012023

Forte

  • miles
Unknown. My 2017 Kia Forte LX turns off while I-??m driving. The entire car dies but the electric works. I have to put in park and sit a minute before my car will start again.

- Hammond, LA, USA

problem #30

Jul 142020

Forte

  • miles
The trunk seal is not functioning properly. Water gets into lighting and causes mold in truck.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #29

Aug 182022

Forte

  • miles
Ongoing acceleration and shaking issues. Lose power randomly and has stalled randomly. Now is frequent. I was told it is normal for cars to have some shaking however this is not normal. I try to accelorate and cannot, I had my own diagnostic test done and asked for the coil to be replaced. Kia said it was the spark plugs. Took the car back the next day because I again couldn't accelerate. Over a week later and no communication and I called and left a message. Now kia said it is the coil. Car now at approx 71K miles.

- Azusa, CA, USA

problem #28

Jun 212022

Forte

  • miles
Fuel door latch does not release properly preventing me from filling the vehicle and possibly running out of fuel while in traffic

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #27

Apr 052022

Forte

  • miles
MY 2017 KIA FORTE IS A EASY TARGET FOR THE " KIA BOYS" HERE IN COLUMBUS OHIO.. MY CAR WAS A VICTIM OF THEFT WHERE MY PASSENGER GLASS WAS SHATTERED AND MY STEERING COLUMN WAS TAKEN APART AND MY IGNITION WAS JAMED IN BY A SCREWDRIVER. KIA HAS MADE THIS CAR susceptible TO THEFT AND HAS NOTHING TO DO ABOUT IT. I WANT RELIEF FROM THIS HAZARD.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #26

May 192022

Forte

  • miles
The 2017 Kia was parked in the attached garage of a private residence when a fire broke out. The building was fully involved by the time first responders arrived shortly after midnight on May 19, 2022. Both residents of the home were deceased at the scene, in separate bedrooms. The point of origin of the fire was determined to be at the Kia, which was heavily damaged in the fire. The individual making this report is the attorney representing the estates of the decedents.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #25

Dec 212021

Forte

  • miles
The trunk of my 2017 Kia Forte wouldn-??t open in the morning. I checked for a solution online and saw there was an active recall (SC216) on the latching mechanism of the trunk which was causing it to get stuck. Took it to the dealership to get it fixed. They fixed it but then told me I needed to pay for it. When I told them it was a recall issue they took the new part off and told me to leave. Now my trunk doesn-??t close and it-??s being held in place with a piece of string.

- Euless, TX, USA

problem #24

Oct 232021

Forte 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated while reversing out of a parking spot with the vehicle in reverse, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle inadvertently drove forward speedily. The brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck, shoulder, and back injuries and sought medical assistance. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Powder Springs, GA, USA

problem #23

Oct 012021

Forte

  • miles
Trunk latch on my vehicle gets stuck can only open after jumping down on hood while pulling lever at the same time intermittently happens. Lately been happening more often than not.

- El Paso , TX, USA

problem #22

Oct 012021

Forte

  • miles
Leaving work last week and noticed my trunk was open. Thought maybe I had accidentally pressed the release button and went to close but trunk latch wouldn not latch down and close. Had to fold the back seats down and crawl into the trunk while a coworker held the trunk sh*t and use a flathead screwdriver to manually lock the latch. After doing so now the trunk will not open.

- Lemoore, CA, USA

problem #21

Jul 252021

Forte

  • miles
Trunk latch apparently broke and trunk popped opened on it's own while driving. We have not been able to tie it down due to broken latch. Obscures view and cannot be driven safely at this time. Has not been seen or confirmed by a repair shop yet

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #20

Aug 062021

Forte

  • miles
My vehicle is stalling out while I am driving. Also I have to at times try too start it twice wont turnover on first try.Has been reported to dealer they dont seem to know what the problem is. I called 2 months ahead of April 2021 and Kia told me they were so booked up they couldn't see me till almost 2 months later. Car is still doin the same.

- New Castle, DE, USA

problem #19

Apr 042021

Forte

  • 52,292 miles
Trunk of car will not close never had any problems before one day it closes the next day it won't

- Avon Park, FL, USA

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