NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Kia Forte. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I BOUGHT MY 2012 KIA FORTE 2.0L WITH 30,000 MILES 3 YEARS AGO. I NOW HAVE 100,955 MILES. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT UP AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKING FINE WITH NO ISSUES. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. WHEN YOU WOULD TURN THE KEY YOU WOULD HERE 1 CLICK AND THEN NOTHING. WE BOUGHT A STARTER BECAUSE WE TESTED THE STARTER ON THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS BAD. STILL EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER YOU WOULD ONLY HEAR ONE CLICK. I HAD A MECHANIC COME LOOK AT THE CAR ONLY TO TELL ME THAT MY ENGINE HAS LOCKED UP. SAYS ITS CAUSED BY POOR MAINTENANCE AND/OR BAD DESIGN. HE SAID THE FIRST THING HE CHECKED WAS THE MAINTENANCE AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT ON THE CAR, BUT AGAIN MY ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP.
MARCH OF 2020 WE BAGAN NOTICING A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR UPON COLD STARTS WHICH INCREASES AS THE IDLE SPEED INCREASES. ALSO MAKES THE SAME KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ENGINE IS AT RUNNING TEMPERATURE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A CONNECTOR ROD OR CONNECTOR ROD BEARING ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE THETA II MOTOR. ALSO AROUND THE SAME TIME THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL SC158 BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER PAD. WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK WITH ENGINE OFF AND KEYS NOT IN IGNITION, ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION WHEN CAR ROLLED INTO STREET. AGAIN, KIA STATED THAT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *LN*JB
IVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WITH POOR PERFORMANCE, ROUGH STARTS, AND BAD FUEL ECONOMY. ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. LATER THAT DAY I TOOK IT ADVANCED AUTO PARTS AND GOT A 'P200A' CODE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A NEARBY SHOP AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC DONE WHICH COST ME $103.19. I PURCHASED THE VCM MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH ALSO COST ME $244.25. ONCE I REMOVED THE OLD PART I REALIZED THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT CONNECTS INTO THE MANIFOLD WAS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED.
VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE INTERNAL ENGINE KNOCK AND WILL REQUIRE REBUILDING OR REPLACED. IT HAS 112,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE REQUIRED INTERVALS WITH KIA SPECIFIED PRODUCTS. 2.0 LITER ENGINE.
AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES, IT STARTS TO MAKE A METALLIC POPPING SOUND. IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN I AM DRIVING UNDER 30 MPH OR WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SOUND AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE ENGINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CONTACT WAS TESTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER EASILY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED CROWN KIA ST PETERSBURG (5500 34TH ST N, ST PETERSBURG, FL 33714, (844) 921-3247) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V773000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF LAST WEEK AND I FOUND THAT THE STOPPER WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THEM OFF WAS BY REMOVING THE BRAKE SWITCH BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN RECALLED (17V773000), BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOW DO I GET MY VIN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL?
KIA,HYUNDAI THETA 2.4 ENGINE FAILURE, UNDER 100K MILES. I HAVE A 2012 KIA FORTE HATCH SX WITH THE 2.4 ENGINE. I PURCHASED IT FROM SUNSET KIA OF AUBURN VALLEY WA WITH 66,000 MILES NOT QUITE 3 YEARS AGO. IN THAT TIME I'VE PUT ABOUT 30K MILES ON THE CAR. I'VE HAD THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY, AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN LOW. LAST WEEK, ON AUGUST 11, 2019, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE ENGINE SEIZED ON THE HIGHWAY. I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE TIME OF DAY. HAD IT HAPPENED DURING HEAVIER TRAFFIC A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. FROM ONLINE RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR AND OTHERS THAT THAT USE THE SAME THETA II ENGINE. THIS CAR/ENGINE SHOULD BE RECALLED.
I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR USED 5 YEARS AGO WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FOR THE AT TIME SPAN. I HAD CHANGED TO OIL AT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS USING OEM OIL FILTERS AND FULL SYNTHETIC OIL. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO DEVELOP A RATTLING NOISE. AS I MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO A COUNTRY ROAD TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 45MPH THE RATTLING HAD GOT MORE NOTICEABLE AND THE ENGINE HAD A LOST OF POWER. EVENTUALLY THE RATTLING TURN INTO A METALLIC CRUNCHING NOISE BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. I HAD PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO FURTHER INSPECT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IS WHEN I HAD DISCOVERED ENGINE OIL COATING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTARTED LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL A TOW VEHICLE HAD ARRIVED.
AT ABOUT 99,500 MILES, MY 2012 KIA FORTE 2.0-L CAR BEGAN MAKING A LOUD TICKING SOUND, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE VALVE LIFTERS. HOWEVER, AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DIAGNOSED IT, USING A STETHOSCOPE, AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE WRIST PIN ON THE PISTON CONNECTING ROD. IN MY OPINION, THIS CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS.
ENGINE IS MAKING A TICKING NOISE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
DRIVING WHEN IT STALLED ALONG WITH MINOR SMOKING FROM ENGINE AREA ON SEVAERAL OCCASIONS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL KIA TO SEE IF THEY MAY HAVE INSIGHT AS TO WHAT MIHJT BE THE CAUSE ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY WOULD NEED TO INDSPECT CAR ALONG WITH A HEFTY HOURLY FEE. AND WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS IT STALLED , THE ENGINE CAME ON THEN DIED. I TOWED CAR HOME. IT WOUL START AND RUN FOR APPR. 2 MINUTESWITH A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I THEN HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED TO BE TOLD IT WAS BLOWN DUE TO THROWED RODS AND WOULD NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT WGICH I DID HAVE DONE. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE SHOP TO THE ISSUES KIA HAD HAD AND WAS HAVING WITH THE THETA ENGINE AS THATS WHAT MY CAR HAD. IVE CONTACTED THE MAIN KIA OFFICE WITH MY ISSUE AND COMPLAINT ONLY TO BE TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND THEY COULDD NOT ASSIST ME AND DECLINED ANY OTHER CALLS IVE TRIEDTO PLACE TO THEM.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. FORTE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPERS AND SWITCHES COULD BE FAULTY. THE MATERIAL FOR THE STOPPER CAN FALL APART OVER TIME AND ALLOW THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH PLUNGER TO REMAIN EXTENDED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AS SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALER. BOB BELL KIA OF GLEN BURNIE (7900 EASTERN AVE, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 766-3600) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 40 MPH WHEN APPROACHING THE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY (65 MPH) AND BEGAN TO HEAR A LOT OF NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE (SOUNDED LIKE METAL SCRAPPING). I BEGAN TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTE NO INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE FLASHING, AND THEN DARK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AS I THOUGHT IT WAS ON FIRE BUT COULD NOT OPEN THE HOOD AS IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT. I WAITED AND THEN TRIED AGAIN, FINALLY, OPENING THE HOOD WITH A RAG. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED, I HAD IT TOWED TO A 2ND MECHANIC (SAME DIAGNOSIS) THEN WAS INFORMED OF SC147 AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH. I CONTACTED KIA AND OPENED A CASE #13204401 WHERE I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FOR THE 3RD TIME TO A KIA DEALERSHIP (BOB BELL, BALTIMORE, MD) WHERE THEY HAD TO DO THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TEST (TECHNICIANS CELL VIDEO TO SHOW THE CAR WILL NOT START), PER KIA, TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION MY CAR IS NOT PART OF SC147 (ACCORDING TO MY VEIN #). THIS SAFETY RECALL IS FOR 2.4L GDI ENGINES AND MINE IS A 2.4L DOHC. IN ADDITION TO MY COMPLAINT, I WANT TO KNOW WHERE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS (WHAT PLANT WAS MY ENGINE ASSEMBLED?) IF GIVEN THEY ARE THE SAME ENGINES BUT ONLY A TOP COVERING DIFFERENCE (GDI VS DOHC), THEN HOW DO I KNOW FOR SURE MY ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PART OF MAJOR SC147 SINCE MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING WITH NO ISSUES AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE WITH 160,000 + MILES?
I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY KIA OF THE RECALL. I WASN'T AWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL I RESEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER FOR INFORMATION FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT MAY 11TH 2019 WITH A FRONT SIDE IMPACT AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEEMED TOTALED. I SUFFERED MILD WHIPLASH AND CONCUSION. I WAS TURNING LEFT TO GO DOWN AN ISLE IN A PARKING LOT WHEN I WAS STRUCK BY A CHEVROLET SILVERADO. I WENT TO HOSPITAL MAY 13TH WHEN CONDITION DIDN'T IMPROVE * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
CAR HAVING KNOCKING, PINGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR. NOW, IF YOU KEEP ON DRIVING, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND THERE IS A RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. SOON WILL LOCK. MY CAR STARTED WITH A KNOCKING SOUND IN ENGINE. THEN LIGHT CAME UP AND THE CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED IN MIDDLE OF HIGH WAY. THE FORTE HAS THE SAME ISSUE THAN THOSE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THREE STRANGERS BROUGHT THE NOISE TO ME IN THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS: 2 PEOPLE SAT WORK AND ONE WHILE PARKED AT THE STREET BEFORE I EXPERIENCED THAT ISSUE. I WENT ONLINE AND MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. MY CAR DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY WAY IT CAN BE FIXED WAS TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. THE MILEAGE ON IT IS JUST 77,000 .
MIELG 105000 I CHENG OIL AVERY 3000 MILES NO ENGINE NOISE TAK TAK TAK I'M GOING TOO MY MECHANIC TOLD ME NEED NEW ENGINE THAT PIG PROPLM IT'S A BAD CAR AND ENGINE I'M NAVR USD KIA I'M TOLD ALL FRIENDS AND RELATIVES DON'T BUY KIA BURN YOUR MONEY..THANKS
DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE AROUND 75MPH THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING AN ABNORMAL LOUD ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE SO I PULLED OVER TO THE MEDIAN AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE SEIZED, AND THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START. CAR HAD OIL. TOWED 100+ MILES TO OUR LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID #2 ROD BEARING "SEVERELY WORN AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MAKE NOISE AND STOP ROTATING". THEY RECOMMENDED A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF AROUND $5700 (COST AND LABOR). 2012 KIA FORTE SX WITH 2.4L ENGINE AND 106,XXX MILES (6,000 OUTSIDE THEIR 10YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY). CAR HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT THE PROPER TIMES. THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM (WORN ROD BEARINGS) KIA/HYUNDAI HAD WITH THEIR OTHER ENGINES WHICH REQUIRED A RECALL TO ADDRESS THE THOUSANDS OF GRIEVANCES. I WOULD LIKE THESE 2.4L FORTE ENGINES TO ALSO BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE RECALL BECAUSE I BELIEVE THESE ENGINES ARE EITHER DEFECTIVE IN THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR JUST FAULTY BY DESIGN. HAD I NOT PULLED OVER WHEN I DID THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED WHILE I WAS DRIVING INTERSTATE SPEED WITH THE TYPICAL INTERSTATE TRAFFIC (SEMI TRUCKS ALL OVER) WITH MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN ON BOARD. KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM AND SO FAR HAVE OFFERED NO SATISFACTION. A MODERN CAR SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 7 YEARS, UNLESS IT WAS DESIGNED WRONG OR DAMAGED IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
OUR LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM WITH OUR CAR ON 3/15/19. 2012 KIA FORTE SX 2.4L (106,430 MILES, 6430 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY) FOUND THE ENGINE TO BE KNOCKING. FOUND THE #2 ROD BEARING TO BE SEVERELY WORN AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MAKE NOISE AND STOP ROTATING. RECOMMEND REPLACING THE ENGINE. THE 2.4L THETA II ENGINE WAS NOT PART OF ORIGINAL RECALL SO KIA WOULD NOT REPLACE ENGINE AND SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT ENGINE AND LABOR. WE DECLINED, AND CAR AS SAT STATIONARY FOR PAST TWO YEARS AT OUR HOME. WHEN WE FOUND OUT THIS 2.4L THETA II ENGINE WAS NOW INCLUDED IN A RECENT RECALL WE ASKED KIA TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO REPLACING THE ENGINE SINCE THE CAR HAS SAT FOR TWO YEARS AND I NO LONGER HAVE FAITH IN THE RELIABILITY OF THIS CAR AS PARTS OF THE CAR ARE NO LONGER IN WORKING CONDITION AND/OR MISSING. THEY REFUSED ANY ALTERNATIVES. THEY WANTED US TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL KIA DEALER TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THAT WAS ALREADY DIAGNOSED BACK ON 3/15/19. THE ORIGINAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THE 2.0L AND 2.4L GDI ENGINES PROVIDED ALTERNATIVES TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE FAILURE (LIKE TOWING), REBATES, ETC. SINCE KIA WAS FOUND AT FAULT AND FINED BY THE US GOVERNMENT OVER THEIR DELAY IN RECALLING THESE 2.4L THETA II ENGINES AND SINCE THAT DELAY WAS THE ONLY REASON WE DIDN'T FIX THIS CAR ON 3/15/19 WE FEEL WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR EXPENSES AND LOSS OF TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTY ENGINE AND THEIR NEGLIGENCE IN DELAYING THE RECALL. HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED NOW IS NO LONGER A VIABLE OPTION FOR US. WE OFFERED TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE WITH THE COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT/LABOR PUT TOWARDS A REBATE, KIA REFUSED.
MY ENGINE HAS BEGUN MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND AND TWO MECHANICS HAVE SAID THE ENGINE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE KNOCKING STARTED WITH NORMAL USE AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. STARTED WHILE IDLING AND GOT LOUDER WITH FASTER RPM
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ONE AFTERNOON DRIVING ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY IN A RURAL AREA A SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH, THAT'S THE POSTED SPEED. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING GOING THAT WOULD PREVENT FROM HEARING THE NOISE IM ABOUT TO HEAR!! IT WAS LIKE CAR WAS NOW CARRYING HUGE WEIGHT AND VERY;LITTLE POWER. I TRIED TO PULL OFF THE SIDE AND THEN CARS OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN IT STALLED, I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL POSITION ATTEMPTING TO START CAR, CAR DID START BUT ONLY TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING FROM HOOD AREA, I POPPED HOOD AND CHECKED OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS,EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE WITH FLUIDS BUT ENGINE HAS A HORRID KNOCKING, CAR DIDN'T WANT TO STAY AT IDLE SO I CALLED FOR A TOW, THEN TAKEN TO LOCAL AUTO REPAIR, THEY CALLED AFTER THEIR INVESTIGATION STATING THE "CAMSHAFT TIMING WAS BAD AND BY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS THEY FELT A NEW ENGINE WAS ONLY OPTION AS THE BEARING WAS NOW BAD, INFORMED ME THAT UPON LOOKING FOR AN ENGINE IT APPEARED A NEW ENGINE AROUND 6000 DOLLARS WAS ONLY ONE AVAILABLE . I CALLED MY AUTO INS COMP TO EXPLAIN AND SEE IF I HAD ENOUGH COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIR, TO BE TOLD THAT THEY(INS COM) WASN'T LIABLE FOR THE ENGINE I DID CALL A FEW OTHER REPAIR PLACES AND WAS TOLD SAME THING (3 TOTAL)SO I AGAIN TOWED CAR TO HOME AND HAVEN'T ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE. I SPOKE TO DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD MY CAR WASN'T IN PREVIOUS RECALL BUT STATED THEY HAD A SLEW CALL AND REPORT ENGINE FAILURE AND HE VOTED THE FORTE BE IN THE STANDING RECALL OR PLACE A RECALL FOR THE KIA FORTE AND SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE.. ZERO TROUBLE WITH THE CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO GET REPAIRED SO I CAN HAVE TRANSPORTATION AGAIN. BOUGHT NEW FROM DEALERSHIP I LOVE CAR BUT THIS PROBLEM NEEDSA PROMPT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ON MY 2012 KIA FORTE, IVE BEEN TOLD IT HAS EXACT SAME ENGINE AS THE CARS IN THE STANDING RECALLS, WHEN MY ENGINE BLOWD AND FORCED ME OFF ROAD WAS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS.
THIS ENGINE HAS ALWAYS HAD LOUD VALVES. DEALER SAYS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN 2012. AT 121,000 MILES, THE ENGINE HAS SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A SOLID KNOCKING FROM DEEP WITHIN THE ENGINE - MUCH LIKE THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT RESULTED IN THE OPTIMA, SPORTAGE, AND SORRENTO ENGINES BEING RECALLED. KIA CLAIMS THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH FORTE ENGINES YET THEY EXHIBIT THE SAME KNOCKING THAT ENDS WITH CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO PREMATURE BEARING WEAR. WHEN COLD, MY 2.0L GAS ENGINE CLATTERS MORE THAN A DIESEL TRUCK. IS IT POSSIBLE THEY ARE RESISTING ADDING THE FORTE DUE TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF THOSE VEHICLES SOLD? DEALER WANTS $109 PER HOUR FOR DIAGNOSTICS WITH NO CAP ON HOURS SPENT. ON THE KIA FORUM I FOLLOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WAITED 3 MONTHS FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING MORE FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. UP UNTIL NOW, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT VEHICLE. SOLID, RELIABLE, ONE I WOULD JUMP INTO AND DRIVE 1200 MILES ON A TRIP WITHOUT HESITATION. WE AVERAGED 38 MPG MAKING TRIPS FROM NY TO FL AND BACK. NOW I'M SCARED TO EVEN MOVE IT IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT'S JUST SAD THAT KIA APPEARS TO HAVE DROPPED THE BALL LIKE THIS.
AT AROUND 125,000 MILES - I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND AND TAPPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE ON MY 2.0L MPI "THETA II" 2012 KIA FORTE. AT FIRST IT WENT AWAY QUICKLY AFTER STARTUP BUT THEN WHEN IT GOT COLDER THAT WINTER IT GOT NOTICEABLY LOUDER AND IS NOW CONSTANTLY PRESENT AT 157,930 MILES, SPEEDING UP AS I ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AT AROUND 128,800 MILES AND HE SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE ENGINE TAKEN APART TO DO MORE DIAGNOSIS AND THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO JUST DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT GETS WORSE. I'VE GOTTEN DOCUMENTED REGULAR OIL CHANGES SINCE I WAS THE OWNER IN 2017, SWITCHING TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT MY MECHANIC'S SUGGESTION AFTER HAVING THEM CHECK OUT THE TAPPING/TICKING ISSUE. THESE OIL CHANGES HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, INSTEAD IT'S CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH EACH WINTER MAKING IT SLOWLY GET WORSE. IN DOING SOME SEARCHES, I'M NOT ALONE IN MY EXPERIENCE AND I'M APPARENTLY LUCKY THAT I'VE MADE IT THIS LONG WITH MY THETA II ENGINE. WHEN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BEGAN FOR THE GDI ENGINES I WAS HOPEFUL THAT KIA WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND INCLUDE THE MPI ENGINES. HOWEVER, WHILE THEY HAVE EXPANDED THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MPI ENGINES, THEY HAVE NOT EXPANDED IT TO INCLUDE 2.0L MPI ENGINES WITH THE SAME COMPONENTS THAT CAN WEAR EXCESSIVELY INCLUDING CONNECTING RODS/CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. MANY 2.0L MPI OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES, INCLUDING FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS THAT LOVE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR VEHICLES, AND I WORRY ABOUT THE DANGER THAT CAN OCCUR WITH A SUDDENLY FAILING ENGINE, LET ALONE THE POTENTIAL FIRE RISKS. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2.0L MPI ENGINE KIA FORTE MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION FROM PARTS DIAGRAMS THAT SHOW THE PARTS COMMONALITY BETWEEN THE 2.4 MPI AND 2.0L MPI ENGINES. I
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IN THE CAR. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR ON JANUARY 10 2019 FOR A RECALL 18V363 WHICH THEY COMPLETED. ON SATURDAY FEB 2, I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS. WHEN I LEFT ONE OF THE STORES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR AND STAY ILLUMINATED. IT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF (MOSTLY ON) INTERMITTEDLY SINCE THEN. THE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR.
VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD TICKING NOISE WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE EXACT COMPLAINT OF RECALL SC147. HOWEVER, SC147 DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FORTE. VEHICLE HAS 104,000 MILES AND HAS HAD FREQUENT OIL CHANGES CONDUCTED BY A KIA DEALER. ALL DESCRIPTIONS AND VIDEOS ONLINE POINT TO THE ROD BEARING CAUSING THE TICKING NOISE.
THE STEREO WIRES MELTED AND STARTED A FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD. FIRE WAS PUT OUT. STEREO IS DAMAGED.
TAKATA RECALL. ALRIGHT I ALSO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE MOST PEOPLE HAVE. MY ENGINE START MAKING HORRIBLE NOISE AROUND 129000. ONE DAY , I STOPPED AT RED LIGHT LITERALLY MY WHOLE CAR WAS SHAKING. I THOUGHT EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAVE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL.
THERE WAS A RECALL FOR UNDERBODY RUST, WHICH I TOOK IN FOR PROTECTION. THERE ARE LITTLE ORANGE RUST SPOTS APPEARING SPORADICALLY THROUGH THE WHITE PAINT ALL OVER. I WOULD LIKE THIS LOOKED AT PLEASE.
MY ENGINE HAS BEGUN MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND AND TWO MECHANICS HAVE SAID THE ENGINE HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE KNOCKING STARTED WITH NORMAL USE AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. STARTED WHILE IDLING AND GOT LOUDER WITH FASTER RPM
2012 KIA FORTE KOUP DRIVING ON A 45MPH ROAD WHEN WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE SEIZED CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATION ATTEMPTING TO PULL CAR TO SIDE WITHOUT POWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DELEARSHIP FOR WARRANTY SERVICE AS CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WAS DENIED WARRANTY SERVICE FOR LUDICROUS REFUSAL TO ACCEPT MAINTENANCE RECORDS BECAUSE I SCANNED THE ORIGINALS AND WOULD NOT HAND OVER THE ORIGINALS. VEHICLE WAS IN PERFECT RUNNING ORDER AND I PROVIDED VIDEO EVIDENCE SHOWING KIA VIDEO I HAPPENED TO HAVE SHOT JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED DEMONSTRATING CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECT WITHOUT ANY SHAKES, RUMBLES,ODD NOISES AND ABSOLUTELY NO "SERVICE ENGINE" OR OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. KIA TOOK 2 MONTHS TO EVEN GIVE ME A PRELIMINARY DECISION THAT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS WITH NO OFFER TO ASSIST WITH A LOANER CAR OR RENTAL OR ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE. OPENED ENGINE UP TO FIND METAL SHAVINGS AND OTHER REMNANTS FROM MANUFACTURE FLOATING AROUND IN OIL PAN. UPON INVESTIGATING A LITTLE FURTHER DISCOVERED THAT KIA NEEDS TO HELD ACCOUNTABLE NOT ONLY FOR THE GDI THETA ENGINES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED UNDER SC147 BUT ALSO THE MPI MODEL ENGINES LIKE I HAVE IN MY CAR. IN THE RECALL KIA CLAIMS METAL SHAVINGS FROM MANUFACTURE OF THE CRANKSHAFTS ON THE GDI ENGINES CAUSED THE ISSUES.......HOWEVER, THE EXACT SAME CRANKSHAFT DOWN TO THE PART NUMBERS ARE 100% IDENTICAL. PLEASE I IMPLORE YOU TO HOLD KIA ACCOUNTABLE NOT ONLY FOR THE GDI ENGINES BUT ALSO THE MPI AS WELL. THEY BOTH USE THE EXACT SAME PART KIA CLAIMS HAD ISSUES AND KIA CONTINUES TO LIE AND NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY.
I HAVE CONTACTED THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 3 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS AT A SERVICE REQUEST FOR A RECALL. TWICE WAS BY PHONE WHERE I TALKED TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE ABOUT SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL ON MY CAR. BOTH TIMES I LEFT MY NAME, NUMBER, AND MY VIN. THE PHONE CALLS WERE 3 DAYS APART. I THEN CONTACTED THEM A THIRD TIME USING THEIR ONLINE SERVICE REQUEST. IT STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 48 HOURS BUT IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST 5 DAYS.
WHEN STARTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK, I PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND IT BARELY GOES. IT SEEMS TO LACK POWER, OR IS BEING BOGGED DOWN. IT ALMOST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THEN IT SUDDENLY KICKS IN, AND JERKS YOU BACKWARDS VERY FAST. IT IS SCARY BECAUSE I COULD EASILY HIT SOMETHING OR CRASH, BECAUSE THE CAR BECOMES ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO KICK BACK IN EITHER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALER, BUT THEY SAID IT DID NOT DO IT FOR THEM OF COURSE. SO I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT IS HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THEM RIGHT NOW. I AM NOT WORKING, AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR RIPPED ME OFF. I HAVE ALREADY PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO IT. IT SEEMS TO DO IT THE WORST WHEN IT RAINS FOR SOME REASON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) BY VALUE KIA (6915 ESSINGTON AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153, 215-937-1000). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY WAS INADEQUATE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,480.
WE HAVE A 2012 KIA FORTE THAT WE BOUGHT NEW. ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. WE TAKE CARE OF IT AND DON'T DRIVE IT INTO THE GROUND. 2 MONTHS AGO, ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISES, AND CAR STARTED STALLING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE SHOP, WHERE OIL AND ENGINE WERE CHECKED. EVERYTHING SEEMED OK, NO MAIN REASON FOUND AS TO WHY. SOME MORE OIL WAS ADDED AND WERE TOLD TO DRIVE IT TO RESET EVERYTHING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. 2 MONTHS, 2 OIL CHANGES/TUNE UPS AND ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT COME OFF. LAST WEEK, AS WE'RE LEAVING FOR MY KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY, CAR KEEP STALLING OUT WHEN WE TRY TO PUT IT INTO DRIVE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER WHERE HE SAYS WE'LL NEED A NEW ENGINE. NOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET KIA TO PAY FOR THE ENGINE, AND WE STILL CAN'T GET AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. ON ANOTHER NOTE, THIS IS THE SECOND KIA ENGINE WE'VE HAD TO GET. OUR 2015 KIA SORENTO HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED LAST SUMMER (WHEN IT WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD). REALLY WONDERING WHY THE FORTE WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE ENGINE RECALL, SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THIS.
HAD PHONE CHARGING AND A GPS SYSTEM TO TRAVEL ,DIRECTIONS. 3/4 OF THE WAY BOTH STOPPED WORKING 100%. NEVER WERE CHARGED EITHER. THEN AT THE PLACE NEEDED TO GO ,OVERNIGHT THE BATTERY MUST HAVE DIED AS THE CLOCK AND RADIO WERE RESET TO 12:00 ETC... THE USB AND ROUND CHARGERS STILL DID NOT WORK. BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND WAS PERFECT. DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED ALL THIS MESS. TERRIBLE WHEN NEEDED IT ALL. THIS HAPPEN WHEN IN MOTION BUT THEN STATIONARY STILL NOTHING.
2012 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EMITTING A SOUND LIKE THAT OF A DIESEL ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS WERE CONTACTED WERE CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS COMMON WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CRANK BEARING HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS), WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2012 KIA FORTE EX SEDAN 2.0 THETA 2 ENGINE PISTON SLAP CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PISTONS AND THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE HAD THE PROBLEM WHEN STATIONARY AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND NOT DRIVEN SINCE DUE TO RESEARCH FINDING THIS IS A MUCH TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA FORTE OWNERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, BOTH REAR WHEEL BOLTS FRACTURED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE SECOND TIME WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STUDS WERE CORRODED. THE WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN WARMING UP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OF THE KNOCKING SOUND RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC OR A KIA DEALER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.
I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A CORNER STORE PARKING LOT. AS I WAS TURNING THE ACCELERATER DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. I PUSHED THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY AND IT STILL PULLED FORWARD. I IMPACTED THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE STORE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WALL OF THE STORE. ALSO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR HEADLIGHTS, FENDER, TIRE WELL LINING AND MORE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON OR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I JUST RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY IN THE MAIL ABOUT RECALL ISSUES. KIA HAS NOT WARNED ME OF ANYTHING AND I TAKE MY CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED I'M TRYING GET HELP WITH THIS. I'M LOOKING FOR LAWYER NOW BECAUSE I JUST GOT THIS INFORMATION. AFTER OWNING THIS CAR SINCE 2012. I'M WORKING ON THE CLAIM NOW SO THE FULL REPORT IS NOT DONE.
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS REAR ENDED AND THEN SMASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE. I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THE KIA AND IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED ORLANDO KIA NORTH AT (888) 696-5097 (LOCATED AT 625 N US HWY 17 92, LONGWOOD, FL 32750) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2012 KIA FORTE DOWN THE HIGHWAY. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM KIA DEALER ABOUT 11 MONTHS AGO WITH ~115,500 AND IT NOW ONLY HAS ~118,100 MILES ON IT. SO WE ONLY DROVE IT LESS THAN 3000 MILES OVER THE LAST ONE YEAR. WHILE HE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, HE STARTED HEARING A CLANKING NOISE AND THEN THE CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT DRIVE ANY LONGER. HE SAID NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHT EVER CAME ON. ONLY HIS OIL MAINTENANCE LIGHT HAD COME ON RIGHT BEFORE IT OCCURRED. HE CHECKED THE OIL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE OIL WAS FINE AND STILL HAD APPROXIMATELY 2000 LIFE MILES REMAINING ON IT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED THE CAR AND HE SAID THE ENGINE IS SEIZED UP. BUT, HE SAYS SEES NO MAINTENANCE RELATED REASON FOR WHY THIS ENGINE HAS SEIZED UP LIKE IT HAS. I DID SOME CHECKING ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES REPORTED FOR THIS. WE FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL BY HYUNDAI AND KIA FOR AN ISSUE THAT SOUNDS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT OCCURRED TO OUR ENGINE. I BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE OR AT LEAST HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE OTHER ENGINES, WHICH ARE SAME YEAR MODELS, BUT DIFFERENT MAKE. I BELIEVE THE 2012 KIA FORTE HAS THE EXACT ISSUE AS THE OTHER MULTIPLE RECALLED MODELS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SAME DILIGENCE DONE FOR THIS MODEL TO SEE IF THE SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH OUR ENGINE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE FORTE OWNERS THAT HAVE ALSO HAD THIS COMPLAINT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I WANTED TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION AND THE SEVERITY OF THIS ISSUE. IN THE MONTH OF JUNE 2018 MY EXPECTING WIFE IN HER 2012 KIA FORTE WAS ON HER WAY HOME ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR WITH NO SIGNS LEADING UP TO THIS DECIDED TO DIE UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED DEALER TO HAVE DIAGNOSES OF WHAT HAPPENED THE CONCLUSION WAS THE ENGINE'S CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS SEIZED. MUCH LIKE THE KIA AND HYUNDAI RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURE FOR MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION CARS ARE IMPACTED. I EXPRESSED HOW THIS COULD BE DUE TO CAR HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT AND ALL THE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED REGULARLY. THE WIFE PURCHASED THIS CAR USED FROM A WELL KNOWN DEALER ONLY A YEAR AGO AND ADDED 12,000 ON THE ODOMETER. I CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOSSED AROUND WITH NO ANSWERS. AFTER MORE THAN A MONTH KIA CORP CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT NO HELP WOULD BE GIVEN ON REPLACEMENT OF A ENGINE. I EXPRESSED HOW DANGEROUS THIS SITUATION WAS WHEN YOUR VEHICLE'S ENGINE JUST SEIZES AND HOW CLOSE MY WIFE AND UNBORN CHILD WAS ALMOST IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. THERE WAS ZERO CARES GIVEN. I SPOKE WITH A KIA REPRESENTATIVE AFTER REVIEW FROM A MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO, AND I QUOTE " BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT OWNED A PRIOR KIA PRODUCT AND YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERED A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND DUE TO THAT CONCLUSION THAT IS THE REASON AND CONCLUSION FOR MAKING THE DECISION". I WAS TO UPSET AND EXPRESSED MY FRUSTRATION AND STILL NO RESOLUTION. THE CAR IS STILL INOPERABLE TILL I EXHAUST ALL PATHS AND MAKE SURE MY EXPERIENCE DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANY OTHERS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND KIA DOES NOT WANT TO OWN UP TO IT. THEY ARE SWEEPING THIS ISSUE UNDER A RUG TILL SOMEBODY REALLY GETS HURT OR WORST. I WANT KAI TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE AND MAKE IT RIGHT NOT JUST FOR ME BUT OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE.
MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AND WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH ON AR HWY 62. THE ROAD NARROWS DOWN FROM TWO LANE TO ONE RIGHT BY A BLUFF WHEN THE MOTOR WITHOUT WARNING, THREW A ROD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SHATTERED THE ENGINE. ABSOLUTELY NO WHERE TO PULL OVER. HE WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE HIT AS HE COULDN'T GIVE ANY NOTICE TO THE VEHICLES BEHIND HIM. WE ALWAYS MADE SURE TO CHANGE THE OIL AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS IN TOP NOTCH. COME TO FIND OUT THE OIL WASN'T MAKING IT TO THE ENGINE. KIA SHOULD INCLUDE THIS IN THEIR RECALL AS THEIR OTHER ENGINES HAVE HAD MAJOR ENGINE FAILURES ON THE SAME ENGINE IN OTHER VEHICLES. WHAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER IS IF THEY REPLACED IT BECAUSE ANOTHER ENGINE WOULD DO THE SAME THING. SINCE THIS ENGINE IS IN PIECES NOW! UNFORTUNATELY I IT'S NOT EVEN FULLY PAID FOR. IT HAS SINCE BECOME A $10,000 YARD ORNAMENT. SO THANKFUL NOBODY WAS HURT BUT KIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. I'M SURE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN.
BACK IN 2018 MY ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT MY ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD KEPT REGULAR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH THE 2012 FORTE USES HYUNDAI AND KIA'S 'THETA II' ENGINE. THE THETA II ENGINES COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROCESS ISSUE. SURE ENOUGH I DID INDEED HAVE ENGINE FAILURE AND HAD TO PAY AN ARM AND A LEG TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. NOW I FEAR THAT THIS SECOND ENGINE WILL FOLLOW SUIT. ONLY SOME MODELS FELL UNDER THE RECALL BUT KIA REALLY NEEDS TO CONSIDER THE 2012 FORTE MODELS AND ANY OTHER MODEL THAT FALLS IN RANGE. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE! I HAD TO CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES TO RESPOND TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WENT OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026