NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Kia Forte. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I KEEP HAVING ISSUES WITH MY BREAK LIGHT HAVING TO BE REPLACED ALL THE TIME. NOW IT'S WHERE THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL NOR DOES THE CAR GO INTO GEAR! I HAVE TO USE SOMETHING TO PUSH THE SHIFT LOCK DOWN SO THAT I CAN SHIFT GEARS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UNIVERSAL ISSUE AROUND THE BOARD ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS. NOW THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSE SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITHIN MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO KIA AND AT SOME POINT I'M SURE THIS IS ISN'T THE FIRST THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS BECAUSE THEY KEEP SAYING WELL YOUR VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS. OKAY I UNDERSTAND BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE EXACT SAME THATS HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO PREVIOUS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL BREAKLIGHT ISSUES. IT'S FAR TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IF YOUR VEHICLE ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE, KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT! IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK....QUACKS LIKE A DUCK....IT'S A DUCK...PLAIN AND SIMPLE! I FEEL THIS IS NEGLECT AND IT'S PUTTING CONSUMERS LIVES AT RISK.
RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT TOOK CAR TO MIDAS TO HAVE BULB REPLACED, WHERE THE MELTED LIGHT SOCKET WAS DISCOVERED. TOOK CAR KIA DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY 9/11/2017 TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOT. THE KIA ADVISOR JACK TOLD ME THAT THEY WHERE ABLE TO REPLACE THE BULB BUT HAD TO GET APPROVAL TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SOCKET. ON 9/12 I WAS INFORMED THAT DPSM DENIED THE REQUEST TO COVER THE PART. PICTURES SENT TO DPSM BY KIA DEALERSHIP.
AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK DURING AN ACCIDENT. CAR WAS TRAVELING 40 MHP ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT STRUCK ANOTHER CARE FROM BEHIND. FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES AND CONCUSSION FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE MOTOR FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DELAND KIA (2322 S WOODLAND BLVD, DELAND, FL 32720, (386) 734-7800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT FAILED AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING TO THE FORTE AND THE CAR IDLED DOWN AND STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AND SHUT OFF. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE HOOD, THE CAR BEGAN IDLED DOWN THEN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP, THERE WERE NO OIL GOING THROUGH THE LINES. MANY MONTHS BEFORE THAT I WAS OUT WITH THE FORTE AND IT WOULD NOT START, THAT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, I GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND I WAS TOLD NO OIL WAS GETTING THROUGH THE LINE. RECENTLY, THIS MONTH I WAS DRIVING THE FORTE TO WORK AND THE CAR BEGAN TO JUMP AND IDLING DOWN THE ENGINE WAS TREMBLING AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BLOWN BEARING IN THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND AN UPCOMING RECALL ONLINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
CALIPER SEIZED UP, GRINDING NOISES, AROUND 35000 MILES
WHEN CAR IS REALLY COLD, THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED GET STUCK DOWN. I HAVE TO PHYSICALLY DISENGAGE THE BRAKES.. EVEN WHEN I PARK MY CAR AT TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BE DOWN AND ONLY WAY I NOTICED IS THE BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE BACK OR ON.. ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE.. DEALER TOOK 2 TIMES AND DECIDED NOT TO TAKE IT ANY MORE BECAUSE THEY ADVISE THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SEEMS THEY HAD OTHER YEARS OF RECALL AND SEEMS FROM THIS SITE THAT IT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS MODEL TOO.. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY IN THE MORNING OR LATE EVENING WHEN TEMPERATURE BELOW 40 DEGREES
YESTERDAY MY BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT ENGAGE AND HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAD REPORTED TO KIA THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STICKING AND I WOULD HAVE TO FLIP IT BACK UP HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY INFORMED ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. KIA SHOULD REALLY LOOK INTO TO THIS COSTLY PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED AT REVIEWS AND I SEE WHERE THERE IS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. I FORGOT TO ADD IMPORTANT INFORMATION. I WAS TOLD BY KIA THAT MY ENGINE ISSUE IS A "BLOWN ROD" INSIDE THE ENGINE. KIA HAS SEVERAL OTHER MODELS THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION. I FEEL AS THOUGH I'VE "MISSED THE BOAT" ON THIS ISSUE.
WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50 MPH WHEN AN UNKNOWN NOISE BEGAN COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I WAS ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HOME, BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE NOISE WAS MUCH LOUDER. I SHUT IT OFF AND IMMEDIATELY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY 2,200 MILES UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY (ORIGINAL OWNER). THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE" (LATER I LEARNED A ROD HAD GONE BAD) AND MY WARRANTY WAS VOIDED DUE TO "OIL SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TALKING ABOUT SELLING ME A NEW CAR, WHICH I DECLINED. I ALSO DECLINED ANY MAINTENANCE TO BE PERFORMED. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A PRIVATE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO SENT A CAMERA INSIDE THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO "SLUDGE" TO BE FOUND. THE MECHANIC ALSO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY FOR KIA TO KNOW THIS SINCE HE COULD TELL THAT NEITHER THE VALVE COVER, NOR ANY OTHER ENGINE PART, HAD BEEN REMOVED TO FACILITATE SUCH INSPECTION. NOW I AM FACED WITH $3,700 IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS SINCE KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. KIA SEEMS TO HAVE SOMEHOW DETERMINED ENGINE "SLUDGE" WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING INSIDE THE ENGINE. I HAVE A FEW EXTERNAL PHOTOS AS PROOF THAT THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED BY KIA BUT I AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD THEM HERE.
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS SITTING STILL WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A DULLY TRUCK THAT WAS TRAVELING GREATER THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS PUSHED APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BROKE. THE SEAT IS IN THE RECLINED POSITION. THE ADJUSTER TOTALED THE CAR DUE TO DAMAGE.
I, LIKE MANY OTHER KIA FORTE OWNERS, FEEL THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE THE FORTE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHER OWNERS - ENGINE KNOCKING, OIL ISSUES, WHITE SMOKE EXITING THE EXHAUST, LOSS OF SPEED WHILE DRIVING, CAR DYING AFTER ACCELERATION AND FINISHING IN A PUFF OF SMOKE. WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN IN JUNE 2016 I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT. YET, I SEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEMS ARE LITERALLY BEING REPAIRED ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND ISSUES. THE THETA II 2.4L ENGINE CLEARLY IS DEFECTIVE IN ALL OF THE VEHICLES. I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE FORTE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THIS LIST. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE DEALERSHIP REALLY RAKED US OVER THE COALS ON THE PURCHASE AND FIVE YEARS LATER WE STILL OWE NEARLY $10K ON THE VEHICLE. CLEARLY OTHER DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT BECAUSE I CANNOT GET ANYONE TO TAKE IT AS A TRADE IN - TURNED DOWN BY OVER TEN DEALERSHIPS. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON HOW WE CAN RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND IS A DISABLED VETERAN AND WE RELY ON THIS VEHICLE TO GET TO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS, AS IT IS OUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE ENGINE FAILURE POSSIBLE RELATED TO FAULTY OIL PUMP. ENGINE STARTED VIBRATING WHOLE CAR THEN THE CAR LOCKED AND STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. HAD TO GET CAR TOWED. NO LEAKS. THE ENGINE HAD FLUIDS. MANY OTHER KIA'S WERE AFFECTED. OTHER MODELS HAVE RECALLS. POSSIBLY DAMAGED RODS AND BEARINGS DUE TO THE ISSUE. THE KIA COMPANY SAID NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. MECHANIC SAID NEEDS TO ENGINE.
TAKATA RECALL TURNING OFF A ROAD OF 55 MPH ONTO A 35 MPH ROAD. I LET OFF OF BRAKES AFTER TURN AND I TRIED PRESSING ON GAS AND NO GAS PEDAL! I HIT THE CURB BECAUSE I WAS N SHOCK LOOKING FOR GAS PEDAL. THIS MESSED MY RIM AND TIRE UP. THE GAS PEDAL WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THIS COULD OF EASILY BEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'M SURE THEY ARE MADE OUT OF SAME MATERIAL. I AM WAITING FOR INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO COME IN THE MORNING TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. POLICE DID NOT WRITE ACCIDENT REPORT.
WE HAVE THIS INITIAL FUEL FLOW/ROD BEARINGS ISSUE WITH OUR 2013 KIA FORTE. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA AND THE DEALERSHIP A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND YET THE FORTE IS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. CONSIDERING THAT IT WAS BUILT WITH THE EXACT SAME THETA II ENGINE, THIS SEEMS RIDICULOUS. HTTPS://KFOR.COM/2019/01/16/KIA-HYUNDAI-ISSUE-NEW-RECALL-DUE-TO-ENGINE-FIRE-RISKS/?UTM_CAMPAIGN=TRUEANTHEM%3A+TRENDING+CONTENT&UTM_CONTENT=5C3FC91104D3010DA25C18CA&UTM_MEDIUM=TRUEANTHEM&UTM_SOURCE=FACEBOOK&FBCLID=IWAR1DMDLSKVNOWCP34YHC3CNWHPXVPRDQLFVQ5EUZZ16WH-R70VJ0RWLHM5O
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte Ex. The contact stated when at a complete stop, the driver in front accelerated with the vehicle in reverse and crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The entire front vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning lights. The contact was stuck in the vehicle, the seat belt was not functional. The police were notified; however, there was no police report. The contact was not injured or had any medical treatments. The vehicle was driven to the home, then towed to the local auto body shop. There was no diagnosis of the failure with air bags or seat belts faulty. The contact believes the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number 18V363000 (Air Bags). The vehicle has been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000
WIFE GOT KILLED IN IT WENT THRU A BRIDGE CLOSED
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 2013 KIA FORTE EX, THE VEHICLE ROUGHLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED VIA OIL CHANGES, FILTERS, ETC ON TIME WITH QUALITY NAME BRAND FULLY SYNTHETIC OIL AND FILTERS PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WHICH IS EVERY 7500 MILES. I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE HOME ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY ON THE EAST COAST. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE OF 5 LANES ON THE SOUTH BOUND SIDE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS SLOWING DOWN AT AN UNSAFE RATE OF SPEED BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER AND DID NOT WANT TO TOUCH THE BRAKES OBVIOUSLY. I PANICKED BUT WAS ABLE TO PUT MY RIGHT SIGNAL ON TO TRY AND GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY I CONTINUED TO PANIC BECAUSE MY CAR WAS STEADY SLOWING AND EVENTUALLY WOULD COME TO A STOP BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND I KNEW THE CAR SHUT DOWN BECAUSE ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE DASH AS IF YOU WERE STARTING THE CAR. THANKFULLY SOMEONE WAS WATCHING OVER ME THAT DAY AND I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE CAR ROLLED TO A COMPLETE STOP. IF I WERE UNABLE TO SAFELY MOVE OVER TWO LANES AND MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON MOMENTUM I WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED IN A LANE OF TRAVEL ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND WHAT WOULD I HAVE DONE? I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AND BEEN PART OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH I DID MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER I WAS STILL PANICKING BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY BUSY FREEWAY AND I FELT HELPLESS. THE CAR WOULD NOT START IT WOULD MAKE A FUNKY NOISE AND THAT'S IT BUT WOULD NEVER START SO I WAS STRANDED. I LOOKED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL AND CALLED KIA, THE DEALERSHIP WAS 10 MINUTES FROM MY LOCATION. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A TOW TRUCK AND I WAS ON MY OWN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED THERE AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND IT WAS THE BOTTOM END. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE TIMING SYSTEM AND KIA IS LYING.
BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES DON'T RETRACT BACK UP AFTER THEY BEEN APPLIED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BELOW 32 DEGREES. DEALER COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG, WHEN I GET TO THE DEALER ITS NOT COLD ENOUGH TO HAVE THE PROBLEM, ITS NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM, BUT CAN BE DANGEROUS AT TIMES.
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FROM A FOOTBALL GAME, IT COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME THE NEXT DAY. ONCE HOME THE CAR STARTED BACK UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE ENGINE STARTED HAVING A TERRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE. A MECHANIC REPLACED ROD & BEARING, BUT THE CAR STILL HAS ISSUES WITH STALLING AND KNOCKING NOISE. IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS WHILE I CONTINUE TO MAKE CAR PAYMENTS. MY OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS WERE ALWAYS CHANGED REGULARLY. I WAS OUTSIDE MY WARRENTY AND AM JUST STUCK WITH THIS CAR WITH A BAD ENGINE. I WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE, BUT AM AFRAID THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING.
THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE IS ALWAYS ON EVEN WHEN I CHECK THE TIRES PRESSURE AND IT RIGHT..THE BRAKES ARE ALWAYS SQUICKING
THE OIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE CAR WAS AT IDLE. TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF THEM TRYING AT STARTING THE CAR, THE CAR STARTED UP ONLY TO SHUT OFF. THEN THEY CHECKED IT OUT AGAIN TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCK UP. NOW I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE OR GET A NEW CAR.
I TRIED BACKING OUT, TURNED MY WHEELS AND WASN'T ABLE TO. HEARD A LOUD POP UNDERNEATH, THEN THE WHOLE FRONT RIGHT OF MY CAR SUNK IN. TRIED BACKING OUT, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE AT ALL. I PUT IT IN PARK AND WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. HUBCAP WAS GONE, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL LOOKED LIKE IT SUNK INTO THE CAR. IT LOOKED LIKE THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR WAS SITTING ON THAT ONE WHEEL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE TIRE ROD MIGHT HAVE BROKEN. BEFORE, I WOULD HEAR A CREAKING SOUND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BREAK, IT WAS LOUDER WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET. IT'S A 2013 KIA FORTE WITH ONLY 47K MILES ON IT.
WHEN DRIVING 55 - 80 MILES PER HOUR, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AT 70, THE CAR SHAKES, AND THE ENGINE KNOCKS. IT FEELS LIKE A VIBRATION, AND THE WHEEL SHAKES UNDER YOUR HANDS WITH A RHYTHMIC KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WHEN IT IS CHILLY OR WET. THE BRAKE STICKS AND WILL NOT COME UP, GRINDING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE PEDAL SINKS IN AND WILL NOT COME BACK UP. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BEEN TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. BOTH ISSUES ARE STILL GOING ON, AND WORSENING AS I DRIVE IT. PRETTY SURE BEING PUSHED PAST MY WARRANTY. TAKING TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR SECOND OPINION, WORRIED IN MEAN TIME THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BASED ON OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS. I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM DEALERSHIP, AND WAS ABLE TO VERIFY IT HAD ONE OWNER. AT TIME OF PURCHASE THE CAR DROVE FINE, BUT WITHIN DAYS BOTH ISSUES HAD BEGUN. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR SERVICE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, THE SHIFT LEVER ROLLED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE RAN OVER THE CONTACT AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL INTO THE CONTACT'S YARD. THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A COUPLE OF TREES AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE CONTACT'S NEIGHBORS YARD. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE CONTACT SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
THE FRONT WINDOW CRACKED WITH THE DEFROSTERS ON. IT WAS 35 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMP. THE CRACK STARTED OUTSIDE THE AREA FROM THE DEFROSTERS. 2 TO 3 INCHES ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW. IT ONLY CRACKED ON THE INSIDE. NO STONE MARKS ON THE OUTSIDE. *TR
10/21/2014 I PURCHASED A 2013 KIA FORTE WITH ABOUT 21, 620 MILES ON IT AND THIS PARTICULAR UNIT WORK LIKE A CHAMPION BUT IT IS DEFECTIVE AND JUST WITHOUT WARNING WON'T TURN ON. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE FIVE TO SEVEN TIMES ALREADY IN TWO MONTHS. I RECORDED FIVE TIMES, 10/29/2014, 11/12/2014, 12/02/2014, 12/16/2014, AND 01/06/2014. THE DEALER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE 12/02 & 12/16 INCIDENTS BUT FIND THE VEHICLE WORKING FINE AND I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 01/08/2015. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. IT IS UNRELIABLE AND IT MIGHT BE A HAZARDOUS CONDITION, THE VEHICLE JUST DIE ON ME AND WON'T TURN ON. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. UPDATED 10/29/15.*JB
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.
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FREQUENTLY DOESN'T LATCH PROPERLY. IT CLICKS AS IF LATCHED, THEN COMES OUT WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS SLIGHTLY PULLED. *TR
I PURCHASED THE CAR DECEMBER 2012; 2013 KIA FORTE EX. ABOUT A 9 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOSE IN THE ENGINE AND ABOUT A HOUR LATER THE CAR STALLED ON ME IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO, CA. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO SACRAMENTO KIA (2820 FULTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95821). AFTER THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, THEY SAID WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT A FEW PARTS IN THE ENGINE WERE PUT IN INCORRECTLY WHICH CAUSED MY ENGINE TO BASICALLY OVER HEAT AND START TO FALL APART. SO THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. AUGUST 17 2014 AWHILE AFTER THE NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN MY CAR, THE CAR STALLED ON ME AGAIN WITH THE SAME KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AT THE TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH. AFTER THE CAR STALLED ON ME I COULD NOT GO ABOVE 30MPH NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY HOME ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON GOING 30MPH. WHEN I GOT HOME I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SACRAMENTO KIA (2820 FULTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95821). IT TOOK THEM A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK FOR THEM TO CALL ME AND LET ME KNOW THE CAR WAS THERE. I CALLED TWICE EVERYDAY AND NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK WHEN THEY SAID THEY WERE BUSY. I DID NOT RECEIVE A PHONE CALL UNTIL THEY CALLED ME THE THIRD WEEK AND SAID THEY ARE ORDERING PARTS FOR THE CAR. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE ANYONE TO ORDER PARTS FOR THE CAR BECAUSE I DID NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. TWO DAYS AGO SEPTEMBER 2 2014 WAS THE DATE I FOUND OUT THAT I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO. SO THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD ENGINE FOR MY BRAND NEW 2013 KIA FORTE EX I PURCHASED A YEAR AGO. *TR
THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE NEED REPLACING EVERY FEW WEEKS ALONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT DISENGAGING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL LIGHT WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHT CONTROL IS IN THE OFF POSITION BUT WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND LIGHTS HAVE BEEN TURNED ON, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT. WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN HAPPENING THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO EARNHARDT KIA IN PHOENIX AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN 12-15 LIGHTBULBS REPLACED INCLUDING A HEADLAMP.
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT KEEP AN ACCURATE READING. WHEN I FILL THE TANK UP WITH GAS ONE DAY AND I DRIVE TO WORK 15 MILES AND THE TANK GAUGE WILL SHOW BELOW 3/4 OF A TANK. *TR
I BOUGHT THE CAR A YEAR AFTER IT WAS RELEASED AND IT SEEMS TO JERK AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN GOING OVER MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. ALSO SHAKES WHEN RIDING THROUGH HIGH WINDS. IT SEEMS EXTREMELY LIGHT WEIGHT AND IS HARD TO CONTROL IF THERE IS STRONG WINDS(15MPH) PRESENT WHICH EXTREMELY NERVE WRACKING ESPECIALLY TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, OR WITH MY CHILDREN, OR ON THE HIGHWAY. THE JERKING SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING FOR MINOR BUMPS ON THE ROAD, MAKES ME FEEL THE CAR IS UNSAFE. *TR
I HAD TO REPLACE THREE OF MY TIRES ON MY 2013 KIA FORTE SX. THEY HAD SIDE WALL DAMAGE AND FORMED BUBBLES. THESE TIRES ARE THE WORST. *TR
CAR BRAKE PEDAL WILL STICK AND NOT COME BACK UP. THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TO COME ON. ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT IS RAINING OR A LITTLE COLD OUTSIDE. 2013 KIA FORTE. *TR
AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M., TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE, PAVED ROAD, AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HEARD A LOAD "POP." NOTICED REAR WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. PULLED OFF ROAD. ALL GLASS WAS STILL INTACT, BUT, IN A MILLION PIECES. THERE WAS NOT ANY NOTICEABLE HOLES, INDENTATIONS, OR ANY OBVIOUS SIGNS OF WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THERE DID APPEAR TO BE PRIMARY POINT OF WHERE THE DAMAGE WAS COMING FROM, ONE OF THE TOP DEFROSTER LINES. CURRENTLY WORKING WITH LOCAL DEALER, SAME AS WHERE I PURCHASED VEHICLE, TO REPAIR. APPEARS, MANUFACTURER WILL HANDLE, HOWEVER, NOT CERTAIN. *TR
WAS DRIVING ON THE CAR ON THE TURNPIKE, SET THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR 65 MPH. CRUISE STAYED ON FOR A FEW MINUTES, SHUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE. ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE, ALTHOUGH RPMS DID INCREASE. HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. DROVE REMAINDER OF DISTANCE W/O CRUISE CONTROL. CAR HAS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE HAD TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. CAR HAS BEEN ANALYZED BY THE COMPUTER WITH NO ISSUE FOUND. BOTH TIMES THEY HAVE RELEASED THE CAR SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.
2013 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MAJOR ENGINE DEFECTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THREE WEEKS AFTER HER DAUGHTER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SMOKE AND A VERY STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE RADIATOR WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, WHICH REQUIRED ADDING OIL TO KEEP IT AT FULL LEVEL. THE TAIL PIPE WAS DARK BLACK AND HEAVILY SOILED, WHICH INDICATED THE VEHICLE STILL HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM. ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED DELAYED ACCELERATION
HIGHWAY DRIVING @ 65 MPH WITH A CROSSWIND GUSTING TO 25 MPH. ACROSS FRONT RIGHT FENDER. THE REAR OF THE CAR IS FAR TOO LIGHT TO HOLD IT TO THE ROAD STRAIGHT. BROADSIDE WIND IS OF COURSE A LOT WORSE. BEING PASSED BY A TRUCK YOU COULD ALMOST GET JERKED RIGHT UNDER IT. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SMALL FIN ACROSS THE TRUNK TO CATCH AIR AND MAKE SOME DOWN FORCE, BECAUSE THE TRUNK AREA IS SO SHORT IT MAY NOT EVEN CATCH AIR IF WIND TUNNELED. 30 YEARS OF DRIVING AND BEING A RETIRED PROFESSIONAL DRIVER TELLS ME THIS IS THE MOST UNSAFE CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT LOOKED THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS PROJECTED AN UNUSUAL IMAGE WHICH DISTORTED HIS VIEW. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
KIA FORTE 2013 PURCHASED NEW AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH CAR WHEN DRIVING 55-70 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CAR SHAKES,TIRES MAKE NOISES LIKE THEY'RE FLAT,TROUBLE WITH STEERING,REALLY ROUGH RIDE,SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN A PAIN CONSIDERING IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE NEW. IT ALSO LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T SEE OUT REAR WINDOW. ALL THESE THINGS AND MORE WERE REPORTED TO KIA MOTORS WHO SENT ME TO DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SCOFFED AT THE REFERRAL,STATED KIA MOTORS KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEMS AND ALLEGEDLY CHECKED FORTE REPORTING NOTHING CAN BE DONE AND NOTHING IS WRONG. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND IS A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY PLUS FEELS UNSAFE. THERE SHOULD BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY WITH KIA SOMEWHERE BUT THERE ISN'T...GUESS THAT'S THE BUSINESS CUSHION. *TR
AT VEHICLE START - GAUGES ON DASH DID NOT WORK AND SHIFT LOCK WAS ENGAGED. UNABLE TO SHIFT VIA SHIFT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. *TR *JS
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
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026