There are 23 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2015 Kia Fortein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 75,010 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was approximately 228,000.
Vechile was parked & an attempted theft took place at 4am. It happened due to No immobilizer & No security system at all!
On approximately, 04/15/2024, 8:00 am, My 2015 Kia Forte with less 115,000 miles suddenly shut down going 65 MPH! A severe accident was avoided by manhandling the steering wheel to get it to the side of the road. When I called the Kia's Consumer Affair, to report the incident, I was told there was no recall on the motor so they were not labile. I am very frustrated, upset and stressed that Kia's doesn't care about it reputation.
My vehicle was broken into and there was an attempt to steal the car. I made a police report and they expressed that the car would have been driven recklessly and potentially crashed if it was stolen. The safety issues with KIA fortes have become a huge issue nation wide and the cars should be recalled to have standard security installed that a majority of other cars already have equipped.
The car keeps stalling out while stopped. No check engine lights or anything . It will then sit for a minute ot two then start back.
Car goes into limp mode or cuts power when trying to accelerate. Refuses to shift or will shift down and revs highers rpms then necessary, especially at any incline. Started around 70k miles and got worse when brought in for other recalls.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear driver's side brake light failed. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that she previously replaced the rear driver’s side brake light three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear driver’s side taillight brake wiring failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
Car has an electrical problem battery keeps draining changed alternator fuel pump starter and battery and still something draining the battery
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal burning smell would emit throughout the vehicle without warning. The contact also stated that due to this failure, the brake lights would intermittently fail to operate as needed upon depression. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they discovered burnt wires in the electrical box and had the box replaced; despite the replacement, the failure persisted. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
Every few months my car won’t crank. I have to get it towed to the dealership. They normally change the spark plugs and it runs again. Recently, they changed the spark plugs but I was also told that I had an engine oil leak(which is very hazardous), oil is leaking onto my engine which is causing my spark plugs to burn out so quick. They claimed they didn’t know what was causing it and told me I would have to wait until my car breaks down completely before being able to know exactly what’s causing it. Informed me that changing the spark plugs is only a temporary fix and I would go through this process again(my car not cranking and spark plugs needing to be replaced).
AT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND DRIVING OR NOT, WHEN YOU USE THE TURN SIGNAL THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL GO OFF. IF YOU WIGGLE THE BLINKER ARM, THEY WILL COME BACK ON. BUT YOU ARE DRIVING WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE BECAUSE THE LIGHTS GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME.
PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR BATTERY A WEEK AGO, THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, SPENT THE DAY OUT, WENT BACK TO MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. HAD TO CALL AAA TO GET A JUMP ON A BRAND NEW CAR BATTERY. WENT BACK TO WHERE I PURCHASED THE BATTERY, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY, THEY DID REPLACE IT AND RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY COULD NOT FINE AN ISSUE AND STATED IT MUST BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WENT ABOUT MY DAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE CAR LIGHTS TURNED OFF ON THERE OWN, I HAD TO PULL OVER TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON SO THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK AGAIN. YESTERDAY, I WENT TO SWITCH MY CAR WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND IT WOULD NOT TURN ON OR EVEN CRANK TO TURN ON, AFTER TRYING FOR THE 5TH TIME, IT FINALLY TURNED ON. I HAVE A BABY AND DRIVING MY CAR HAS ME VERY SCARED. PLEASE HELP
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON LIKE IF THE BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THEY HAVE NOT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT. THEY TELL ME IT'S LOW VOLTAGE IN AIRBAG SENSOR? VEHICLE WAS OFF TURNED ON AND THE LIGHT CAME AIRBAG DEPLOYED LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN OFF.
SOMETIME DURING THE SUMMER MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT IT. I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 2 YEARS. ALSO THERE IS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE TO WHERE CERTAIN BUTTONS ON MY STEERING WHEEL DONT WORK PROPERLY
PRIOR TO THE ENGINE INCIDENT I WAS EXPERIENCING THE LIGHTS FLICKERING , POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 6/21/2020(FATHER'S DAY MORNING). I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE STORE WHEN MY CARS ENGINE SEIZED SUDDENLY. I RECENTLY HAD MY OIL CHANGED IN 4/03/2020. NO PROBLEMS REPORTED AT THE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT. SO THE MORNING OF 6/21/2020. I STARTED THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LEAVE MY BOYFRIENDS HOUSE. AS SOON AS I MADE THE LEFT TURN OUT INTO THE STREET I HEARD THIS KNOCKING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR I'M ASSUMING THAT WAS THE ENGINE THEN SUDDENLY ! THE CAR MADE THIS LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND I IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AS SOON AS I MADE THE LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE STREET THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS IF THE CAR WAS ABOUT TO CATCH FIRE ! THANK GOD ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET INTO A PARKING LOT IN NUETRAL. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO A SHOP USING MY INSURANCE AND I HAD TO LEAVE IT AT THE SHOP OVERNIGHT IN THEIR PARKING LOT BECAUSE THEY WERE CLOSED FOR FATHER'S DAY. THE NEXT DAY I GET A CALL FROM THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY TRIED TO JUMPSTART IT, THE CHECKED THE BATTERY, OIL LEVEL, AND THEY SAID THE REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT OIL RELATED THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I HAD TO GO AND AND LOOK FOR AN ENGINE TO REPLACE THE FAILED ENGINE. IT COSTS ME ALOOOOOOT OF MONEY ! I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS. I GOT IT AT A DEALERSHIP BUT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED SO I WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT THROUGH THE WARRANTY. THE CAR JUST HIT 87,000 MILES ! I GOT THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AT 54,000 MILES. I DO NOT DRIVE LONG DISTANCES, I KEEP UP WITH ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR AND MY ENGINE SUDDENLY FAILED ! HELP !! THIS PROBLEM IS TOO COMMON AMONGST THE KIA FORTES. I HAVE A 2015 KIA FORTE5.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION WOULD SOMETIMES SHOCK THEM AND SMELL AS IF THERE WAS A BURNING/SMOKING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE STARTER. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NOW FAILS TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER (CAR CONNECTION INC ADDRESS: 4425 DIXIE HWY, FAIRFIELD, OH 45014 PHONE: (513) 829-8022) WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AND DID NOT IDENTIFY A FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURES PERSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,508.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY STATING THAT THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHETHER ON A MAIN ROAD OR THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS LEFT STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED MENTAL AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHWEST KIA-DALLAS LOCATED AT 39650 LYNDON B JOHNSON FREEWAY, DALLAS, TX 75237, (972) 283-9797, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GROUND TERMINAL AND SEVERAL OTHER WIRING HARNESSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO O'LATHE KIA (130 N. FIR ST, O'LATHE, KS) WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,600.
IS THEY A RECALL ON THE CAR KIA FORTE THE VIN NUMBER [XXX] ON THE BATTERY TERMINALS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 64 MPH, the vehicle jerked and vibrated, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle then stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. Multiple warning lights were illuminated. The contact was assisted with jumpstarting the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the battery light illuminated intermittently. The contact was able to pull into a gas station. The contact called his daughter, who went to the gas station and jumpstarted the vehicle. The contact stopped by Auto Zone to have the vehicle diagnosed, where it was diagnosed and DTCs: P2191, P0562, C1101, C1102, C1201, C1204, C1207, C1208, C1210, C1211, C1237, C1260, C1513, C1613, and C1688 were retrieved. In addition, the battery showed codes that fluctuated constantly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer pending an inspection. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact stated that recently the low oil warning light was illuminated, and the fuel level was low; however, the oil level and fuel level were not low. The ABS, traction control, steering, and tire pressure warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the brake warning light failed to function as intended. The contact replaced the brake lights however, the failure persisted. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
Showing 1–20 of 23 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026