What 160 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Forte Koup

BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A SMALL DEALERSHIP AND IT HAD A TICKING IN THE ENGINE. THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS FROM SITTING. THE TICKING GOT WORSE AND I TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT I'D NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE.

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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I HEARD A SOUND LIKE METAL SCRAPING METAL, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH GOING STRAIGHT DOWN S. MAIN ST DOWNTOWN WARRENTON, OREGON AND WAS PLANNING TO PULL OVER WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STOPPED DEAD AFTER A HORRIBLE NOISE OF WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A HEAVY METAL SNAPPING/CRUNCHING NOISE. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND EVERYTHING LOOKED OK, BUT SOME BLACK FLUID WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED ABOUT FOUR DAYS BEFORE THIS AND THEY SAID IT WAS 2.5 QUARTS LOW. I HAD ALSO TAKEN IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO SEE IF IT NEEDED ANY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS IT WAS MAKING AN ODD SCRAPING NOISE BEFORE THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND HE SAID HE SUGGESTED SOME THING TO DO WITH THE CAM BUT IT WASN'T URGENT AND TO JUST KEEP THE OIL FILLED IN CASE THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE. THE OIL RESERVOIR WAS FULL WHEN I LEFT THAT MORNING WHEN IT SEIZED UP. IF I HAD BEEN GOING MUCH FASTER, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN KILLED AS IT STOPPED COMPLETELY, NO COASTING TO A STOP. IT JUST STOPPED. FROM 20MPH TO 0 AND THE CAR JUMPED WHEN IT STOPPED. I DID NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES. IT WAS TOWED TO MARK'S AUTO REPAIR IN SEASIDE, OREGON. HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT DID SAY THAT METAL FLAKES ARE IN THE OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID AND OTHER PLACES TOO. HE HAS A WORK ORDER HE IS WORKING UP BUT SAID HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A MINIMUM. THEY CAN ONLY FIND SHORT BLOCKS FOR SALE AT THIS TIME AND SO THE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON USING A SHORT BLOCK. MY OIL GETS CHANGED REGULARLY EITHER AT KIA OR A LOCAL OIL CHANGE SHOP.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11362492

ENGINE ISSUES! THIS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS AND POSSIBLE LEMON. MY CAR HAS ONLY 106,890 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A TAPPING NOISE. THEN I STARTED TO HAVE A LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING OR GOING UP HILL. HAD THE CODES READ AND IT SAID THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. REPLACED THAT. THEN IT STARTED TO IDLE ROUGH. HAD CODE READ AGAIN. IT SAID MAP SENSOR AND NUMBER 2 CYLINDER MISFIRE. REPLACED PLUGS, COILS, AND MAP SENSOR. NOW IT WON'T START. IT HAS NO SPARK. NOW IT IS SHOWING CODES FOR MAP SENSOR AGAIN. NUMBER 2 CYLINDER MISFIRE, THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SENSOR AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. OTHER MODEL CARS WITH THE SAME 2.0 ENGINE HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE 2.0 ENGINE NEEDS TO ALSO BE RECALLED IN THE 2011 KIA FORTE KOUP EX. I'M NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS MODEL CAR THAT HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES AND OR TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11349555

KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE STARTED ABOUT 90,000 MILES, MAYBE EARLIER ALL SERVICE DONE TIMELY BY DEALERSHIP. KIA DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO HEAR ANYTHING UNUSUAL - STATES CAR'S GETTING OLD (7 YR). KNOCKING WHEN CAR STATIONARY AND MOVING. KNOCKING IS GETTING MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS THE SAME FOR SO MANY KIAS - ROD BEARING. CAR IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME SITTING IN THE DRIVE - I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S SAFE FOR ANY TRIP - OR FOR ANYONE. RECOMMENDED SOLUTION: NEW ENGINE. WHY WOULD I PUT A NEW ENGINE IN A, NOW 9 YEAR OLD CAR - SO THAT I COULD KEEP A KIA PRODUCT. NOT HAPPENING! WHAT IS HAPPENING IS ME LETTING EVERYONE KNOW TO STAY AWAY FROM ANY KIA PRODUCT!

NHTSA ODI 11349195

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY 70 MPH LOUD CLANKING SOUND BEGAN AND ENGINE QUIT WORKING, I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED MY FLUIDS,ALL WERE AT OPERATING LEVELS, THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE BUT NOT IF IT'S IN A FORTE.

NHTSA ODI 11344137

BRAKE LINE BURST NEAR CENTER OF CAR WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. MAINTAINED ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF BRAKE LINES RUNNING FROM FRONT TO REAR OF VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY AT CONTACT POINTS WITH EACH RESTRAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327224

CAR DEVELOPED A KNOCKING SOUND AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT AND THEY TELL ME NEED TO REPLACE MOTOR. ALSO TOLD ME THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM WITH MOTOR LIKE MINE. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE RECALLED SAME MOTORS IN DIFFERENT MODELS BUT NOT THE FORTE

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TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL SC165. WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR REMOVING/READING THE AIRBAG SENSORS. THE ESTIMATE TO READ THE CODES IS $150 THAT CAN THEN GO TO COST OF REPAIRS. WHY WOULDN'T A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM INCLUDE READING THE SENORS AND ENSURING THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY?

NHTSA ODI 11310219

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO CONCLUSIVELY STATE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. AFTER LEAVING, WITHIN LESS THAN A MILE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. VISION KIA OF CANANDAIGUA 2445 ROCHESTER RD RTE 332, CANANDAIGUA, NY 14424 (585) 394-4542 WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ODI 11299742

ENGINE MAKES VERY LOUD KNOCKING SOUND DURING FIRST STARTUP. LOTS OF OTHER FORTES DURING SAME PROBLEM PLEASE INVESTIGATE

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TAYLOR KIA OF BOARDMAN (7870 MARKET STREET, BOARDMAN, OHIO 44512, (330)-295-2376) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE DEALER ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO TAYLOR KIA OF HERMITAGE (1460 NORTH HERMITAGE ROAD, HERMITAGE, PA 16148, (724) 418-4999) TO BE DIAGNOSED AND TEST DRIVEN, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE FOUND OR DUPLICATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR AND THE FUEL ECONOMY SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE AND SENSOR INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. AFTER NUMEROUS INCIDENCES OF STALLING WHILE DRIVING & FAILURE OF ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR ENGINE CODES, THE CONTACT RESEARCH THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS THE CONTACT ASK MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE REQUIRED ENTIRE SENSOR PARTS OF THROTTLE BODY. FOLLOWING THIS REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD A SINGLE STALL INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *TP 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

NHTSA ODI 11269952

REAR PASSENGER LIGHT CONSISTENTLY GOING OUT REGARDLESS OF LIGHT REPLACEMENT. REPLACED LIGHT BULB NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAD HARNESS REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL REMAINED.NOW ALL REAR LIGHTING HAVE STOPPED WORKING WHILE CAR IS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11256490

BAD ENGINE KNOCKING/TAPING ,I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2.0 AND 2.4 KIA/HYUNDAI ENGINES KNOCKING/ TAPPING ENGINE,MY CAR HAS 97000 AND SOUNDS LIKE DIESEL ENGINE, BOUGHT USED THEY REFUSED TO FIX BECAUSE THE WARRANTY SAYS THAT I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER ,SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ,THEY ARE A LOTS I MEANS A LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT ,KIA/HUYNDAI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO A RECALL FOR THIS MAJOR PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11241668

TAKATA RECALL: I WAS INVOLVED IN A NOT AT FAULT SIDE IMPACT CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND I WAS INJURED AND AM CURRENTLY SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION.

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BRAKE LIGHT STAY ON ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF

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I HAVE A 2011 KIA FORTE WHICH HAS A BAD MOTOR WITH ONLY 106379 AND MOTOR IS RAPPING

NHTSA ODI 11196046

MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE ROD BEARING THAT'S THE CAUSE AND SUGGESTED I CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS WITH A KIA DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF KIA WOULD COVER THE COST. THE KIA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE SAME PROBLEM, REACHED OUT TO KIA TO DISCUSS COVERING THE COSTS, AND KIA TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WOULDN'T. I WAS TOLD EITHER REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WITH PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE AROUND $4,500-$5,000 OR I COULD TRADE IT IN AND GET A FEW HUNDRED FOR IT. WHY ON EARTH WOULD I BUY ANOTHER KIA IF THEY'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM WHEN IT TURNS OUT TO BE AN ASSEMBLY DEFECT TO BEGIN WITH. WHAT'S EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING IS THAT THERE IS A ENGINE RECALL ON OPTIMAS AND SPORTAGES WITHIN THE SAME YEAR AS MY FORTE BUT THEY DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO OPEN UP A RECALL. READING ABOUT IT ONLINE THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME (ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED) PROBLEM BUT KIA STILL WON'T DO A RECALL FOR FORTE MODELS IN THE SAME YEAR RANGE. IF KIA WON'T DO RIGHT BY IT'S CUSTOMERS, I DON'T SEE THE MOTIVATION IN CONTINUING TO GIVE THEM MY BUSINESS.

NHTSA ODI 11194114

THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS AND MECHANICS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE COULD THROW A ROD.

NHTSA ODI 11191499

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CORRECT RECALL ISSUE (18V363). COMPLETED THE WORK AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. MY AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS "ON". INTERIM NOTICE ON RECALL MENTIONED IF AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND REMAINS ILLUMINATED TO TAKE TO DEALER. I BELIEVE, BECAUSE OF THIS, THAT THE TWO ARE RELATED AND THE REPAIR SHOULD LEAD TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOING OUT. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $200 TO CORRECT IT WITH A NEW SEATBELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IS THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINING ILLUMINATED RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL 18V363?

NHTSA ODI 11190427

MY CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. FULLY STOPPED, MY CAR IS ON 1000RPMS, I WILL BE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED AND MY RPM SHOOTS ALL THE WAY UP.

NHTSA ODI 11185115

ONE MORNING I STARTED THE CAR AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR ALSO MADE A KNOCKING/TICKING SOUND THAT WAS NOT USUAL AND THE ENGINE HAD AN ABNORMAL SOUND TO IT WHEN STATIONED AND IN MOTION. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, ESPECIALLY AS IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON. WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND FOUND OUT THAT THE LIGHT WAS FOR A CODE ABOUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (BUTTERFLY) VALVES NOT OPENING/CLOSING PROPERLY. IT LATER ENDED UP BEING COMPLETE INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILING. THE CAR REQUIRED A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF THIS. IT ONLY HAD 82,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. IT ALSO HAD PROBLEMS STARTING OCCASIONALLY BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE CONTROL MODULE (VCM) WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AT THE SAME TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE.

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ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, KIA SERVICE REFUSES TO BE ABLE TO HEAR IT AS IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN OTHER KIA MODELS USING THE SAME ENGINE. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES INCLUDING THE FORTE, WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. ACTION IS BEING TAKEN IN CANADA BY THE APA, BUT NOT IN THE US. DETAILS OF THE ISSUE ARE DOCUMENTED HERE: HTTP://TJL.QUEBEC/EN/CLASS-ACTION/KIA-FORTE-PROBLEMES-DE-MOTEUR/

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CUT TO THE HEAD, AND INJURIES TO THE LEGS AND HIP. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 1820224 WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

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THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS ARE BURNING OUR VERY 3 WEEKS WITH THE PLASTIC BULB CONNECTOR GETTING VERY , VERY HOT.

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I GOT INTO AN AUTO ACCIDENT A YEAR AGO AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. I DISCOVERED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. WELL JUST THE OTHER DAY MY INSIDE DASH LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS , WELL BASICALLY ALL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING IN AND OUT. MADE THE CAR BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. NEW FUEL PUMP, CHECKED STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. ALL OF THOSE ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. BUT MY CAR IS STILL BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

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