Home · 2011 Kia Forte Koup · Complaints

What 160 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Forte Koup

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (160)Crash / fire / injury (39)Engine (48)Airbags (36)Brakes (27)Transmission & drivetrain (19)Electrical system (16)Speed control (12)Body & structure (8)Lights (8)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (6)Seat belts (6)

21 of 160 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Feb 19, 2023SuspensionAirbagsEngineFire

The car had a slow ticking noise that was very faint in the front for about 20 minutes 20 minutes later the noise continue to get louder about 45 minutes later six gear was lost in the car in about an hour and a half later the engine failed and the car Came to a failure lock down procedure all lights on the front door shut on steering wheel locked on friendship Road exit 8 and the vehicle had to be towed to a shop we’re now it was put on a lift and there is a hole in the bottom of the engine , And the transmission is not in tact

NHTSA ODI 11508036

Mar 25, 2021AirbagsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

I WAS IN MOTION, TURNING LEFT FROM 13TH STREET NORFOLK NE, INTO THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE AND REAR DOOR DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN, AND THE FRAME BETWEEN BOTH DOOR WAS DENTED IN.*DT

NHTSA ODI 11404931

Jul 2, 2019AirbagsCrash3 injuries

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.

NHTSA ODI 11229112

Feb 5, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury

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.

NHTSA ODI 11174482

Sep 27, 2018AirbagsSeat beltsCrash3 injuries1 death

OTHER AIR BAG RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT TRAVELED LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN AN OFF-SET, HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE DRIVER AIR BAG AND DRIVER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO DEPLOY / ACTIVATE DURING THE SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURY.

NHTSA ODI 11131971

Sep 20, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

I HAD A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY& SAFETY BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MY 2011 KIA FORTE WHEN I WAS SUDDENLY FACING A HABITUAL DRUNK DRIVER, CREAMING US HEAD-ON AND MY AIRBAGS FATO DEPLOY. I HAVE UNDERGONE 8 SURGERIES TO TRY TO REPAIR MY BROKEN BODY. I LOST MY FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS FAILED ME. IS THERE A MONETARY VALUE TO KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY?

NHTSA ODI 11130355

Sep 20, 2018AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHWEST KIA AUSTIN (13175 N US-183, AUSTIN, TX 78750, (512) 583-1900), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO SOUTHWEST KIA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,252.

NHTSA ODI 11130442

Aug 20, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN A HABITUAL DRUNK DRIVER HIT US HEAD-ON 7/11/2013. I HAD A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT MY AIRBAGS WOULD KEEP ME SAFE. I HAVE REQUIRED 8 SURGERIES TO MEND MY BROKENNESS, INCLUDING A COMPLETE HYSTERECTOMY, BILATERAL SACROILIAC JOINT FUSIONS AND TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11121039

Jun 11, 2018AirbagsCrash4 injuries

TAKATA RECALL. WE WERE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT WHEN WE WERE REAR ENDED ON 4/2/18. THE DRIVER WAS GOING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 50-70 MPH. MY AIR BAGS NEVER INFLATED CAUSING ALOT OF INJURIES. MY DRIVER HEAD REST WAS EJECTED CAUSING INJURY TO MY DAUGHTERS FACE.

NHTSA ODI 11101097

Jun 11, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

IN APRIL 2016 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH TOTALED OUR KIA FORTE 2011. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT I SPENT ENDLESS WEEKS WITH VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVES FROM KIA EXPRESSING MY CONCERN. I SEE THE RECALL HAS TAKEN PLACE BUT ALMOST 2 YEARS LATER AND AFTER PEOPLE HAVE DIED. I AM APPALLED, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO AND THAT AIR BAGS DONT ALWAYS DEPLOY. KIA CORPORATE WAS AWARE THERE WAS AN ISSUE. MY WIFE DID NOT DIE BUT OBVIOUSLY FROM THE ENCLOSED PICTURES THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE. MY WIFE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THEN THROWN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT WHICH TIME THE DRIVERS DOOR FLEW OPEN YET NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED TO PROTECT HER. PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THESE DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED.

NHTSA ODI 11101209

Apr 11, 2018AirbagsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

I WAS HIT HEAD-ON AT 65MPH AND MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT HAS CAUSED ME HORRIBLE INJURIES INCLUDING A CERVICAL NECK FUSION, BILATERAL SACROILIAC JOINT FUSIONS, NECESSITY OF A TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY DUE TO MY UTERUS & FELOPIAN TUBES PERFORATING, GASTRIC ADHESIONS AND A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT. I HOLD KIA RESPONSIBLE. I HAD CONFIDENCE THAT I WOULD BE SAFE IN MY 2011 KIA FORTE. I LOST MY VERY ESSENCE OF BEING A WOMAN BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS FAILED AFTER BEING CLOBBERED HEAD-ON BY A FULL-SIZE PICK-UP TRUCK. MOST FRUSTRATING IS THE CONSTANT PAIN AND SUFFERING, ADDED TO MY ALREADY A 100% DISABLED NAVY VETERAN.

NHTSA ODI 11084652

Mar 19, 2018AirbagsCrash2 injuries

I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT THEN LANDED ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD AND TOP OF MY CAR CAUSING IT TO BE TOTALED. AT IMPACT AND DESPITE WEARING A SEATBELT MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSED EXTREME BRUISING AND PAIN. THE ROAD WAS SLICK WITH RAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11080284

Mar 17, 2018LightsAirbagsBody & structureCrash1 injury

TRAVELING 45 TO 55 MPH RAN INTO FOUR LARGE DEERS AND RAN OFF ROAD. DAMAGE FRONT OF CAR. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON BUT DID NOT FLATE. I SUBSTAIN SEVERE SHOULDER INJURY.

NHTSA ODI 11079973

Feb 2, 2017AirbagsCrash

IN JULY OF 2016, I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE 495 BELTWAY AND HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AT ONE POINT FROM HITTING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH AND THEN PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR HAD A LOT OF DAMAGE AND I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THAT ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME ON TWICE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THE DEALERSHIP JUST RESET IT WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC AND HAVE IT FIXED. I AM IN VIRGINIA AND CANNOT HAVE THE CAR PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHT ON. I'M FURIOUS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND KIA!

NHTSA ODI 10949089

Aug 11, 2015AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

IN A MULTI HIT CAR ACCIDENT, INITIAL 30 MPH FRONT END, THEN 20 MPH REAR HIT. SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 10747798

May 1, 2014AirbagsSeat beltsBrakesCrash1 injury

I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN MY 2011 KIA FORTE AT 70 MPH WHILE I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL FOR ME TO STOP ON THE ROAD BEFORE I WAS PUSHED INTO AN 8FT DEEP DITCH, INTO BIG BRANCHES AND MY CAR THEN BOUNCED THROUGH A HUGE FIELD. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, THE FRONT OF MY CAR IS DENTED IN FROM THE IMPACT OF THE DITCH AND THEN THE SEATBEAT DID NOT LOCK UP, IT THREW ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE PERSONALLY HEARD ABOUT THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN A KIA AND THE SEAT BELT NOT LOCKING UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10585980

Sep 16, 2013AirbagsSeatsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 60 MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO BE PUSHED FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY TWO HUNDRED FEET AND INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD REST AND METAL BAR BECAME SEPARATED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM WHIPLASH, NECK STRAINS, AND LACERATIONS TO THE LOWER BACK AND RIGHT LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 10543930

Nov 28, 2012AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AND REAR ENDED THEN PUSHED INTO A PKUP IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE ENDED UP BEING TOTALED OUT DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE REAR AND FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS SKIDDING AND TRAVELING AT APPROX 30-35 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10486388

Jun 19, 2012AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE VEERED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF BOTH VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE ACCIDENT WAS BEING INVESTIGATED. UPDATED 7/26/12 *CN UPDATED 08/06/12

NHTSA ODI 10462270

Nov 10, 2011AirbagsSeatsCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH I WAS ONLY TRAVELING 20 MPH. BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG BOTH DEPLOYED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I REALIZED THAT THE SEAT BEHIND ME HAD UNLATCHED AND MY SON'S BOOSTER CAR SEAT WAS THROWN FROM ITS PLACE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WASN'T BUCKLED IN; HE WAS AT SCHOOL. NEVERTHELESS, I THINK THAT THIS MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY SERIOUSLY HURT MY SON. THE CAR WAS DEEMED AT TOTAL LOSS AND I WILL NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10435204

Aug 4, 2011AirbagsCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INJURIES INCLUDING BROKEN RIBS, CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK PAIN, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS, AND THE PASSENGER NEEDED KNEE SURGERY. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10417104

Working with the data? Download all 160 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Kia Forte Koup verdict →