What 160 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Forte Koup

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an unusual ticking sound and smoke coming from under the hood. In addition, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed smoke that was coming from the HECU fuse box. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer for three weeks without any communication from the dealer. The contact was unsure if the vehicle had been inspected or not. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11694817

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Forte. The contact stated that he had parked the vehicle and upon walking towards the vehicle, he noticed that the front end of the vehicle had caught on fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report and a police report were filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it was totaled. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) that he related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11557041

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT TO CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POST. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 10628753

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

LIVING ONLY 3.7 MILES FROM MY WORK I DRIVE TO WORK 2 TIMES DAILY, MON- FRI, ROUND TRIP. I COME HOME FOR MY LUNCH HOUR. NEVER BEING ABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20-30 MPH DUE TO THE ROADS & BUSYNESS OF THEM DURING THAT TIME I HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE. I HAD NOTICED PRIOR TO MY ACCIDENT THAT AT TIMES MY 6 SPEED 2011 KIA FORTE KOUP WAS VERY RESISTANT TO PUT IT INTO 1ST GEAR. ALMOST AS IF IT WAS LOCKING THE SHIFTER OUT. HAVING IT LOOKED AT BY A KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS JUST "USER ERROR"...PERHAPS MY FOOT WASN'T PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE CLUTCH OR B/C I'M A WOMAN? THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST MANUAL CAR! SO AS I LEFT MY HOUSE FOR WORK AFTER LUNCH I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I UPSHIFTED MY CAR DID THIS JERKING THING, ALMOST AS IF THE BRAKES WERE WORKING WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. I TOLD MYSELF WHEN I GET TO WORK (IN 8 MINS) I WOULD CALL MY BROTHER WHO IS A MECHANIC. I DIDN'T GET MY CAR TO WORK SAFELY. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING A TRUCK WHO ROLLED FORWARD INTO A NEW CAMARO, EVERYONE WAS OK THANK GOD! AS I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT W/3 CARS STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT ALREADY. I PROCEEDED TO SLOW DOWN .3 MILES FROM THE LIGHT & IT SEEMED AS IF IT WAS SLOWING DOWN IN SLOW MOTION. WHEN I REALIZED MY BRAKES WEREN'T ACTUALLY SLOWING THE CAR DOWN FROM 28MPH, I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO STOP BY CAR BEFORE CRASHING. I TRIED DOWN SHIFTING AS WELL AS SLAMMING DOWN ON THE BRAKES. IT WAS AS IF MY BRAKES WERE NON EXISTENT. IF I HAD TIME LEFT I WOULD HAVE YANKED UP ON THE E BRAKE...I WAS ONLY 1.2 MILES FROM MY WORK! NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF NOR WAS MY CAR TOTALED. I PAID CASH FOR THIS CAR IN 2011 & SINCE HAVING WRECKED I'VE FELT IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE. AFTER FIXING THE REPAIRS & PAYING MY DEDUCTIBLE I TRADED THE CAR IN. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR WHICH I NOW HAVE A CAR PAYMENT ON. I HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE DISCOVERED & RESOLVED BEFORE IT HURTS ANYONE SEVERELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10514918