What 303 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Forte Koup

THEIR CONDITION HOLD ON A 2012 KIA FORTE BROKE HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD THAT THE BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE DID NOT COVER THE AIR CONDITIONING HOSE. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND HAVE A RECALL TO REPAIR ALL THE HOSES ON THE KEY IS THE BREAK. *TR

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MY DAUGHTER WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS HIT FROM BEHIND CAUSING HER TO HIT THE TRUCK IN FRONT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.............

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I WAS PULLED OVER BY TRANSIT POLICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. IF THE PROBLEM FALLS TO THE WARRANTY THEY WILL DO IT, BUT I STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CHECK-UP. MY TAIL LIGHTS WORK, BUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKE. IS THERE A RECALL? *TR

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I WAS PULLED OVER BY A [XXX] AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT EXACT PROBLEM ON 2009-2010 MODELS BUT THERE WAS NOT ONE YET ON 2012 MODELS. MY TAIL LIGHTS WORK, BUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 2000 RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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THE CAR GOT A FLAT TIRE WHILE TAKING A CURVE AND HIT A CONCRETE POLE. THE CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS AND ALL THE FRONT PART WAS SMASHED. THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY TO DEPLOY BUT DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THE WAY, SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOYED. DRIVER GOT A CLAVICLE FRACTURE. ....UPDATED 01/23/15 *BF UPDATED 2/11/16 *JS

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WHILE DRIVING A 2012 KIA FORTE EX WITH 21000 MILES AND NEXEN 195/65/15 CP671 TIRES,, A FRONT TIRE SEPARATION OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. 10 DAYS LATER A REAR TIRE SEPARATION OCCURRED ALSO DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING. *JS

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MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. I CHECKED AND NOTHING HIT IT, JUST EXPLODED. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE LOUD EXPLOSION. *TR

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THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING AROUND 45MPH AND I HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN REAR HATCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE REAR HATCH AND IT HAD COME OPEN WERE IT WAS AJAR BUT THE HATCH HASN'T BEEN USED IN A COUPLE DAYS. THE SECOND TIME A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING I HIT A BUMP AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THIS TIME I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY JUST TOLD ME TO CLOSE IT HARDER AND I HAVE CLOSED IT HOW I WAS SHOWED EVER SINCE, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH AFTER I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

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LEFT REAR BRAKE "WORE OUT" AND THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS SUGGESTED TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR AXLE BRAKES WERE AT OUR COST. KIA REGIONAL CLAIMS THIS IS "NORMAL" AS THE DEALERSHIP (FICCILLO KIA, LIVERPOOL, NY) SAYS THEY HAVE "SEEN THIS BEFORE." THAT BOTHERS ME. IF IS A KNOWN PROBLEM...........? KIA REGIONAL HAS STOPPED RESPONDING. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIMS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE RIMS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

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SEPTEMBER 24TH AT 6:30 A.M. TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON 91 FREEWAY. START TO SLOW AND THEN STOP FOR TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC STARTS TO SPEED UP AND MY VEHICLE GOES INTO ?LIMP MODE?. CAR REV METER GOES UP TO ABOUT 5, BUT CAR WILL NOT GO FASTER THAN APPROX. 35 MPH. THEN WITHIN 20 SECONDS CAR SURGES FORWARD AND REGAINS SPEED AND REV COUNTER DROPS TO NORMAL. TAKE CAR TO KIA DEALER ITS PLUGGED INTO THE COMPUTER. AT 3PM HE SAYS THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES. HE AND I TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE FOR APPROX. 20 MILES AND IT DOES NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I ADVISE HIM THAT IT HAS DONE THIS TWICE BEFORE BUT ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. OCTOBER 1 AT 6:40A.M I AM TRAVELING TO WORK ON THE 91 FREEWAY. I AM DOING 65 MPH AND START SLOWING DOWN TO APPROX. 20 MPH AS I PASS THE 55 INTERCHANGE. AGAIN TRAFFIC SPEEDS UP RAPIDLY. I AM IN THE MIDDLE LANE. I ACCELERATE AND IT GOES INTO ?LIMP MODE?. THE CAR WILL NOT GO FASTER THAN APPROX. 35/40 MILES PER HOUR. THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON. CARS ARE GOING PAST ME AS I AM IN A MIDDLE LANE AND I NEARLY GET REAR ENDED AS A CAR BEHIND ME DOES NOT REALIZE MY SPEED. I PULL INTO THE SLOW LANE JUST IN CASE I NEED TO PULL TO THE HARD SHOULDER. I CONTINUE SLOWLY 5 MILES TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY BY WORK. I NOTICE A BURNING SMELL. I GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND SMELL A VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNING THAT SMELLS ALL OVER BUT APPEARS TO BE VERY MUCH STRONGER ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE AREA. I TURN THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON THERE IS NO WARNING INDICATOR ON. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE MOUTH, CHIN, LIP, AND SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

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A HUMMING SOUND / AND VIBRATION IS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT & DOES NOT COINCIDE WITH ENGINE RPM. FASTER THE SPEED THE LOUDER IT GETS THE LOUDEST @ 45MPH. SOUND IS LIKE A SMALL MOTORCYCLE IT'S NEXT TO YOU. HAVE ALREADY ROTATED/BALANCED TIRES & DIDN'T HELP. IT IS ALMOST A TRANSMISSION WHINE BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE W/ SHIFTING OR WHEN IN NEUTRAL

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DRIVING IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO AN ALLEY. VEHICLE THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATED THROUGH THE ALLEY AND THEN SMASHED INTO A TREE. CAN'T REMEMBER IF BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT. IT ALL HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. KIA FORTE WAS TOTALED AND DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH EXTENSIVE INJURIES (FOOT BROKEN, HAND BROKEN, VERTEBRAE DAMAGE) HOSPITALIZED APPROX. 5 DAYS AND NURSING HOME APPROX. 10 DAYS. LAST VISIT TO SURGEON FOR SMASHED FOOT (TO REMOVE METAL PINS) WAS IN APRIL OF 2013. ACCIDENT REPORT ON FILE WITH CAPE CORAL POLICE (AGENCY CASE NUMBER [XXX]) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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300 MILES AFTER COMPLAINING TO DEALER OF SLIPPING FLOOR MAT STOPPING BRAKING AND RANDOM HIGH ACCELERATION-A REAL ACCIDENT OCCURRED AGAINST A BARRIER IN A PARKING GARAGE. MATS FLIP FAR MORE THAT AUDI AND TOYOTA RECALLS. ENTIRE CAR DAMAGED BY PREVIOUS ACCELERATION(RANDOM) OR BRAKES NOT WORKING DUE TO MATS. THE PARKING GARAGE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 15 MPH AND SQUARE HEAD ON TO CEMENT BARRIER SEVERELY DAMAGING BUMPER, HOOD, FENDERS, GRILL, HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR ENGINE. I INJURED BOTH ARMS AND SKIN ABRASIONS ON CHEST-DUE TO AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING-SIMILAR TO RECENT RECALLS. DEALER RESPONSE WAS THAT FLOOR MATS ALWAYS GIVE AWAY FROM WEAR AND TEAR AT 17K MILES WITHOUT WARNING-CAUSING ME NEAR FATAL OTHER ACCIDENTS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE AS THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT BOTH TAIL LIGHTS ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR SWITCH LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,600.

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I WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY APPROX. 3 FEET WHEN THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARDS AT FULL RPM WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE GAS PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET THE CAR TO STOP WAS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. IT WAS LIKE THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING AND THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK. THIS "PROBLEM" CAUSED DAMAGE TO A SUPPORT BEAM OF A CARPORT CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND FALL ON A CAR PARKED UNDERNEATH. I KNOW THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS SUCH AS THIS ON THIS EXACT CAR, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN ANY INVESTIGATIONS AND/OR RECALLS ON THIS CAR? THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR. BY THE WAY, THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR AND NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND PARKED, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING. THE VEHICLE STOPPING AFTER RUNNING FOR ONE FULL HOUR. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAGS INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE COATING AROUND THE WIRE NEAR THE EMERGENCY BRAKES HAD MELTED AND LEFT THE WIRES EXPOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

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AT 60,000 MY RIGHT FRONT STRUT WENT OUT. WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. ALSO MY AUTO DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR LOCK CLICKER AS EVER WORKED TRIED TO GET IT REPLACED STILL WON'T WORK. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, IT WOULD NOT RELEASE TO THE FLOORBOARD UNTIL REPEATED FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900. UPDATED 07/16/13*LJ

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES AND WITH EACH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. ON THE FOURTH VISIT TO THE DEALER, THE GROUND WIRE WAS CONNECTED TO THE LIGHT BULB AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,263.

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I WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG/EXPLOSION. I PULLED OFF AND STARTED CLOSING THE SUNROOF WHEN I NOTICED IT WAS SHATTERED AND A LARGE PIECE FELL OUT. IT WAS 58' WITH A SMOOTH ROAD AND I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH WITH NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OR TO THE SIDE OF ME. THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN ALL THE WAY AT THE TIME OF THE BREAKAGE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT NOTICED CONDENSATION UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ACCUMULATION OF WATER ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWO TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSIS BY A WATER SPECIALIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF

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BOUGHT MY 2012 KIA FORTE EX ON 11/12/2011. RIGHT AFTER MY FIRST OIL CHANGE FROM THE KIA DEALER. I TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FRIDAY 1/21/2012 . WE WERE GOING TO DINNER ON SATURDAY 01/22/2012. AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK 10 MINUTES. WITH GASOLINE SMELL IN CAR. WE LET THE AIR CLEAR OUT. WELL TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR INTO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM DUE TO NO LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT GOING OFF. IT IS NOW 12/21/2012. AND STILL HAVING ISSUES WHICH IS A VERY VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE. ON 12/17/2012 I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE AND HAD A VERY BAD RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CAR. AGAIN I CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID BRING IT UP. SO I DID SO. MY GENERAL MANAGER AS WELL AS FELLOW EMPLOYEES SMELLED THE FUEL ODOR ALSO. GENERAL MANAGER SAID TO ME THAT HE FELT THAT THIS WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. NOW PROHIBITING ME FROM PARKING THIS CAR NEAR OUR FACILITY. ANYWAY I DROVE IT TO FT. WAYNE TO THE DEALER WITH ALL 4 WINDOWS DOWN UNTIL ENTERING FT. WAYNE. IT STARTED RAINING. I HAD TO ROLL THEM ALL UP. AT DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER SMELT THE TERRIBLE SMELL AS WELL AS AN CUSTOMER AND TECHNICIAN. THEY WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING NOT FINDING ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TESTS THEY DID. ON 12/20/2012. I WAS TOLD TO COME AND PICK MY CAR UP (REPS ORDER.) SINCE THEY COULD NOT GET THIS TO REOCCUR. SO IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE AN BABY AND 2 OTHER CHILDREN AND US THAT ARE PUT INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION JUST BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PINPOINT THIS ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS AN NO START OR MISFIRE THEN THE FUEL SMELL IS THERE FOR DAYS. MY FEAR IS THAT THE FUMES WILL MAKE US SICK OR EVEN AN EXPLOSION. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL FIREMEN WHO HAVE EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT MAY OR COULD HAPPEN. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING MY FAMILY AND MYSELF INTO THIS DANGER? THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

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