What 303 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Forte Koup

MOTOR HAS A KNOCKING SOUND AN NO LONGER OPERATES

NHTSA ODI 11398703

SLOW TO STOP WHEN COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY SLOWING DOWN

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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILST DRIVING MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH PROCEEDED TO MAKE IT HARD FOR ME TO STEER AND COMPLETELY SLOWED DOWN MY CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY GAVE OUT ON ME . I WASN'T EXPERIENCING ANY OTHER PROBLEMS . WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC THEY STATED IT WAS THE ENGINE

NHTSA ODI 11398016

OUR LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM WITH OUR CAR ON 3/15/19. 2012 KIA FORTE SX 2.4L (106,430 MILES, 6430 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY) FOUND THE ENGINE TO BE KNOCKING. FOUND THE #2 ROD BEARING TO BE SEVERELY WORN AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MAKE NOISE AND STOP ROTATING. RECOMMEND REPLACING THE ENGINE. THE 2.4L THETA II ENGINE WAS NOT PART OF ORIGINAL RECALL SO KIA WOULD NOT REPLACE ENGINE AND SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT ENGINE AND LABOR. WE DECLINED, AND CAR AS SAT STATIONARY FOR PAST TWO YEARS AT OUR HOME. WHEN WE FOUND OUT THIS 2.4L THETA II ENGINE WAS NOW INCLUDED IN A RECENT RECALL WE ASKED KIA TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO REPLACING THE ENGINE SINCE THE CAR HAS SAT FOR TWO YEARS AND I NO LONGER HAVE FAITH IN THE RELIABILITY OF THIS CAR AS PARTS OF THE CAR ARE NO LONGER IN WORKING CONDITION AND/OR MISSING. THEY REFUSED ANY ALTERNATIVES. THEY WANTED US TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL KIA DEALER TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THAT WAS ALREADY DIAGNOSED BACK ON 3/15/19. THE ORIGINAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THE 2.0L AND 2.4L GDI ENGINES PROVIDED ALTERNATIVES TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE FAILURE (LIKE TOWING), REBATES, ETC. SINCE KIA WAS FOUND AT FAULT AND FINED BY THE US GOVERNMENT OVER THEIR DELAY IN RECALLING THESE 2.4L THETA II ENGINES AND SINCE THAT DELAY WAS THE ONLY REASON WE DIDN'T FIX THIS CAR ON 3/15/19 WE FEEL WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR EXPENSES AND LOSS OF TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTY ENGINE AND THEIR NEGLIGENCE IN DELAYING THE RECALL. HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED NOW IS NO LONGER A VIABLE OPTION FOR US. WE OFFERED TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE WITH THE COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT/LABOR PUT TOWARDS A REBATE, KIA REFUSED.

NHTSA ODI 11397802

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I TOOK MY 2012 KIA FORTE TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA(ORR KIA) UPON RECEIVING A IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL BY KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. UPON COMPLETION OF MY RECALL I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TICKING/ KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE THAT HAS A ODOR SMELL TO IT WAS DECLINE BY TECHLINE BECAUSE OF A OUTSIDE WARRANTY. I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS DECISION BECAUSE THE WARRANTY CLEARLY STATE VEHICLE'S ENGINE, ENGINE NOISE, FUEL SMELL, BURNING SMELL,ETC. THAT MAY BE RELATED TO AN ENGINE MECHANICAL ISSUE. AT VARIOUS TIMES THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11397589

THIS VEHICLE HAS NOW REPAIRED 2 TIMES FOR RECALL ON BRAKE LIGHT/WIRING ISSUE. WE WERE CHARGED BY THE JENKINS KIA OF GAINESVILLE,FLORIDA FOR THE LAST 2 TIMES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT. MECHANIC AT ANOTHER BUSINESS ADVISED BULB BURNED SO MUCH THE BULB HOLDER WAS BURNED. SC158 IS RECALL NUMBER. REPAIRS DONE 10/22/2018, 2/14/2020 WIRING HARNESS & BULB HOLDER REPLACED ALL AT OUR COST. RECALLED TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE. BULB NOW BURNED OUT AGAIN 2/15/21. FEEL CHEATED BY THIS DEALER SINCE HAS BEEN RECALLED 2013 & 2015.

NHTSA ODI 11396480

I BOUGHT MY 2012 KIA FORTE BRAND NEW. WELL..I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. IT MAKES A HORRIBLE TICKING NOISE LIKE ITS ABOUT TO BLOW UP AND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY MILEAGE IS 96,000. MY DIM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING AS WELL. AND ITS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND GO AHEAD AND RECALL BECAUSE I HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AS THE ONE THATS BEEN RECALL BUT THEY SAY MINE ISN'T LISTED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11396028

I HAVE A 2012 FORTE WITH 103000 MILES. IT HAS DEVELOPED A ROD KNOCK THAT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. WHY IS THE 2.0 ENGINE NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 11396116

THE MOTOR BLEW A ROD THREW THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOCK. CAR ONLY HAS 83,500 MILES ON IT. WAS TRAVELING AT 80 MPH ON INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ODI 11390903

I PURCHASED THE KIA FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP WITH FAKE CARFAX. I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S A EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WORKING VEHICLE NO PROBLEMS OR RECALLS. I GOT A CAR LOAN ON IT AND A WEEK LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AND. KIA NEVER REPAIRED IT I TOLD THE BANK AND CAR LOT AND THEY DEMAND MORE MONEY FROM AND I SHOULD THEM THAT THEY WERE INFORMED ABOUT THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY REPO MY CAR AND STILL LEFT ME ON THE DMV RECORDS STATING I HAVE THE CAR AND FORCING ME TO PAY THE LOAN AND IS TRIPLE MY PAYMENTS

NHTSA ODI 11390612

AT ABOUT 99,500 MILES, MY 2012 KIA FORTE 2.0-L CAR BEGAN MAKING A LOUD TICKING SOUND, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE VALVE LIFTERS. HOWEVER, AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DIAGNOSED IT, USING A STETHOSCOPE, AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE WRIST PIN ON THE PISTON CONNECTING ROD. IN MY OPINION, THIS CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS.

NHTSA ODI 11390717

MY 2012 KIA FORTE 2.0L ENGINE KEEPS MAKING A TICKING, KNOCKING NOISE. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE ISSUE, BUT THAT I MAY JUST NEED AN OIL CHANGE. OIL WAS SEVERELY LOW, EVEN THOUGH OIL WAS JUST CHANGED. THERE WERE NO LEAKS IDENTIFIED. ALSO, MY CAR HAS A JERKING ISSUE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CAR SOMETIMES GETS THROWN FORWARD WITHOUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING THROWN. THIS ESPECIALLY HAPPENS ON THE INTERSTATE, OR IF THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR LONGER THAN 20 MINUTES. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11388894

BOUGHT 2012 KIA FORTE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IT STARTED A KNOCK NOISE. A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THE NOISE STARTED I TOOK IT IN FOR A SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE HOPING THE NOISE WOULD IMPROVE. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, NOW I'M WAITING FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT TO GET MY CAR LOOKED AT AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I WAS AWARE OF ENGINE RECALLS ON 2.4L HYUNDAI ENGINES, AS WE OWN A SONATA THAT WAS AFFECTED. I DID NOT KNOW THAT 2.0L ENGINES HAD BEEN RECALLED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW 2.0L IN THE FORTE ARE NOT INCLUDED.

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MY CAR HAS A 2.4 L ENGINE IN IT THE ENGINE IS FAILING IT HAS A BEARING PROBLEM I HAVE IT AT KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY'RE TELLING ME IT'S NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL AND I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S THE 2012 2.4L AND AT THE SAME CAR SAME MOTOR AND THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME GOING ON.

NHTSA ODI 11386425

DEVELOPED A VERY SUBTLE TICKING NOISE IN 2018, HAPPENING MOSTLY AT LOW SPEEDS, GONE AFTER WARM UP. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP (NAPLETON'S IN URBANA, IL), AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT LOCATE ANY NOISE AND DIDN'T FIND ANY IMPACT ON DRIVABILITY. I CONTINUED DRIVING THE CAR, WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES (ALL MY MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AT THE DEALER), UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2020, WHEN THE NOISE BECAME VERY VERY NOTICEABLE, AT ALL SPEEDS AND ALMOST CONSTANT. BECAUSE I HAD MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER KIA DEALERSHIP IN OAKLAND AND THEY SAID THEY CAN INSTALL A USED ENGINE REPLACEMENT (WITH 30 K MILES ON IT ALREADY) FOR A MINIMUM OF 6200 BEFORE TAX. I THOUGHT THEY WERE KIDDING, TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T EVEN DO SO MUCH AS CHANGE THE OIL IN THAT VISIT.... WELL THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AGREES ON THE ROD BEARING BEING ON ITS WAY OUT AND THAT THE ENGINE CAN SEIZE AT ANY POINT. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TORE DOWN THE ENGINE TO DIAGNOSE IT. I NOW HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN THE CAR'S WORTH TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T SEIZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND KILL SOMEONE, OR HAVE TO SELL IT FOR SCRAPS, DESPITE INSTALLING BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, A NEW EVAP CANISTER (CRACKED AND FAILED SMOG TEST IN CALIFORNIA)AND PURGE VALVE JUST THIS YEAR ALONE. THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE NOW. KIA NEEDS TO FIX THIS. THESE ENGINES NEED TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. FORUMS ARE FULL OF FAILED KIA FORTES FROM 2012, SOME MUCH EARLIER THAN MINE. 93.5K MILES SINCE BUYING IT IN AUGUST 2013).

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FAILING OIL PUMP AT 140K MILES

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I PREVIOUS REPORT NUMBER 11384011, PICTURES UPLOADED: DRIVING TO REPAIR LOCATION ON FREEWAY AND THE CAR STARTING SMOKING AND BURST INTO FLAME FROM THE ENGINE. MANAGED TO STOP AND GOT OUT OF THE BURNING CAR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED FIRE SERVICE WHO CAME AND STOP THE BURNING. CAR TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP FACILITY. *LN *AS*JB

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ENGINE ALWAYS HAS HAD EXCESSIVE BLOW BY. AND NOISE. SMELL FUEL AT TIMES. DER SYS ITS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR.

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DROVE MY 2012 KIA FORTE FOR ABOUT HALF A MILE AROUND OUR STREET AND I STARTED SMELLING BURNING ODOR AND BEFORE I COULD GUESS, WHERE THE SMELL WAS EMANATING FROM, I SAW HEAVY SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT AND SIDE OF THE HOOD. I FRANTICALLY MANAGED TO STOP AND PARK. I TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD BUT I COULDN'T. AFTER MANY TRIES WITH THE HEAT I FINALLY OPENED IT. AS THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I REALIZED IT WAS VERY HOT, WHILE OTHER PARTS OF THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COOL. WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AFTER 30 MINUTES, I SAW THE CHECK ENGINE SIGNAL ON THE DASHBOARD. I SIMPLY PARKED CAR ON THE CURVE, LOCKED IT TO FIND A TOW TRUCK. NEXT DAY CALLED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AFTER I GAVE THEM MY IN NUMBER. THEY SAID TO CHECK AFTER 1/27/21, THE DATE THE CURRENT RECALL WILL BE PUBLISHED. THEY SAID TO TAKE MY CAR FOR KIA DEALERSHIP AND PAY FOR REPAIRS. THEY THEY WILL REFUND ME IF IT IS PART OF THE RECALL ON 1/27/21.

NHTSA ODI 11384011

ABOUT A WEEK AGO CAR WAS RUNNING FINE EXCEPT IT WOULD SHUT OFFF WHILE DRIVEING ON OCCASION AND THROWING NO CODES SO MATT TAYLOR KIA COULD T FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT..THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE ,PUTTING OFF A VERY BAD SMALL AND SMOK E OUT THE EXHAUST,AND RECENT OIL CHANGE AND WE CHECK THE DIP STICK AND OIL IS BEYOND LOW WICH DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE.THE CAR HAS THE 2.4 ENGINE WICH SADLY IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST DESPITE MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ULTIMATELY LEAD TO ENGINE FIRES.I REFUSE TO LET MY SON GET BACK IN HIS VEHICLE THIS CAR NEEDS ADDED TO THE MASSIVE RECALL LIST ON KIA MOTORS ASAP BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED

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I HAVE HAD AN ENGINE KNOCK FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW AND HAVE SEEN ALL THE RECALLS FOR SAME ENGINES IN OTHER VEHICLES. MY CAR ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET IT APPEARS. WE HAVE THE SAME THETA 2 ENGINES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11378644

AT AROUND 125,000 MILES - I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND AND TAPPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE ON MY 2.0L MPI "THETA II" 2012 KIA FORTE. AT FIRST IT WENT AWAY QUICKLY AFTER STARTUP BUT THEN WHEN IT GOT COLDER THAT WINTER IT GOT NOTICEABLY LOUDER AND IS NOW CONSTANTLY PRESENT AT 157,930 MILES, SPEEDING UP AS I ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AT AROUND 128,800 MILES AND HE SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE ENGINE TAKEN APART TO DO MORE DIAGNOSIS AND THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO JUST DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT GETS WORSE. I'VE GOTTEN DOCUMENTED REGULAR OIL CHANGES SINCE I WAS THE OWNER IN 2017, SWITCHING TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT MY MECHANIC'S SUGGESTION AFTER HAVING THEM CHECK OUT THE TAPPING/TICKING ISSUE. THESE OIL CHANGES HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, INSTEAD IT'S CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH EACH WINTER MAKING IT SLOWLY GET WORSE. IN DOING SOME SEARCHES, I'M NOT ALONE IN MY EXPERIENCE AND I'M APPARENTLY LUCKY THAT I'VE MADE IT THIS LONG WITH MY THETA II ENGINE. WHEN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BEGAN FOR THE GDI ENGINES I WAS HOPEFUL THAT KIA WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND INCLUDE THE MPI ENGINES. HOWEVER, WHILE THEY HAVE EXPANDED THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MPI ENGINES, THEY HAVE NOT EXPANDED IT TO INCLUDE 2.0L MPI ENGINES WITH THE SAME COMPONENTS THAT CAN WEAR EXCESSIVELY INCLUDING CONNECTING RODS/CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. MANY 2.0L MPI OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES, INCLUDING FELLOW ENTHUSIASTS THAT LOVE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR VEHICLES, AND I WORRY ABOUT THE DANGER THAT CAN OCCUR WITH A SUDDENLY FAILING ENGINE, LET ALONE THE POTENTIAL FIRE RISKS. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2.0L MPI ENGINE KIA FORTE MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION FROM PARTS DIAGRAMS THAT SHOW THE PARTS COMMONALITY BETWEEN THE 2.4 MPI AND 2.0L MPI ENGINES. I

NHTSA ODI 11382784

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE MADE A REALLY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME. HAS A CONSISTENT KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN WARMING UP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OF THE KNOCKING SOUND RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC OR A KIA DEALER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

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2012 KIA FORTE KOUP CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVEING AND VERY LOUD KNOCK IN THE ENGINE TOOK IT TO KIA IN LANCASTER OHIO VEHICLE THROWING NO CODES WHY IS THIS ENGINE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL I HAVE SEEN OTHERS ASK THE VERY SAME QUESTION FOR EXACT VEHICLE

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