What 303 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Forte Koup

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was a rattling sound coming from the front end. After pulling into a driveway and turning off the vehicle, the contact looked at the belt and noticed it was still running and releasing a slight smoke. The contact stated that it took an extended amount of time for the belts to stop moving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic at the time of failure however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11570058

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, the vehicle seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and it was stated that an unknown part was disconnected near the gear shift. The contact was unsure what part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the display screen had seized. The contact also replaced the rear brake lights after being notified that the brake lights were inoperable. The contact stated that the bulbs were replaced and immediately fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 11563584

This complaint it about Kia Motors. My motor sent a rod through the block due to a recall. However, i called a week before because of rod knock that started on 05/22/21(blew 05/27/21) , i was told parts were ordered. A week after i was told that the engine blew. I towed it to a dealership (05/28/21) Its been an additonal 2 and a half weeks with no update as to when itll be repaired, no loaner offered. Ive already lost one job because of Kia's lack of quality control. This engine failure is common and i believe common enough to not have to wait this long for work to be done.

NHTSA ODI 11420796

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EMITTING A SOUND LIKE THAT OF A DIESEL ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS WERE CONTACTED WERE CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS COMMON WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CRANK BEARING HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11361463

MARCH OF 2020 WE BAGAN NOTICING A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR UPON COLD STARTS WHICH INCREASES AS THE IDLE SPEED INCREASES. ALSO MAKES THE SAME KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ENGINE IS AT RUNNING TEMPERATURE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A CONNECTOR ROD OR CONNECTOR ROD BEARING ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE THETA II MOTOR. ALSO AROUND THE SAME TIME THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL SC158 BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER PAD. WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK WITH ENGINE OFF AND KEYS NOT IN IGNITION, ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION WHEN CAR ROLLED INTO STREET. AGAIN, KIA STATED THAT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI 11349101

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CONTACT WAS TESTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER EASILY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED CROWN KIA ST PETERSBURG (5500 34TH ST N, ST PETERSBURG, FL 33714, (844) 921-3247) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V773000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ODI 11252897

CAR HAVING KNOCKING, PINGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY AND START THE CAR. NOW, IF YOU KEEP ON DRIVING, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND THERE IS A RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. SOON WILL LOCK. MY CAR STARTED WITH A KNOCKING SOUND IN ENGINE. THEN LIGHT CAME UP AND THE CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED IN MIDDLE OF HIGH WAY. THE FORTE HAS THE SAME ISSUE THAN THOSE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THREE STRANGERS BROUGHT THE NOISE TO ME IN THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS: 2 PEOPLE SAT WORK AND ONE WHILE PARKED AT THE STREET BEFORE I EXPERIENCED THAT ISSUE. I WENT ONLINE AND MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. MY CAR DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY WAY IT CAN BE FIXED WAS TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. THE MILEAGE ON IT IS JUST 77,000 .

NHTSA ODI 11193846

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2012 KIA FORTE KOUP SX WITH THE 2.4 LITER THETA II ENGINE THAT IS BEING RECALLED ON A LIMITED BASIS BY KIA UNDER NHTSA SC147. A WEEK WHILE MERGING WITH FASTER TRAFFIC MY ENGINE DIED FORCING ME INTO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TRYING TO CROSS SEVERAL LANES OF MUCH FASTER MOVING TRAFFIC WITH A DEAD ENGINE. I CAME TO A STOP IN THE CENTER LANE AND HAD SEVERAL VERY CLOSE CALLS BEFORE OTHER VEHICLES HAD TO SWERVE AT THE LAST SECOND TO AVOID HITTING ME. MUCH LIKE THE COUNTLESS OTHER EXAMPLES OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE THETA II ENGINE SEIZING OR SPINNING ROD BEARINGS MY ENGINE SEIZED SOLID EVEN THOUGH I METICOUSLY FOLLOWED THE PRESCRIBED MAINTENANCE INTERVALS KIA SUGGESTS. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH I WAS DISMAYED TO SEE HOW WIDE SPREAD THIS ISSUE IS AND CANNOT FATHOM WHY KIA IS PERMITTED TO ONLY RECALL SOME VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ENGINE AND NOT OTHERS. I VERY STRENUOUSLY URGE THE NHTSA TO EXPAND UPON RECALL SC147 TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE BEFORE OTHER INJURIES OR DEATHS OCCUR AS I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY SUSTAINED. THERE SHOULD BE NO EXCUSE AND NO DEFENDING OF KIA'S POSITION THAT THIS ENGINE ONLY FAILS DUE TO MANUFACTURING FLAWS ON SOME MODELS AND NOT OTHERS MODELS WHEN THEY BOTH USE THE SAME ENGINE WHEN ALL ONE MUST DO IS TO DO A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH TO SEE COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS BEING LEFT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE TO FACE THE MANUFACTURER TO GET THESE ISSUES RESOLVED. IT IS YET TO BE SEEN IF KIA APPROPRIATELY MAKE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE EITHER UNDER THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE LIMITED WARRANTY (MY VEHICLE IS 6 YEARS OLD WITH 80,000 MILES) OR UNDER RECALL SC147; HOWEVER, BASED UPON WHAT I REPEATEDLY AM FINDING, KIA WILL TRY DENYING REPAIRS, DEMANDING ALL MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS AND GENERALLY MAKING IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE FOR CONSUMERS TO GET WARRANTY WORK DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11099888

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PROMPTED. FURTHERMORE, UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION, THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11088729

WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT FLOW OF TRAFFIC MOTOR SHUTS DOWN AT HIGH SPEED AND ON THE HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ODI 10979188

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. AFTER REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CABLE SLIPPED OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,162.

NHTSA ODI 10955021