What 211 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Forte Koup

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND IT BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, THE ENGINE INCREASINGLY BECAME LOUDER AND I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC AROUND ME AND MY 9 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE CAR. WE WERE SCARED. I BARELY GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WHERE OTHER CARS AND TRACTOR TRAILERS WERE PASSING US ONLY FEET AWAY FROM US. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING ROUGHLY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. FROM THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE OVER THE WEEKEND, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH MANY KIA FORTE EX OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME NIGHTMARE THAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH. THE ISSUES RECALL DOES NOT APPEAR TO INCLUDE THE EX MODEL WITH THE 2.0L ENGINE EVEN THOUGH SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL IN EVERY INSTANCE. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY SINCE IT WAS NEW AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS. ANY VEHICLE THAT LOSES THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC SHOULD BE DEEMED UNSAFE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THEIR PRODUCT. MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND BEING TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT COST WOULD BE THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY. HOWEVER, CERTAIN MODELS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ARE COVERED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT MANDATED SAFETY RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11384287

THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY CAR AND I COULD SMELL SMOKE. WHEN I LIFTED THE HOOD, I COULD SEE SMOKE ARISING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. UNSURE WHY MY CAR HAD BEGUN SMOKING, I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME GET MY CAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG AND IF IT WOULD CATCH FIRE. I HAD THE TOW COMPANY TAKE MY CAR TO A MECHANIC FOR HIM TO IDENTIFY WHY MY CAR WAS SMOKING. WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT MY CAR, IT WAS NO LONGER SMOKING. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR TO BEGIN DRIVING I CONTINUED TO HEAR THE KNOCKING NOISE UNDERNEATH MY HOOD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO THE FULL SPEED LIMIT AS THE NOISE GREW LOUDER, AND HAD TO DRIVE UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT. AS I BEGAN DRIVING, MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT, MY ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I TRIED TO PROCEED, AND MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS COMPLETING STOPPED AND NON-OPERATIONAL. THIS SCARED ME BECAUSE IT WAS DARK, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST STREETS IN MY AREA, AND I HAD MY YOUNG SON IN THE CAR WITH ME. MY FATHER AND A POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED TO ASSIST ME WITH MOVING MY CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. I HAD TO HAVE A TOW SERVICE COME GET MY CAR AND TAKE IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC. AFTER EXPLAINING TO THE MECHANIC WHAT HAPPENED AND HIM REVIEWING THE CAR TO DETERMINE WHY IT HAD ABRUTLY SHUT OFF, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY HOME BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL.

NHTSA ODI 11378606

THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD RATTLING SOUND AND VIBRATION DURING INITIAL START AND INITIAL ACCELERATION, THE SAID NOISE IS MUCH LOUDER DURING COLD ENGINE START UPS. THE PROBLEM ONLY STARTED WHEN THE MILEAGE REACHED AROUND 70,000 MILES. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN RELIGIOUSLY FOLLOWED ESPECIALLY OIL CHANGE. I EVEN USE FACTORY ENGINE OIL FILTER.

NHTSA ODI 11378635

I SAW THAT KIA RECALLED THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF THIS CAR FOR FAULTY ENGINES WHICH MAY CATCH FIRE DUE TO ENGINE MALFUNCTION, ROD BEARING FAILURE AND FUEL LEAK BUT, ONLY FOR THE 2.4L ENGINE. WHEN TECHNICALLY SPEAKING THE 2.0L ENGINE WHICH IS NOT RECALLED IS NEARLY IDENTICAL BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY BESIDES CUBIC INCHES. IN FACT WHEN ORDERING PARTS FOR THE 2.0L ENGINE ON KIA'S SITES AND OEM PARTS DISTRIBUTORS, THE PART NUMBERS ARE THE SAME FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEMS, INTERNAL BEARINGS, THE ONLY VARIANCE IN MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN ARE THE CRANKSHAFTS, CAMSHAFTS AND OIL PUMPS DUE TO THE DIFFERENCE IN DISPLACEMENT. FURTHERMORE MY CAR RECENTLY BEGAN LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL DELIVERY TUBE GOING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE RAIL WHICH IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THAT ON THE 2.4 AND SAME DESIGN AND ROUTING. DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE EXHAUST THE FUEL COULD HAVE IGNITED IF NOT CAUGHT JUST THE SAME AS THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2.4L WHICH PROMPTED THE RECALL. HOWEVER THE 2.0L OWNERS ARE NOT PROTECTED AND ARE AT THE SAME RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11378189

MY ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON , NOW IT'S SAYING THAT IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME . STARTED MY CAR UP THE NEXT DAY THEN THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT . SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT . MY BRAKES ARE ACTING WEIRD , AND TIRE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON .

NHTSA ODI 11366473

AT ABOUT 80000 MILES I NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE OF THE CAR, A SIMILAR ISSUE OTHERS ARE MENTIONING HERE. I THINK WE NEED A RECALL ON THE ENGINE OR AT LEAST WHATEVER PART IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11365950

KIA FORTE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH SHUT OFF ON A BUSY MOUNTAIN PASS. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND FOUND TO HAVE A SEIZED MOTOR RELATED TO CRANK BEARING FAILURE. THERE WERE 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AS THE TIME OF MOTOR FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 11342864

AFTER LEAVING A RED LIGHT AND WHILE ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABOUT 20 SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE DRIVER PULLED OVER. . THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINED LIGHTED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR. THE ENGINE TURNED-OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. A MECHANIC LOADED THE CAR ON A CAR TRAILER AND CHECKED THE ENGINE AT HIS SHOP. HE DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP. THIS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT A MALFUNCTION, AS THE DRIVER MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES.

NHTSA ODI 11320607

I BROUGHT A 2013 IN THE YEAR OF 2014 IT ONLY HAD 2300 MILES AND AT 61000 THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN I CALL KIA AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE IT WAS 6000 MILES SO I HAD TO HAVE A MOTOR PUT IN I HAD THE MOTOR PUT IN ABOUT IN DECEMBER MY CAR JUST STOP I HAD IT TOW TO KIA AND THEY SAID IT THROUGH A ROD. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI 11320441

MY LOCAL KIA DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE IN MY CAR IS A ROD BEARING OR WRIST PIN FAILURE. THIS IS THE 2.4 LITER ENGINE THAT HAS HAD RECALL ISSUES IN OTHER MODELS. THE DEALER HAS QUOTED $7,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. KIA MOTORS HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE ENGINE SINCE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. THESE ENGINES HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF EARLY FAILURE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE ENGINE WILL FAIL. POSSIBLY AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, SO IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. KIA MOTORS NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THE ENGINES OF THIS TYPE. CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 85,000 MILES IS UNACCEPTABLE IN MODERN CARS.

NHTSA ODI 11319837

ENGINE HAS A KNOCKING NOISE

NHTSA ODI 11319876

2014 KIA FORTE WITH 'TICKING' SOUND WHEN IDLING. DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED BY A MECHANIC AS 'PISTON SLAP'. WAS TOLD TO IMMEDIATELY STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD SOON FAIL AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11315423

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A SINGLE LANE HIGHWAY, AND HEARD FAINT TICKING/KNOCKING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE. THE HIGHWAY SPEED WAS 65MPH. AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES, THE FAINT TICKS GREW INTO HARD KNOCKS AND HARSH RATTLES AS I CLEARED THE TOP OF A HILL. I ENDED UP COASTING TO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE MY ENGINE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER AND TRIED STALLING. SINCE I KNEW MY BRAKE SYSTEM OPERATED WITH VACUUM ASSIST, I TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING AND HAD TO DOUBLE FOOT THE PEDALS TO BRAKE AND KEEP THE ENGINE FROM STALLING. AFTER I STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER, THE ENGINE FINALLY DIED WHILE RATTLING EVEN HARDER. I TRIED STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN, AND IT DID START, STILL RATTLING AND KNOCKING, SO I SHUT IT OFF. THE ENGINE HADN'T YET SEIZED UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM, PER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY (NON-KIA DEALER). THEY WERE HAPPY TO HELP, BUT RECOMMENDED TALKING TO KIA AS A FIRST STEP. I DID SO, AND THEY DID OFFER TO TOW MY CAR TO THEIR OWN DEALERSHIP, NO CHARGE TO ME, SO THEY COULD INSPECT THE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT POTENTIALLY GETTING KIA MOTORS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IF NEEDED, ON THEM, FREE TO ME. THIS DEALERSHIP IS ONE OF TWO IN MY CITY, AND THEY ARE THE NICER OF THE TWO IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS. I HAVE DEALT WITH EACH DEALER FOR VARIOUS REASONS OVER THE YEARS, AND THAT HAS BEEN MY CONSENSUS. I WILL BE WAITING TO SEE WHAT COMES OF THIS ISSUE, BUT THESE CARS THAT CAME WITH THE 2.4 ENGINE NEED TO BE ADDED TO HYUNDAI/KIA'S 2.4 ENGINE RECALL INSTEAD OF IGNORED.

NHTSA ODI 11311312

BOUGHT KIA 2013 KIA FORTE EX. AT 53,000 ENGINE SEIZED UP. KIA IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AND I CANNOT PRODUCE MAINTENANCE RECORDS AS I LOST EVERYTHING TO MY NAME AT HIS PASSING. EVEN THOUGH KIA KNOWS THIS IS A ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX MY CAR. I HAVE 4 OPEN RECALLS THEY REFUSE TO FIX TOO. KIA SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN AMERICA. HUNDRED OF THOUSAND COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUIT YET THEY STILL REFUSE TO HONOR WARRANTY. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AS LOCAL GARAGE WAS TESTING DRIVING AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. YES GARAGE IS CERTIFIED TO WORK ON KIA.

NHTSA ODI 11310544

ENGINE FROZE UP AT 59,000.00 CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND KIA IS REFUSING TO FIX CAR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND KIA HAS ALREADY SUED AND FINED BY THE GOVERNMENT BUT FOTRES WERE NOT RECALLED. I AM A WIDOW WHO LIVES AT POVERTY LEVEL AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS. I HAVE 4 OPEN RECALLS THEY ARE ALSO REFUSING TO FIX. I CANNOT PRODUCE MAINTENANCE RECORDS BECAUSE WHEN MY HUSBAND DIED I WAS ACTUALLY HOMELESS. KIA SAID TO BAD.

NHTSA ODI 11303058

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN I NOTICED A TAPPING SOUND AS I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, BUT COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I CHECK ALL MY FLUID LEVELS AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECTLY FINE. I SHUT THE HOOD AND STARTED IT BACK UP. THE TAPPING WAS STILL THERE. I DECIDED TO TURN BACK AND HEAD HOME. AS I STARTED TO ACCELERATE THIS TIME THE SOUND GREW TO A HARD POUNDING NOISE. BEFORE I COULD EVEN PULL OFF THE ROAD MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I LOST ALL POWER AND MY WHEEL LOCKED UP. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, NOTHING. I HAD TO TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER A FEW HOURS IT WAS DECLARED AS "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE". KEEP IN MIND THE CAR HAS ONLY 61,000 MILES ON IT! AT THIS POINT I HADN'T TOWED TO KIA FOR INSPECTION AND THEY DETERMINED "COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE". "SOMETHING HAS COME LOOSE INTERNALLY". THIS ENGINE IS A OBVIOUS DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11301266

SIMPLY STARTED THE CAR ONE COLD MORNING, AND THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING EXTREMELY BAD, CAR NO LONGER DRIVABLE WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES SIMILAR TO OTHER KIA MODELS, HOWEVER THE 2013 FORTE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE COVERED BY RECALLS AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ODI 11290024

MY CAR HAD 6 RECALLS SCHEDULED I MISSED THE APPOINTMENT. NOW I ONLY HAVE 2 RECALLS. I'VE PUT 2 MOTORED IN THIS CAR ALREADY [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ODI 11280732

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HEADED TO THE STORE THE VEHICLE JUST DIED RIGHT THERE WHERE I WAS AT SO I HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE AND MOVE GEAR SHIFTER TO PARK, TURN IT OFF, TURN IT BACK ON AND THEN IT WAS FINE THE REST OF THE WAY. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM AUTO SMART IN LONGVIEW TX ON 10/22/2019 AND WHEN I GOT HOME I STARTED LOOKING UP THE VIN NUMBER TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANY DETAILS LIKE A CAR FAX REPORT AND I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE ACTUALLY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED YET. THE MOTOR ALREADY SOUNDS ROUGH AND IT HAS 120K MILES AND THE NONE OF THE ADAPTERS WORK (LIKE TO PLUG UR PHONE FOR CHARGING)!OR THE RADIO. THAT COMPANY SAID THEY HAD ANOTHER ONE ORDER. ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WHEN U ROLL IT UP IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY ROLL RIGHT BACK DOWN SO U HAVE TO MAKE SURE U HOLD IT UP ALL THE WAY TO THE END.

NHTSA ODI 11270936

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FROM A FOOTBALL GAME, IT COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME THE NEXT DAY. ONCE HOME THE CAR STARTED BACK UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE ENGINE STARTED HAVING A TERRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE. A MECHANIC REPLACED ROD & BEARING, BUT THE CAR STILL HAS ISSUES WITH STALLING AND KNOCKING NOISE. IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS WHILE I CONTINUE TO MAKE CAR PAYMENTS. MY OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS WERE ALWAYS CHANGED REGULARLY. I WAS OUTSIDE MY WARRENTY AND AM JUST STUCK WITH THIS CAR WITH A BAD ENGINE. I WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE, BUT AM AFRAID THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING.

NHTSA ODI 11265644

I HAVE 2013 KIA FORTE WITH 66,000 MILES AND IT ALREADY HAS KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY A KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACE AND IT WOULD COST ME 5,682$. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ANY MORE BECAUSE IT COULD SEIZE UP ON ME WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE AN ENGINE THAT IS PREMATURELY FAILING AT 66,000 MILES. MY TOYOTA TUNDRA HAS OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE. KIA NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THE FORTE ENGINES BECAUSE I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE OF A BAD ENGINE AT LOW MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11258832

I HAVE A 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP SX WITH THE 2.4L MPI ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED MY HOOD AND DID NOT SEE ANY APPARENT PROBLEMS IN THE ENGINE BAY. OIL LEVEL WAS OK. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND DID NOT HEAR ANY ABNORMAL NOISES SO I DROVE IT HOME. TWO WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE KNOCKING SOUNDS ON MY WAY HOME FROM ANOTHER TRIP. I AM NOW TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON IT. THE KIA RECALL 17V224000 FOR IMPROPERLY MACHINED ENGINES IS NOT NEARLY AS COMPREHENSIVE AS IT NEEDS TO BE AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FORTE. KIA CLAIMS THAT ONLY THE GDI ENGINES ARE AFFECTED BUT THE REALITY IS THE MPI VERSION OF THE 2.0 AND 2.4 THETA II ENGINES ARE FAILING PREMATURELY IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER AS EVIDENCED BY THE MANY REPORTS FROM OWNERS ONLINE.

NHTSA ODI 11242998

2.4L ENGINE SEIZED WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, OIL CLEAN, 109,000 MILES. THIS WOULD'VE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. IT APPEARS SAME ENGINE IN OTHER MODELS SUCH AS OPTIMA AND HYUNDAI SONATA ARE UNDER A RECALL FOR THE MANUFACTURER FAILING TO REMOVE MACHINING DEBRIS FROM THE ENGINES. SINCE KIA DID NOT INCLUDE THE FORTE FOR SOME REASON I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11242431

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR STARTED KNOCKING MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE CAR WOULD HARDLY GO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL THE CAR STEREO MAKING THE KNOCKING SOUND. THE CAR WAS ON A 35 MPH STREET WHEN IT STARTED.

NHTSA ODI 11231999

DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE RPMS DROPPED TO ZERO. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ON THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE ENGINE SEIZED UP BUT THE OIL LOOKED FINE. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD. THE CAR HAD 101,000 MILES IN IT.

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