What 211 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Forte Koup

STEERING WHEEL STICKS AT NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING. FEELS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN STICKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325250

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

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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

MY BRAKE PEDDLE BEGAN TO STICK. I WOULD HAVE TO TAP ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO GET IT TO UNSTICK. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE KIA DEALER NEAR ME. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE DUE THE THE BRAKE STOPPER RECALL. THEY WANTED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THEN. WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD AT THAT TIME. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THE BRAKES ACTUALLY STARTED ENGAGING ON THEIR OWN. ONE TIME I WAS ON THE HWY AND HAD TO PULL OVER AND TAP ON MY BRAKES TO GET THEM TO UNENGAGE . I TOOK MY CAR BACK TP THE DEALER HAD THEM DO THE DIAGNOSTICS. THEY TOLD ME MY MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND BRAKES FRONT AND REAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SO I CALLED KIA CORPORATE AFYER READING THE DIAGNOSTICS REPORT. I WAS HUNG UP ON TWICE! I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER PLACE AND HAD THEM DO THEIR OWN DIAGNOSTICS. I HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE A REPAIR THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM ON MY CAR. IT WAS DUE TO A DEFECT INSIDE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MAATER CYLINDER WAS COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE. THE PEICES WERE CLOGGING MY BRAKE LINES. YET KIA ONLY DYOOD BEHIND A WARRENTY NOT THE PRODUCT . I HAVE AND LIVE ON A LIMITED INCOME DUE TO MY PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH THAT KIA WAS A GOOD AND LOYAL CONSUMER. I AM STILL STUGGLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. MY NEIGHBORS KEPT KNOCKING O. MY DOOR ONE MORNING TO TELL ME MY LIGHTS ON MY CAR WERE ON. I WENT OUT TO CHECK AND IT WAS IN FACT MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAD TO TAP ON MY BRAKE PEDDLE TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF. IT RAN MY BATTERY DOWN. I HAD TO CALL MY MAINTENANCE MANAGER FOR A JUMP START. KIA EVEN HAD TO NERVE TO CHARGE ME FOR A LOANER CAR TO DRIVE WHILE THEY CONDUCTED THE DIAGNOSTICS. I DO HAVE ALL REPORTS AND PAPER WORK AND RECEIPTS. I WAS SO PROUD OF MY NEW CAR. NOW I AM FINANCIALLY STRAPPED DUE TO THIS MAJOR DEFECT THAT WAS IN MY 2013 MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON CITY STREETS,THE HWY AND PARKED, TURNED OFF WITH NO ONE IN THE CAR.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11311597

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.

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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.

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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.

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WIFE GOT KILLED IN IT WENT THRU A BRIDGE CLOSED

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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.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED TO OPERATE AS WELL. THE CONTACT MADE IMPACT WITH A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT HIT HER FACE AND CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER HOME. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH THREE ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO HER OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE MATTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI 11252113

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.

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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

I PURCHASED THIS KIA IN 2014, SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL / BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THE PLASTIC PART OF THE CONNECTORS HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE BREAKING INTO PIECES DUE TO THE WIRING GETTING TOO HOT, AS THE PARTS THAT ARE LEFT ARE NOW STARTING TO MELT. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AS MUCH AS IN THIS CAR. ALSO, ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WANT TO UNLATCH. I WILL BE PARKED AND IT WOULD SOMETIMES TAKE ABOUT 2 MIN FOR IT TO UNLATCH. SOMETIMES I WOULD THINK IT WASN'T EVER GOING TO UNLATCH AND I WOULD BE TRAPPED.

NHTSA ODI 11230659

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.

NHTSA ODI 11229662

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, I HEARD A LOUD KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE, THE RPMS WENT TO 0 AND THE CAR DIED, CAR WAS SERVICED AND WELL MAINTAINED

NHTSA ODI 11217981

THETA II ENGINE RECALL. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO GUIDE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE TO A SAFE SPOT ON THE SIDE. THE CAR WOULDNT STARY BACK AT ALL. COME TO FIND OUT, THE RODS FAILED AND LOCKED THE ENGINE UP. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS CHECK EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD INCLUDING THE OIL. THE OIL WAS FULL. AFTER READING ALOT ON THIS ISSUE, THERE IS ALOT OF KIA FORTE AND FORTE KOUP THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE BUT YET THEY WONT INCLUDE THEM IN THE RECALL. IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE IN IT AS THE OTHER KIA'S THAT GOT RECALLED SO WHAT MAKES THEM ANY DIFFERENT. I REPLACED THE FIRST ENGINE WITH A USED ONE AND I PUT 4K MIKES ON IT AND IT DID THE SAME THING SO ANOTHER $4,000 LATER, I PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. IT'S BEEN AN EXPENSIVE FIX OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WHEN IT SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN.

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