What 211 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Forte Koup

THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE NEED REPLACING EVERY FEW WEEKS ALONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT DISENGAGING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL LIGHT WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHT CONTROL IS IN THE OFF POSITION BUT WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND LIGHTS HAVE BEEN TURNED ON, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT. WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN HAPPENING THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO EARNHARDT KIA IN PHOENIX AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IN THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN 12-15 LIGHTBULBS REPLACED INCLUDING A HEADLAMP.

NHTSA ODI 11035851

CAR ACCIDENT ON 10/12/2017 @6:30AM AIR BAG DID NOT WORK (TOTALLY MY CAR

NHTSA ODI 11034019

RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT TOOK CAR TO MIDAS TO HAVE BULB REPLACED, WHERE THE MELTED LIGHT SOCKET WAS DISCOVERED. TOOK CAR KIA DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY 9/11/2017 TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOT. THE KIA ADVISOR JACK TOLD ME THAT THEY WHERE ABLE TO REPLACE THE BULB BUT HAD TO GET APPROVAL TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SOCKET. ON 9/12 I WAS INFORMED THAT DPSM DENIED THE REQUEST TO COVER THE PART. PICTURES SENT TO DPSM BY KIA DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11023291

AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK DURING AN ACCIDENT. CAR WAS TRAVELING 40 MHP ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT STRUCK ANOTHER CARE FROM BEHIND. FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES AND CONCUSSION FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER.

NHTSA ODI 11018775

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BLOWN BEARING IN THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND AN UPCOMING RECALL ONLINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 10971931

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING TO THE FORTE AND THE CAR IDLED DOWN AND STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AND SHUT OFF. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE HOOD, THE CAR BEGAN IDLED DOWN THEN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP, THERE WERE NO OIL GOING THROUGH THE LINES. MANY MONTHS BEFORE THAT I WAS OUT WITH THE FORTE AND IT WOULD NOT START, THAT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, I GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND I WAS TOLD NO OIL WAS GETTING THROUGH THE LINE. RECENTLY, THIS MONTH I WAS DRIVING THE FORTE TO WORK AND THE CAR BEGAN TO JUMP AND IDLING DOWN THE ENGINE WAS TREMBLING AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED.

NHTSA ODI 10971607

CALIPER SEIZED UP, GRINDING NOISES, AROUND 35000 MILES

NHTSA ODI 10946901

WHEN CAR IS REALLY COLD, THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED GET STUCK DOWN. I HAVE TO PHYSICALLY DISENGAGE THE BRAKES.. EVEN WHEN I PARK MY CAR AT TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BE DOWN AND ONLY WAY I NOTICED IS THE BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE BACK OR ON.. ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE.. DEALER TOOK 2 TIMES AND DECIDED NOT TO TAKE IT ANY MORE BECAUSE THEY ADVISE THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SEEMS THEY HAD OTHER YEARS OF RECALL AND SEEMS FROM THIS SITE THAT IT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS MODEL TOO.. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY IN THE MORNING OR LATE EVENING WHEN TEMPERATURE BELOW 40 DEGREES

NHTSA ODI 10936581

YESTERDAY MY BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT ENGAGE AND HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAD REPORTED TO KIA THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STICKING AND I WOULD HAVE TO FLIP IT BACK UP HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY INFORMED ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. KIA SHOULD REALLY LOOK INTO TO THIS COSTLY PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED AT REVIEWS AND I SEE WHERE THERE IS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10930120

WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50 MPH WHEN AN UNKNOWN NOISE BEGAN COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I WAS ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HOME, BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE NOISE WAS MUCH LOUDER. I SHUT IT OFF AND IMMEDIATELY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY 2,200 MILES UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY (ORIGINAL OWNER). THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE" (LATER I LEARNED A ROD HAD GONE BAD) AND MY WARRANTY WAS VOIDED DUE TO "OIL SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TALKING ABOUT SELLING ME A NEW CAR, WHICH I DECLINED. I ALSO DECLINED ANY MAINTENANCE TO BE PERFORMED. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A PRIVATE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO SENT A CAMERA INSIDE THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO "SLUDGE" TO BE FOUND. THE MECHANIC ALSO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY FOR KIA TO KNOW THIS SINCE HE COULD TELL THAT NEITHER THE VALVE COVER, NOR ANY OTHER ENGINE PART, HAD BEEN REMOVED TO FACILITATE SUCH INSPECTION. NOW I AM FACED WITH $3,700 IN ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS SINCE KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. KIA SEEMS TO HAVE SOMEHOW DETERMINED ENGINE "SLUDGE" WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING INSIDE THE ENGINE. I HAVE A FEW EXTERNAL PHOTOS AS PROOF THAT THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED BY KIA BUT I AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD THEM HERE.

NHTSA ODI 10897135

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. I FORGOT TO ADD IMPORTANT INFORMATION. I WAS TOLD BY KIA THAT MY ENGINE ISSUE IS A "BLOWN ROD" INSIDE THE ENGINE. KIA HAS SEVERAL OTHER MODELS THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION. I FEEL AS THOUGH I'VE "MISSED THE BOAT" ON THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10897145

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS SITTING STILL WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A DULLY TRUCK THAT WAS TRAVELING GREATER THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS PUSHED APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BROKE. THE SEAT IS IN THE RECLINED POSITION. THE ADJUSTER TOTALED THE CAR DUE TO DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 10889314

TAKATA RECALL TURNING OFF A ROAD OF 55 MPH ONTO A 35 MPH ROAD. I LET OFF OF BRAKES AFTER TURN AND I TRIED PRESSING ON GAS AND NO GAS PEDAL! I HIT THE CURB BECAUSE I WAS N SHOCK LOOKING FOR GAS PEDAL. THIS MESSED MY RIM AND TIRE UP. THE GAS PEDAL WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THIS COULD OF EASILY BEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'M SURE THEY ARE MADE OUT OF SAME MATERIAL. I AM WAITING FOR INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO COME IN THE MORNING TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. POLICE DID NOT WRITE ACCIDENT REPORT.

NHTSA ODI 10872631

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 2013 KIA FORTE EX, THE VEHICLE ROUGHLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED VIA OIL CHANGES, FILTERS, ETC ON TIME WITH QUALITY NAME BRAND FULLY SYNTHETIC OIL AND FILTERS PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WHICH IS EVERY 7500 MILES. I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE HOME ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY ON THE EAST COAST. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE OF 5 LANES ON THE SOUTH BOUND SIDE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS SLOWING DOWN AT AN UNSAFE RATE OF SPEED BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER AND DID NOT WANT TO TOUCH THE BRAKES OBVIOUSLY. I PANICKED BUT WAS ABLE TO PUT MY RIGHT SIGNAL ON TO TRY AND GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY I CONTINUED TO PANIC BECAUSE MY CAR WAS STEADY SLOWING AND EVENTUALLY WOULD COME TO A STOP BECAUSE I HAD NO POWER, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND I KNEW THE CAR SHUT DOWN BECAUSE ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE DASH AS IF YOU WERE STARTING THE CAR. THANKFULLY SOMEONE WAS WATCHING OVER ME THAT DAY AND I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE CAR ROLLED TO A COMPLETE STOP. IF I WERE UNABLE TO SAFELY MOVE OVER TWO LANES AND MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON MOMENTUM I WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED IN A LANE OF TRAVEL ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND WHAT WOULD I HAVE DONE? I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AND BEEN PART OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT, EVEN THOUGH I DID MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER I WAS STILL PANICKING BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY BUSY FREEWAY AND I FELT HELPLESS. THE CAR WOULD NOT START IT WOULD MAKE A FUNKY NOISE AND THAT'S IT BUT WOULD NEVER START SO I WAS STRANDED. I LOOKED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL AND CALLED KIA, THE DEALERSHIP WAS 10 MINUTES FROM MY LOCATION. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A TOW TRUCK AND I WAS ON MY OWN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED THERE AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND IT WAS THE BOTTOM END. I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE TIMING SYSTEM AND KIA IS LYING.

NHTSA ODI 10853461

BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES DON'T RETRACT BACK UP AFTER THEY BEEN APPLIED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE BELOW 32 DEGREES. DEALER COULDN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG, WHEN I GET TO THE DEALER ITS NOT COLD ENOUGH TO HAVE THE PROBLEM, ITS NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM, BUT CAN BE DANGEROUS AT TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 10825862

WHEN DRIVING 55 - 80 MILES PER HOUR, ESPECIALLY RIGHT AT 70, THE CAR SHAKES, AND THE ENGINE KNOCKS. IT FEELS LIKE A VIBRATION, AND THE WHEEL SHAKES UNDER YOUR HANDS WITH A RHYTHMIC KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WHEN IT IS CHILLY OR WET. THE BRAKE STICKS AND WILL NOT COME UP, GRINDING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE PEDAL SINKS IN AND WILL NOT COME BACK UP. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND BEEN TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. BOTH ISSUES ARE STILL GOING ON, AND WORSENING AS I DRIVE IT. PRETTY SURE BEING PUSHED PAST MY WARRANTY. TAKING TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR SECOND OPINION, WORRIED IN MEAN TIME THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BASED ON OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS. I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM DEALERSHIP, AND WAS ABLE TO VERIFY IT HAD ONE OWNER. AT TIME OF PURCHASE THE CAR DROVE FINE, BUT WITHIN DAYS BOTH ISSUES HAD BEGUN. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 10777855

THE OIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE CAR WAS AT IDLE. TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF THEM TRYING AT STARTING THE CAR, THE CAR STARTED UP ONLY TO SHUT OFF. THEN THEY CHECKED IT OUT AGAIN TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOCK UP. NOW I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE OR GET A NEW CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10776599

CAR MAKES LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING DOWN FWY SOUNDS LIKE ENGINE IS GOING TO DROP OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT - SHAKES AND VIBRATES AND ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STOP ANY MOMENT. BRAKES WILL NOT DISENGAGE, THEREBY MAKING THE GAS PEDAL UNABLE TO ENGAGE. CAR LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING WHEN BRAKE DOESN'T DISENGAGE BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL DOESN'T ENGAGE. BRAKES SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. CAR RIDES LIKE ALL 4 TIRES ARE FLAT - CAR SHAKES AND VIBRATES AS WELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES - MORE THAN 10 - TOOK TO DEALER - THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE - I HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM LINE FLUSHED AND BLED AND THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT WHAT WAS IN THE BRAKE LINE WAS NOT BRAKE FLUID - WRITTEN RIGHT ON THE INVOICE. KIA IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR CARS AND SCREWING PEOPLE - ESPECIALLY WOMEN. SERVICE MANAGERS WOULD JUST SMIRK AND LAUGH WHEN I TOOK IT IN WITH THE COMPLAINTS - LIKE I WAS AN IDIOT.

NHTSA ODI 10761144

I TRIED BACKING OUT, TURNED MY WHEELS AND WASN'T ABLE TO. HEARD A LOUD POP UNDERNEATH, THEN THE WHOLE FRONT RIGHT OF MY CAR SUNK IN. TRIED BACKING OUT, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE AT ALL. I PUT IT IN PARK AND WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. HUBCAP WAS GONE, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL LOOKED LIKE IT SUNK INTO THE CAR. IT LOOKED LIKE THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR WAS SITTING ON THAT ONE WHEEL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE TIRE ROD MIGHT HAVE BROKEN. BEFORE, I WOULD HEAR A CREAKING SOUND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BREAK, IT WAS LOUDER WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET. IT'S A 2013 KIA FORTE WITH ONLY 47K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 10733462

GAS GAUGE DOES NOT KEEP AN ACCURATE READING. WHEN I FILL THE TANK UP WITH GAS ONE DAY AND I DRIVE TO WORK 15 MILES AND THE TANK GAUGE WILL SHOW BELOW 3/4 OF A TANK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714715

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER PARKING AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, THE SHIFT LEVER ROLLED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE RAN OVER THE CONTACT AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL INTO THE CONTACT'S YARD. THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A COUPLE OF TREES AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE CONTACT'S NEIGHBORS YARD. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE CONTACT SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 10691650

10/21/2014 I PURCHASED A 2013 KIA FORTE WITH ABOUT 21, 620 MILES ON IT AND THIS PARTICULAR UNIT WORK LIKE A CHAMPION BUT IT IS DEFECTIVE AND JUST WITHOUT WARNING WON'T TURN ON. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE FIVE TO SEVEN TIMES ALREADY IN TWO MONTHS. I RECORDED FIVE TIMES, 10/29/2014, 11/12/2014, 12/02/2014, 12/16/2014, AND 01/06/2014. THE DEALER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE 12/02 & 12/16 INCIDENTS BUT FIND THE VEHICLE WORKING FINE AND I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 01/08/2015. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. IT IS UNRELIABLE AND IT MIGHT BE A HAZARDOUS CONDITION, THE VEHICLE JUST DIE ON ME AND WON'T TURN ON. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. UPDATED 10/29/15.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10671473

THE FRONT WINDOW CRACKED WITH THE DEFROSTERS ON. IT WAS 35 DEGREES OUTSIDE TEMP. THE CRACK STARTED OUTSIDE THE AREA FROM THE DEFROSTERS. 2 TO 3 INCHES ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW. IT ONLY CRACKED ON THE INSIDE. NO STONE MARKS ON THE OUTSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10667644

THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FREQUENTLY DOESN'T LATCH PROPERLY. IT CLICKS AS IF LATCHED, THEN COMES OUT WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS SLIGHTLY PULLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10640975

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.

NHTSA ODI 10630698