Home · 2013 Kia Forte · Complaints

What 195 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Forte

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (195)Crash / fire / injury (30)Engine (107)Brakes (37)Electrical system (25)Airbags (16)Lights (14)Steering (13)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Seat belts (8)Fuel system (6)Wheels (5)

37 of 195 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Jun 11, 2018WheelsBrakes

THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE IS ALWAYS ON EVEN WHEN I CHECK THE TIRES PRESSURE AND IT RIGHT..THE BRAKES ARE ALWAYS SQUICKING

NHTSA ODI 11101275

Feb 7, 2018Electrical systemLightsBrakes

DURING MONTH OF DECEMBER 2017 DISCOVERED ALL BRAKE LIGHTS (TOTAL OF 3 BULBS) BURNED OUT. THE CENTER TOP BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY DISCOVERED MELTED (SELF REPLACED WITH NEW ONES). THREE WEEKS AGO, RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND BULB BOTH BURNED OUT AND MELTED. I REPLACED THE LIGHT BULB AND USED ELECTRICIAN TAPE TO HOLD SOCKET AND BULB IN PLACE.

NHTSA ODI 11071588

Oct 26, 2017Electrical systemLightsBrakes

I KEEP HAVING ISSUES WITH MY BREAK LIGHT HAVING TO BE REPLACED ALL THE TIME. NOW IT'S WHERE THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL NOR DOES THE CAR GO INTO GEAR! I HAVE TO USE SOMETHING TO PUSH THE SHIFT LOCK DOWN SO THAT I CAN SHIFT GEARS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UNIVERSAL ISSUE AROUND THE BOARD ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS. NOW THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSE SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITHIN MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO KIA AND AT SOME POINT I'M SURE THIS IS ISN'T THE FIRST THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS BECAUSE THEY KEEP SAYING WELL YOUR VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS. OKAY I UNDERSTAND BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE EXACT SAME THATS HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO PREVIOUS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL BREAKLIGHT ISSUES. IT'S FAR TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IF YOUR VEHICLE ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE, KIA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT! IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK....QUACKS LIKE A DUCK....IT'S A DUCK...PLAIN AND SIMPLE! I FEEL THIS IS NEGLECT AND IT'S PUTTING CONSUMERS LIVES AT RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11040182

Oct 23, 2017Electrical systemLightsBrakes

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

Jan 22, 2017Brakes

CALIPER SEIZED UP, GRINDING NOISES, AROUND 35000 MILES

NHTSA ODI 10946901

Dec 20, 2016Brakes

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

Dec 6, 2016BrakesCrash1 injury

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

Jun 5, 2016Brakes

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

Feb 12, 2016Brakes

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

Sep 26, 2015BrakesEngine

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

Sep 2, 2015BrakesEngine

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

Jul 21, 2014Brakes

CAR BRAKE PEDAL WILL STICK AND NOT COME BACK UP. THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TO COME ON. ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT IS RAINING OR A LITTLE COLD OUTSIDE. 2013 KIA FORTE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10615195

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Working with the data? Download all 195 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Kia Forte verdict →