What 195 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Forte

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte EX. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 55 MPH, she noticed smoke emerging from the vehicle. The driver pulled over and called roadside assistance. All the warning lights illuminated. Upon arrival, roadside assistance informed the driver the engine had caught fire and had seized. It was unknown how the fire was extinguished. The contact stated that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed him the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted, who started a claim. The manufacturer requested a photo of the engine but the contact stated that he did not have any photos. The failure mileage was approximately 118,150.

NHTSA ODI 11618724

MY WINDOWS BEGAN TO ROLL UP SLOWER THAN USUAL. WHEN I ROLL MY WINDOW UP SEEMS LIKE MY LIGHTS WOULD DIM. BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, I PARKED MY CAR. IT SEEMED TO BE RUNNING JUST FINE BEFORE I TURNED IT OFF. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT BACK OUT TO TURN IT ON, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN NOR WOULD THE GEAR MOVE. ONCE I SAT FOR HOURS WAITING FOR A FAMILY MEMBER TO ASSIST ME. THE FAMILY MEMBER CAME AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED. ONCE STARTED WE BEGAN TO SEE AND SMELL SMOKE. IT SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICITY. THE CAR DIED OUT AND CONTINUED TO SMOKE REALLY BAD AND THE SMELL OF ELECTRICTY BECAME STRONGER. THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START.

NHTSA ODI 11568694

I have owned my 2013 kia forte for over 7 years. Within the last 3 years I have had significant issues with my tail lights and break lights burning out. To the point that the socket completely melted and shattered the light bulb.upon attempting to fix and remove the melted socket I sliced my hand open. I have been pulled over multiple times for my lights flickering or even just being out. It's to the point where I carry spare light bulbs in my car. I've had a mechanic look at my vehicle and I've been advise that I need to have the whole tail light assembly replaced. This is a huge safety issue especially when traveling with my small children. I've spoken with many people that have this model car and all experience the same issue. I'm shocked to know this is not a recall issue!

NHTSA ODI 11421549

MY 2013 KIA FORTE KOUP WAS PARKED AS I RAN INTO THE STORE, I CAME OUT TO MY CAR ON FIRE AND IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE. IT WAS ALL FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD THE ELECTRICAL I BELIEVE AS MY STEERING WHEEL AND EVERYTHING WAS ON FIRE. I HAVE A 10YR WARRANTY ON MY CAR, I RECEIVED AN URGENT RECALL A FEW DAYS AFTER MY CAR FIRE IN REGARDS TO POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AND SOMETHING ELSE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM BUT THEY SAID WE DO NOT DEAL WITH THAT YOU MUST CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE SO I DID THE VERY NEXT DAY. I SPOKE WITH RYAN AND HE GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER STATED NOT TO WORRY THEY WILL GET ME IN A CAR AND HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I HEARD FROM HIM TWICE THEN NOTHING FOR TWO WEEKS THEIR SYSTEMS WERE DOWN, I HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED SO MANY TIMES WITH NO CALL BACK OR EMAIL BACK. I DEMANDED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR BECAUSE 3 WEEKS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE I DID NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT CAR OR RENTAL AND MY RENTAL THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD ONLY BE FOR 30 DAYS. THE MANAGER WAS JEFF STROUP WHO WAS NOT HELPFUL AND A LITTLE SHADY ALSO LAUGHED AT ME BECAUSE I WAS UPSET I HAD NO CAR NO ANSWERS NO RESULTS. HE SAID IT TAKES A WHILE TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND THEN ANOTHER MONTH FOR THE RESULTS, BUT YET I AM AT THEIR MERCY BEING I HAVE NO CAR AND I HAVE A WARRANTY. HE WAS RUDE AND NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. HE ASKED ME TO SEND HIM THE BILL FOR THE RENTAL CAR I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, I DID AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM. I HAVE CALLED MANY TIMES AND THEY DO NOT GIVE YOU ANYONES DIRECT NUMBER OR EMAIL. IT IS ABOUT 2 MONTHS SINCE MY CAR FIRE AND NO PHONE CALLS NO INSPECTION OF MY CAR AND ABSOLUTELY NO HELP FROM KIA! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY GIVE HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FAIL TO ASSIST SOMEONE WHO SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THEIR CAR AND HAS A WARRANTY. I CURRENTLY HAVE NO VEHICLE BUT A WARRANTY THAT DOES NOTHING

NHTSA ODI 11406929

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT NOTICED HER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, SHE STOPPED FOR FUEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SPUTTER AND SHAKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MISFIRE SHORT IN THE WIRING. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11400208

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM CARFAX NOTIFYING ME OF A RECALL FOR MY CAR PERTAINING TO A POSSIBLE FIRE, I CALLED DEALERSHIP TO SET UP APPOINTMENT AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS 2 RECALLS FOR MY CAR BUT NEVER ONCE RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM KIA. MY APPOINTMENT WAS FOR THE COMING SATURDAY BUT ON WEDNESDAY AFTER I PARKED AND RAN INTO THE GROCERY STORE FOR LESS THAN 15MINS I CAME OUT TO A GENTLEMAN WHO ASKED IF THIS WAS MY CAR, WHEN I LOOKED AT IT I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE ALL THE WINDOWS WERE BLACK AND SMOKE WAS COMING I BELIEVE FROM EITHER THE HOOD OR WINDOW, HE SAID YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE. BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE WERE FIRE TRUCKS AND POLICE. MY ENTIRE INSIDE OF MY CAR BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND ALL ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD STEERING WHEEL RADIO EVERYTHING. MY CAR WAS DESTROYED, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY RIGHT AWAY AS THE POLICE ADVISED ME TOO AND LATER ON A FRIEND GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE WHERE I NOTIFIED THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11398954

MY KIA WENT ON FIRE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY KIA, I FOUND OUT FROM CARFAX AND SET UP APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS RECALL FIXED AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS 2 RECALLS. SET UP THE APPT FOR SATURDAY, WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF I RAN INTO THE STORE CAME OUT AND MY CAR WAS ON FIRE ALL OF THE DASHBOARD ALL BEHIND IT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE. 2 DAYS AFTER MY CAR GOES ON FIRE I AM SUDDENLY GETTING RED EMERGENCY RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT SPEAK WITH ME, THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER BUT HAS DONE NOTHING IN OVER 2 WEEKS. I STILL HAD MY 10YR WARRANTEE AND KIA SAID I WOULD SETTLE WITH YOUR INSURANCE YOU WILL GET MORE MONEY FROM THEM. THEY DO NOT RETURN CALLS OR EMAILS AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSABILITY AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11398959

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE NOT IDLING, THE CONTACT NOT ALERTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED BECAUSE THE MATTER WAS RESOLVED WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. **TR CONSUMER STATED CAR WAS PARKED. FAILING PART: COOLING FAN SENSOR. UPDATED 11/8/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11121043