What 195 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Forte

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while at a complete stop at the traffic light, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after accelerating at 20 MPH from the complete stop, another vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of the vehicle, and the vehicle was pushed towards a residence. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond, causing the front end of the vehicle to crash into the residence. The air bags deployed. There was no injury sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), which she related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11582549

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

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while parked, a passerby observed fire emanating from the engine compartment. The origin of the fire was unknown. The police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a lot where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11550633

Engine fire

NHTSA ODI 11520312

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at 50 - 55 mph, noises were heard and smoke came from the front and rear of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer replaced the engine and fuel pump. However, while the dealer was test driving the vehicle, abnormal noises were heard. The dealer informed the contact that they would contact the manufacturer to replace the engine. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,917.

NHTSA ODI 11438039

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled. The contact parked the vehicle and saw smoke entering the cabin of the vehicle through the vents. The contact exited the vehicle before the vehicle caught on fire. There was no injury sustained. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The contact called local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The failure mileage was approximately 85,400.

NHTSA ODI 11420163

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

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I-70 MD AT 65MPH WHEN I HEARD A TICKING SOUND AND I WASNT GETTING ANY POWER. CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO MOVE WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN BANG!!!! SMOKE, PLASTIC AND METAL WENT FLYING EVERYWHERE FROM THE ENGINE BAY, RICOCHETING OFF THE ASPHALT TOWARDS THE SIDES OF MY VEHICLE AND OTHER CARS TRAILING BEHIND ME. CARS SWERVED TO AVOID THE DEBRIS FROM HITTING THEIR VEHICLES. POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I STRUGGLED TO MOVE THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER ACROSS ANOTHER LANE. I COULDVE EASILY BEEN KILLED HAD A DRIVER NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION OR LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE CROSSING LANES AS THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WAS COMING TO A STOP, INABLE TO MOVE. I SOMEHOW SAFELY GOT TO THE SHOULDER AND GOT THE CAR TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE MECHANIC. CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. ROD SNAPPED AND BLEW A 2 INCH HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND CAR LIT ON FIRE BRIEFLY. BOUGHT A NEW (USED) THETA II ENGINE (THE SAME ENGINE RECALLED IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OTHER KIAS AND HYUNDAIS) BUT NOT FOR THE 2013 KIA KOUP WITH THE SAME ENGINE PROBLEM. $4800+ LATER, IM STILL SCARED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS I COULDVE EASILY BEEN SMASHED THAT DAY BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL EVERY SINGLE MAKE YEAR AND MODEL WITH THE THETA 2 ENGINE. HAVE NEW (USED) ENGINE RECIEPT AND ALL DOCUMENTATION PERTAINING TO THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11386011

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