What 439 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Forte Koup

Failure of the flexible coupling in the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS). This is a known issue and Kia has extended the warranty on the Optima, Soul, and Cadenza that use the exact same defective part. For some unexplained reason the forte has been excluded from coverage. It should also be noted that Hyundai has included the Elantra (which is the sister model to the Forte) as well as the Sonata. As mentioned all of these vehicles were assembled with the same, admittedly defective part. The warranty has been extended on every model with the exception of the Forte. The current TSB (CHA 074) acknowledges the problem without offering a comparable remedy as provided for all other affected models.

NHTSA ODI 11505005

This morning I needed to move my son's 2014 KIA Forte. There was very notable clicking noise in the steering wheel with even the slightest turn. I googled "clicking noise in steering wheel" and found thousands of listings (all KIA and Hyundai) for failures of a coupler in vehicles along with numerous videos with the same symptoms that I experienced. I also found that for 2012/2013 Soul and 2014 Cadenza that KIA had done an extended warranty for 10 years unlimited miles that was posted on the NHTSA website. I could not find anything similar for the KIA Forte even though I found many on-line consumer complaints for the same issue in the KIA. I contacted both the nearest service dealer (no appointments until April) and KIA Consumer and they said they had a significant back-log for any service. I would like to know if there have been enough complaints from KIA Forte owners that the warranty extension would apply. If not, I would like to add this complaint for the KIA Forte so that the NHTSA knows that the issue is more widespread than just for the models listed in the original extension. Thanks so much.

NHTSA ODI 11503757

My husband was driving down a street going roughly 45 miles an hour and all of a sudden there was a jerking feeling and the steering wheel locked up on him and he could no manage the direction that the car would go.yes it is available for inspection upon request. The steering and the direction of the car going 45. miles an hour definitely endangered us that was in the car and those that were on the road at the approximate time that we were. There was only 42000 miles on the car and we had only had it 58 days. We had it towed to the dealership Kia Nissan in Monroe La. And was told that it would cost 2000 to fix. So I then had it towed to another mechanic and got a completely different story. that the car had been wrecked before even though it didn’t show on the Carfax and they were there was ways to tell it and also told that rack and pinion‘s don’t break usually until 220 300,000 miles. I spent every penny I had saved after losing everything in hurricane Laura to buy this car. Not only do I feel very lied to by the dealership that I bought it from and misinformed and uninformed a certain issues that would’ve prevented me from buying a car on top of that I’m paying 24% interest rate and now they want to increase the interest rate because the car is broke down and they had to defer some payments because I can’t get to work because I don’t have a vehicle. I’ve had Kia check out the car and I’ve had two other mechanics check out the car and both of them told me separate stories different problems different prices and I need some help establishing where is the fault lies. Because I don’t think I should be responsible for a injury to a car or is it something that broke on its own and almost endangered our lives when the car had only been driven 42,000 miles. There was absolutely no warning signs no flashes of light no nothing to warn of this problem it happened out of nowhere and it was very scary and not rush I wanna keep the car anymore because I was scary.

NHTSA ODI 11499714

My engine burns oil very fast, I am constantly putting oil in it even after oil changes. At one point, I was told by the dealership that I would need a new engine and that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced as a result of the engine problem. I ended up having to come out of pocket for the catalytic repair, 2 times... Thats right... 2 times. Upon returning to the dealership about engine, I was told that there was a recall for another issue in the engine that they would take care of. Upon asking about the engine, I was told the engine was fine. Also the coupler in the steering wheel column has gone bad, it was fine, until my clock springs were replaced by the dealership. The clock springs were under a recall/extended warranty issue.

NHTSA ODI 11483225

Car shuts down while driving. ABS and traction control light comes on, cruise control shuts off, power steering light comes on and no power steering, screens and radio stop working, no a/c or heat, car finally completely shuts down.

NHTSA ODI 11473181

On June 24, 2022 I was driving my vehicle on 435N to work. My steering wheel jerked to the left and started spinning out of control. I was driving at 60mph in the inside lane. When my steering jerked it caused me to turn headfirst into the inside wall. I proceeded to spin out of control across 3 lanes of rush hour traffic, clipping a second vehicle, before smashing into the outside wall and then resting in the outside lane horizontally. I was rushed to the emergency room where I suffered a broken back. Upon looking at the recalls and safety issues with my vehicle there was a recall #17V773000 for the brake pedal stopper; a most recent

NHTSA ODI 11471011

Steering coupler needed to be replaced. There have been warranty extensions for this part on several Hyundai cars as well as Kia Optima. Same issue as I experienced. No recall yet on my vehicle. Had to pay $500 to get replaced. Failure around 78,000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11463385

My steering wheel feels loose and makes a noise when turning. Feels like I need to turn the steering wheel a bit before my tires start to turn and then it clicks again when my wheel goes back to neutral. This also has caused my cruise control and windshield wipers to stop working.

NHTSA ODI 11462853

Ki Aforte 2014 steering wheel has started making a noise while turning when stationary. As with Kia Soul and Optima models of same vintage, steering coupler part needs to be replaced

NHTSA ODI 11453266

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel made a knocking sound. The contact stated that the first time the failure occurred was in late September with the knocking sound only happening while turning either to the left or the right. The contact stated that recently the failure started occurring whenever the vehicle was being driven. The contact stated that the steering wheel was not secured and felt as if it was going to detach. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 52,177.

NHTSA ODI 11442264

2014 Kia Forte 1.8l steering is very hard or stiff to rotate especially from right to left when driving at more than 20 mph rendering lane change on roads and expressways very dangerous, and simply maneuvering steering very difficult. It feels like steering is jamming or being stuck. Besides hear a click sound from the steering even when car is stationary. Started experiencing hard steering problem at the end of June 2021.

NHTSA ODI 11425647

Steering coupler needed to be replaced. There have been warranty extensions for this part on several Hyundai cars as well as Kia Optima. Same issue as I experienced. No recall yet on my vehicle. Had to pay $500 to get replaced

NHTSA ODI 11418484

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. DURING THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE COILS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE), THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF GREENVILLE LOCATED AT 2424 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607 HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11395241

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF FOR FEW WEEKS FINALLY RESTING TO STEADY ON. THERE IS NO CRASH CASE AT ALL. STEERING WHEEL MAKES KNOCKING SOUND WHEN ROTATED WHILE THE CAR IS NOT MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 11360370

THE RADIO TURNS IT'S SELF ON AND OFF. ONE MINUTE THE HORN IS WORKING THE NEXT MINUTE THE HORN IS NOT WORKING. THE HORN WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO WORK. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR WAS NOT IN A WRECK OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. SAME WITH THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IF YOU USE THE BUTTONS TO CHANGE THE SONG ON THE STEERING WHEEL IT ACTUALLY TURNS RADIO COMPLETELY OFF INSTEAD OF CHANGING THE SONG. AND THAT HAPPENS WITH THE VOLUME BUTTON AS WELL. I'VE ALREADY BEEN TO A MECHANIC AND TOLD THEM THAT I THINK THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT I JUST GET LOOKED AT LIKE I'M CRAZY.

NHTSA ODI 11353495

THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I'VE CHECKED AND THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES. CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO DO NOT WORK AND ARE UNRESPONSIVE. THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTINGS ARE UNRELIABLE AND CAN LEAD TO POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. KIA SHOULD COVER THE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11352871

THERE IS A NOTICEABLE NOISE EACH TIME WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH AT REST AND IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THERE IS ALSO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SUSPECTED PROBLEM IS A FAILURE OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. KIA HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE IN OTHER MODEL CARS SUCH AS THE OPTIMA OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR BUT NOT FOR THE FORTE.

NHTSA ODI 11352866

MY 2014 KIA FORTE HAS STARTED MAKING A CLICKING/POPPING NOISE WHEN I AM TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS GONNA COME OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE IT LOCKS, AND I AM AFRAID IT IS GONNA LOCK UP ON ME DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT CLICKS/POPS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IF YOU ARE DRIVING, AND IS GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11351443

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS ALL ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY ARE INTENDED TO DO. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND IT IS SAYING THE CLOCK SPRING. IT ALSO STATES THAT THEY ARE MADE TO LAST A LIFE TIME OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO TOWBIN KIA IN HENDERSON NV. THEY CONFIRMED IT IS BAD AND NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BEING IT IS THE AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I NOTICED ON THE GOOGLE SEARCH MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I AM IN THE DRIVERS SEAT WHETHER I AM STATIONARY OR IN TRAVEL MOTION THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON CONSTANT . THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS DO NOT DO WHAT INTENDED...FOR EXAMPLE PUSH CRUISE AND IT COMES ON BUT WILL GO RIGHT OFF. THE AUDIO CONTROL SUCH AS BLUETOOTH BUTTON TURNS RADIO UP ... THE CALL BUTTON SAY PLEASE SAY A COMMAND THE HANG UP BUTTON WON'T HANG UP THE CALL AND CHANGES THE STATION ON RADIO. VERY CONFUSING. BUT THE CLOCK SPRING CONTROLS AIRBAG AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS ....CONFIRMED BY KIA THAT THIS IS INTENDED FUNCTIONS . NONE WORKS . I FEEL THIS ITEM SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF THE AIRBAGS. IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT OR IF IT DOES NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF AN ACCIDENT COULD BE DEADLY EITHER WAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326909

AIRBAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER COMES ON AND OFF WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT. AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE DRIVER IS ON NOW, AS WELL AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL KNOCKS WHEN THE CAR IS MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AND THE HORN HAS NOW STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE SOMETHING IS IN THE WAY AND WON'T ALLOW THE PRESSURE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WE HAVE REPLACED BULBS FOR THE TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR. THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL! WE NOW KEEP BULBS IN THE CAR TO BE PREPARED TO REPLACE AT ANY TIME. WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK, WHERE A TRUCK RAN THE RED LIGHT AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS IS TROUBLING AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11298870

MY VEHICLES STEERING COUPLING PINGS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S COME LOOSE OR BROKEN. SAME ISSUE HAPPENED TO ANOTHER KIA IN THE FAMILY A 2012 KIA SOUL MY BROTHER IN LAW OWNS. THAT KIA HAD A RECALL FOR THE STEERING COUPLING, THE 2014 KIA FORTE DOES'NT HAVE THIS FOR A RECALL YET BY KIA. I CONTACTED KIA COMPLAINT #13202206 FOR RESOLUTION BUT NO RESOLUTION REC'D TO DATE 12/13/2019.

NHTSA ODI 11288979

DROVE OVER TRAIN TRACKS AT 15 MPH AND FELT IT BREAK. AT STOP, STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY WHEN TURNED LIGHTLY. KNOCKS LOUDLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING. PART CAN CAUSE STEERING TO LOCK UP AT ANY MOMENT WHILE TURNING AND VERY UNSAFE. $13 PART, $200 LABOR

NHTSA ODI 11278110

STEERING: STEERING MAKES A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE DASHBOARD WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. NOISE HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING AT ANY SPEED. KIA HAS RECALLED SOME 2014-2016 SOULS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THE FORTE. LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNALS.

NHTSA ODI 11221999

THE STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM WILL MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE THAT IS FELT MORE THAN HEARD. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE, AND IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE STOPPED AS OPPOSED TO TURNING WHILE IN MOTION. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG SEVERAL MODELS OF KIA, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHEAST. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER TODAY TO HAVE CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FLEX COUPLER. THE RECEPTIONIST TOLD ME THEY GET A LOT OF THESE ALL THE TIME AND THAT THEY CAN BECOME VERY DANGEROUS IF NOT FIXED SOON. MY RESEARCH ALSO REVEALED THAT SOME MODELS HAVE BEEN AFFORDED EXTENDED WARRANTIES AND FREE REPLACEMENT, BUT OTHERS HAVE NOT EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM, SYMPTOM, AND SOLUTION ARE THE SAME. BTW, THE REPAIR BILL WAS OVER $400...ABOUT $2 FOR PART AND THE REST WAS LABOR, TAX AND MISC.

NHTSA ODI 11221321

PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL ,WHEN LOOKING IT UP ,PROBLEM SEEMS COMMON FOR THE STEERING COUPLER TO GO OUT,CAUSES A JERK IN THE WHEEL AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. SITTING STILL IT WILL HAVE ALOT OF PLAY MOVING LEFT AND RIGHT AND A NOISE. A EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR SOME MODELS EXCEPT MINE.

NHTSA ODI 11190324