Home · 2014 Kia Forte Koup · Complaints

What 439 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Forte Koup

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 (439)Crash / fire / injury (68)Engine (214)Airbags (62)Steering (62)Electrical system (57)Brakes (28)Fuel system (26)Lights (22)Body & structure (18)Transmission & drivetrain (17)Seat belts (14)

68 of 439 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 3 of 3

Jun 12, 2018AirbagsBrakesEngineCrash

MY DAUGHTER HAD A CAR CRASH ON JULY 22, 2017 DUE TO BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN TUSCALOOSA, AL AND THERE WERE NO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD THANK GOD. HER CAR HYDROPLANED AND HIT A RAILING. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. UNKNOWN ABOUT THE FAULT OR PROBLEM THAT CREATED THE UNSAFE CONDITION. HER CAR IS AT A BODY SHOP IN ALABAMA SO I WILL OBTAIN REPAIR INVOICES AND POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY DAUGHTER DOES NOT HAVE CAR INSURANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11101534

Apr 11, 2018AirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

ON SATURDAY MARCH 26TH, 2018 I WSS DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON I471 IN KENTUCKY. DOING ABOUT 50-55 MPH WHILE IT WAS SNOWING/SLEETING OUTSIDE. AS I WAS TRAVELING ANOTHER VEHICLE SWERVED OVER TO GET IN EXIT LANE WHILE AT SAME TIME ON A RIGHT TURN AROUND EXIT LANE. ONCE CAR DID SO, I HAD TO PRESS HARD, SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID BEING CLIPPED BY OTHER VEHICLE. AS I DID THIS I BEGAN TO SPIN NOR, THE ESC OR TRACTION CONTROL TOOK OVER AND I SPUN OUT OF CONTROL STRIKING GUARD RAIL AT UNKNOWN SPEED. I WAS UNINJURED, HOWEVER AS U CAN SEE LOTS OF DAMAGE TO FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED KIA RIGHT AWAY DO TO THE RECENT RECALLING BRAKE STOP PEDAL. I TOOK PICTURES THEY REQUIRED ANDCS3NT THEM AS, TOO THEY WERE CONCERNED OF NON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THEY DETERMINED VIA AN ENGINEER WITH IN THEIR DEPT. JUST BY LOOKING AT PHOTO'S THAT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. SO, MY ISSUE WITH THIS IS THEY ARE MAKING A DETERMINATION BY NOT PHYSICALLY HAVING VEHICLE DAMAGE TO MAKE ASSUMPTION AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. UPON LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS MINE. THIS MAYBE A CONCERN GOING FORWARD. I HAVE GIVEN SAID AUTOMAKER TO HELP WITH REPAIRS FROM ACCIDENT. AND THEY SEEM TO TRYING TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS WITH SAID VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11084680

Mar 28, 2018AirbagsCrash2 injuries

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE A CAR HIT HIT ME BEHIND AND PUSHED MY CAR INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR CAUSING THE FRONT SMASHED BOO INPACT AND BAG DIDN'T COME OUT ON EITHER SIDE. MY CAR WAS A DEAD STOP BEFORE THE INPACT FROM BEHIND ON A EXISTING TO A OFF RAMP ON THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ODI 11081884

Mar 20, 2018AirbagsSeatsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11080377

Nov 16, 2017EngineFire

2014 KIA FORTE EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPLAINED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT A STEADY 40MPH IN 40 DEG. F. WEATHER. ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS SHOWED NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE, AND THE OWNER DID NOT PERFORM ANY RECENT SERVICE WORK. NO SYMPTOMS SUCH AS ENGINE LIGHTS OR SOUNDS WERE OBSERVED UNTIL THE CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER AND CAUGHT FIRE ABOUT 60 SECONDS LATER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER SMOKE WAS OBSERVED BY THE DRIVER WHO WAS STOPPING THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11046543

Dec 8, 2016AirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash3 injuries

TAKATA RECALL NEEDS TO RECALL THE BREAKS ON THE 2014 KIA FORTE. ON NOVEMEBER 21ST 2016 I TOTALLED MY KIA DUE TO FAILURE OF MANAFACURER BREAKS THEY DIDNT STOP ME AND I REAR ENDED A CAR WHICH HOT ANOTHER THAT HIT ANOTHER. THE SPEED CONTROL ON THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL I BEARLY PUSH ON FHE GAS AND IT ZOOMED OFF T WENT FROM 0-30 REALLY QUICK. DURRING THE WRECK I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH WHICH WHEN I HIT THE CAR DUE TO THE BREAKS FAILING MY CAR BOUCED OFF OF IT AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE ROAD WAS DRY IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE OT WAS 5:58 AM AND VERY CLEAR OUTSIDE. THE ROADS WERE VERY DRY NOT SLICK AT ALLL MY CAR JOLTED AS THE BREAKS TRIED TO STOP ME BUT THEY NEVER ATOPPED ME. IT WAS ON A BACK ROAD HEADING TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI 10933944

Sep 15, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ORDERED THE CONTACT NOT TO LET ANYONE TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS EXAMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10906827

Aug 31, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10899806

Dec 21, 2015AirbagsCrash1 injury

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 10811378

Apr 1, 2015SteeringTransmission & drivetrainTraction Control SystemCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WITH A STEEP INCLINE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR TURN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BEFORE WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OR WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,500.

NHTSA ODI 10703084

Mar 20, 2015Seat beltsCrash1 injury

ON FEB 14TH, 2015 I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, THERE WAS A SNOW BLIZZARD, IT WAS JUST STARTING, I WAS TRYING TO STOP ON AN INTERSECTION MY SPEED WAS LESS THEN 10MPH, THERE WAS A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, MY CAR SLIPPED HITTING THE HOOK ON THE TRUCK. THERE IS A SMALL HOLE ON BUMPER THAT SMALL IMPACT ACTIVATED THE AIRBAGS. MY LEFT WRIST WAS BROKEN. ULNA AND RADIUS FRACTURE PRETTY BAD. I WAS TAKEN ON AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL AND GOT SURGERY 2 WEEKS AFTER. IT'S TAKING ME 6 WEEKS OUT OF WORK AND 3 MONTHS TO RECOVER. I BELIEVE THE AIRBAG AT THAT SPEED SHOULDN'T COME OUT. THE FRONT WINDOW WAS BROKEN BECAUSE OF PASSENGER SIT AIRBAG AND SEATBELT ON FRONT SITS HAVE TO BE REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10700697

Jan 6, 2015Electrical systemFire

2014 KIA FORTE. VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED INTO FLAMES, AS THE CONSUMER WAS WARMING THE VEHICLE UP.*TA THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED A COMPONENT SHORTED OUT THE ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10662832

Oct 6, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO FLIP OVER AND CRASH INTO A DIRT HILL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR HEAD INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI 10641716

Sep 26, 2014Electrical systemFire1 injury

ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2014, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUR 2014 KIA FORTE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE. AS SOON AS I PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER, FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE HOOD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. KIA CORPORATE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT WANT TO INVESTIGATE. I NEED HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10639468

May 18, 2014AirbagsCrash

I TOTALED MY CAR BY HYDROPLANING INTO A GUARDRAIL AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10592296

Apr 13, 2014SteeringElectrical systemBrakesCrash

TURNED ONTO A FAIRLY NARROW STREET WITH CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES; I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE MIDDLE OF STREET UNTIL I PASSED ALL PARKED CARS; ATTEMPTED TO MOVE BACK INTO MY LANE AND STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND STARTED JERKING; I WAS HEADED TOWARD A STOP SIGN POLE; I JUMPED THE CURB AND SCRAPPED RIGHT FROM BUMPER AND TIRE RIM; IGNITION SHUT OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER; THEY KEPT IT FOR TESTING AND INSPECTION FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND FOUND NOTHING; WE WANTED TO EXCHANGE IT BUT THEY REFUSED SINCE THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH IT; WE TOOK CAR BACK AND IT HAS BEEN DRIVING WELL SO FAR BUT INCIDENT IS STILL IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE IT. *TR UPDATED 10/1/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10579471

Apr 8, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH A MAN RAN A RED LIGHT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. HE HIT MY CAR RIGHT AT THE "HINGE" OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND HIT ME INTO THE CAR NEXT TO ME. MY SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND HE HIT ME GOING 35 MPH. THIS IS NOT COOL, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS? MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS MUCH AS I LOVED MY KIA, WHICH I ONLY HAD FOR 7 MONTHS, NOT SURE I WANT TO BUY ANOTHER. *TR...UPDATED 06-16-15 **BF UPDADTED 9/18/15*JS

NHTSA ODI 10578310

Oct 28, 2013BrakesBody & structureCrash1 injury

I WAS IN A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AS THE THIRD CAR. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN CAUSED THAT VEHICLE TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. I HAD THE BRAKES PRESSED DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND STILL COULDN'T STOP IN TIME TO PREVENT IMPACT, THERE WERE NOT EVEN ANY SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT. THE IMPACT WAS SO STRONG THAT MY BACK SEATS FOLDED DOWN AND THE THINGS I HAD IN MY TRUNK FLEW FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT. I HAD GLASS BOTTLES OF DRINKS IN THE TRUNK AND THEY WERE ALL BUSTED IN THE FLOORBOARD FROM BEING THROWN THROUGH THE BACK SEAT THAT FOLDED DOWN. FIRE AND RESCUE HAD TO OPEN MY DOOR TO LET ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I TRIED TO GET OUT AND COULDN'T PRY THE DOOR OPEN. TO ME THAT IS A HARD IMPACT, I WAS INJURED AND STILL SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION. MY CONCERN IS WITH A FRONTAL IMPACT OF SUCH FORCE, NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED! MY ACCIDENT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND I AM HURT BUT I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. LUCKILY I WAS WEARING MY SAFETY BELT BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS CERTAINLY DIDN'T PROTECT ME. I MADE A COMPLAINT WITH KIA AND THERE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME..."MA'AM WITH YOUR VEHICLE, YOU HAVE "SMART AIRBAGS" THEY ONLY DEPLOY IN A CATASTROPHIC EVENT." HOW CAN THE CAR TELL WHAT IS A CATASTROPHIC EVENT...MY 8 YEAR OLD COULD HAVE BEEN IN THAT BACK SEAT THAT FOLDED OR EVEN MY NEWBORN NIECE THAT I CARE FOR, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY CATASTROPHIC BUT FATAL!!! WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? PLEASE HELP, I DON'T WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO SUFFER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10549909

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Working with the data? Download all 439 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 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 2014 Kia Forte Koup verdict →