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)

21 of 439 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Feb 9, 2025AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

After T-boning a Toyota Prius, my air bag did not go off and my driver seat belt did not lock. As a result, I suffered a collapsed right lung, my left hand punched the windshield fracturing my wrist and had to have surgery from that. Also suffered my 7th right rib fractured. There was no warning lamps and no shop or dealer mentioned any of the malfunctions.

NHTSA ODI 11641554

Sep 3, 2023AirbagsCrash1 injury

Airbags failed to deploy after rear end collision.

NHTSA ODI 11542393

Jan 29, 2022AirbagsCrash

My car was hit in an accident & my air bag light popped on but they didn’t deploy. The light is still on and that was over 2 months ago.

NHTSA ODI 11449400

Nov 17, 2021Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngineCrash

My Kia Forte when I put it in reverse it will jerk back then pause and hardly push itself backwards I have no control same as putting the car into Drive. I also consistently hear water in the bottom of my car swishing around.

NHTSA ODI 11440761

Jul 6, 2021AirbagsCrash2 injuries

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Forte. The contact stated that her vehicle hydroplaned while driving at 65 MPH, which caused her to lose control of vehicle. The contact hit the right guardrail three times on the passenger side of her vehicle. The air bags did not deploy after multiple impacts. The contact nor her passenger needed medical assistance; however, they did both suffer minor scrapes and soreness. A police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard but was then towed to the contact's home where it remained in her possession. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be deemed destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 11423546

Jul 2, 2021AirbagsSeat beltsCrash

In May 2021 my daughter was in a bad car accident while driving my 2014 Kia Forte. The airbags did not go off and the seatbelts never tightened. Fortunately her and her passenger were not seriously injured and only received bruises on their knees and sore necks. There was so much damage to the front end of the car it was totaled by our insurance company. No warning lights were seen that day or even prior to the accident showing that the airbags weren't working properly. My car was not part of 6/18/18 Kia Forte recall#SC165 for airbags and seatbelts. The recall was for Kia Forte 2010-2013. While my Kia was a 2014, I did take possess of it in 2013. Starting in January 2014 I brought the car back to the dealership many times because of all the electric issues I was having with it. Since the dealership could not replicate the codes while the car was there Kia refused to look into or fix the problems. Electrical issues included doors not unlocking, doors not being able to be opened from inside or outside, windows not opening, headlights coming on while the car was parked, emergency flashers turning on without pushing the button, while driving traction/anti-slide light came on without a reason.

NHTSA ODI 11423216

Feb 25, 2021AirbagsCrash1 injury

THE KIA WAS MOVING INTO THE CITY INTERSECTION AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN A CHEVY BLAZER TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60+ MPH HIT THE KIA, WITHOUT BREAKING AND RIPPED THE WHOLE FRONT END OFF. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS RESULTED IN INJURIES.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11397828

Jan 12, 2020SteeringAirbagsCrash1 injury

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

Feb 10, 2019Electrical systemLightsAirbagsCrash

VEHICLE IN MOTION HIT DEER. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AT THE TIME AND CONTINUES BEING A HAZARD AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. SMELL OF SOMETHING BUT INFO TURNED OUT TO BE BLOWER MOTOR CONNECTOR THE BLOWER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONS THE SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN

NHTSA ODI 11176074

Jul 29, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION ACCIDENT ON 6/18/2018 (DUE TO SOMEONE RUNNING A RED LIGHT) IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OF APPROXIMATELY 4500.00 .. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ME. WHEN I ASKED BOTH THE REPAIR SHOP AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE ONLY THING I WAS TOLD WAS. "YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL BECAUSE HAD IT DEPLOYED WE WOULD HAVE TOTALLED THE CAR!' THIS DOES NOT HELP WITH MY FEELING SECURE O. MY VEHICLE OR HELP WITH MY ANXIETY. AND DEFINITELY DOES NOT A ANSWER MY QUESTIONS..

NHTSA ODI 11114396

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

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

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

May 18, 2014AirbagsCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 10592296

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

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 →