What 437 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Forte

I OWN A 2014 KIA FORTE EX.. WHEN I FIRST GOT MY CAR I NOTICE A LIGHTLY TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME THE TICKING SOUND WAS NORMAL ON NEW ENGINES . IT SEEMS TO GET A BIT LOUDER AS TIME WHEN IN.. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING WHEN WE NOTICE THE SOUND GOT MUCH LOUDER AND A SLAPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND MY CAR LOOSING POWER AND ALSO A BURNING SMOKE SMELL GETTING MUCH HEAVIER TO THE POINT THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND QUIT IT ON US. THE DASH ALSO GOT VERY HOT AT THIS POINT .. WE CALLED FOR TOW SERVICE AND GOT THE CAR BACK HOME ... WAS SURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR .. THANK YOU ! *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328540

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING ANYWHERE. I HAVE TO PUT OIL IN THE CAR ALMOST EACH TIME I GET GAS. THERE IS KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON. CAR FAILS TO START FROM TIME TO TIME. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS), AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11327687

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE HORN AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS HAVE ALL STOPPED WORKING. I WAS TOLD THAT A SPRING CLOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SOMEWHERE BUT I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND ITS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. ALSO MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT AND MY CAR IS BURNING FUEL AND OR OIL AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY. I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING BUT A NORMAL DRIVE WHEN THESE ISSUES BEGAN TO OCCUR. HELP *TR

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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

WHILE IN MOTION, ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON ONE DRIVE, THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINED ACTIVE. ALL THREE TIMES THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE ACCELERATING. ONCE AFTER SLOWLY GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. ONCE AFTER BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND GIVING GAS AFTER GOING FROM "REVERSE" TO "DRIVE". AND FINALLY, WHEN SLOWING FOR A TURNING VEHICLE AND ACCELERATING TO GO UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK IT OVER AND DESPITE CHECKING AND TESTING EVERY COMMON CAUSE, HE COULD NOT RECREATE THE SCENARIO. ALSO, HE REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES THROWN AS A RESULT OF THE EVENT.

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ENGINE HAS A KNOCKING NOISE AT 88,000 MILES. KIA SAYS A NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE AND ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR KIA OPTIMA'S.

NHTSA ODI 11318075

AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES, A LOUD TICKING NOISE BECOMES EVIDENT. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING AND IN DRIVE, IT DOES NOT MAKE A NOISE WHEN GIVEN GAS IN PARK. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO A MECHANIC TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 2014 WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT. I GOOGLED THE ISSUE AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS: HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/FORTE/2014/ENGINE/ENGINE.SHTML

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I STARTED THE CAR ONE DAY AND IT STARTED IDLING ROUGH AND SMOKING. WE CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS A QUART AND A HALF LOW. IT WAS NOT LEAKING OIL. ONCE WE ADDED OIL, IT NO LONGER IDLED ROUGH OR SMOKED. BUT NOW IT HAS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN I ACCELERATE. IT ALSO STARTED LOOSING POWER IN CERTAIN INSTANCES. I WILL BE ACCELERATING AND THE CAR WILL START HESITATING. THE CAR ONLY HAD 62,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS STARTED.

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THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. SMOKE WAS NOTICED FIRST AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS EXITED AND FLAMES BEGAN CONSUMING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11315635

THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A FLUTTERING NOISE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC LAST WEEK WHEN THE CAR DRAGGED AFTER STOPPING, AND IT SEEMED THAT IT MIGHT STALL OUT. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND COULD GO AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11309527

THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND PINGING. STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IS NOW KNOCKING REALLY BAD. 75K MILES - RUNNING FIN TWO DAYS AGO, HAVE ALL OF MY OIL CHANGES UP TO DATE.

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AS WELL AS FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.

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THE CAR IN QUESTION IS A 2014 WITH ABOUT 160K MILES, BOUGHT USED ON 12/2019 FROM DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO PREVIOUS OWNER. LOW OIL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING. CHECKED LEVEL AND NOTHING SHOWED ON DIPSTICK, DESPITE OIL CHANGE AT DEALER BEFORE PURCHASE. ADDED A QUART AND DECIDED TO GO TO OIL CHANGE PLACE. WHILE ACCELERATING IN TO TRAFFIC, ENGINE WAS HESITATING THEN LOST NEARLY ALL POWER ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD RATTLING (LIKE MARBLES) FROM ENGINE. MANAGED TO GET OFF ROAD WITH ENGINE GETTING INCREASINGLY LOUDER AND VIBRATING BADLY, CLEARLY OUT OF BALANCE SOMEHOW. ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER TOWING TO MECHANIC, THEY ALSO NOTED THAT IT WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. CHECKED OIL AND NOTED THAT IT WAS FULL OF METAL SHAVINGS. I'VE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE OIL CONTROL VALVE PACKED WITH THESE SHAVINGS. TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT ENGINE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE 2.0L ENGINE IN THIS CAR IS THE EXACT SAME ENGINE BUILT IN THE EXACT SAME TIME PERIOD THAT KIA WAS FORCED TO RECALL (SC147) IN OTHER MODELS BUT FOR NO APPARENT EARTHLY REASON IT WAS NOT INCLUDED! HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? WHY WASN'T THE ENGINE RECALLED ACROSS THE BOARD? ALL SYMPTOMS NOTED IN THE COMPLAINTS HERE AND IN THE RECALL MATCH: SUDDEN LOW OIL LEVEL, LOSS OF POWER, METAL SHAVINGS WORKING THEIR MAGIC THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE INTERNALS, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE SOON AFTER. REPLACEMENT ENGINES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND AREN'T AVAILABLE IN THE REBUILD MARKET. I'VE ALREADY SUNK MONEY ON TOWING AND DIAGNOSTICS ON THE THING, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO GET WHAT IS BASICALLY A BRICK RIGHT NOW TOWED BACK TO THE HOUSE. I'M GOING TO TRY ONCE AGAIN TO GET THROUGH TO SOMEBODY AT KIA CUSTOMER SUPPORT, BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO TURN OUT, DON'T WE?

NHTSA ODI 11307736

ENGINE FAILING. CYLINDER #3 IS MAKING NOISE. NO NOISE WHEN SWITCHED OFF. INTERNAL PART HAS BEGUN TO FAIL; DEALER RECOMMENDS THAT REPLACE ENGINE. NO KIA WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE WE ARE SECOND OWNERS.

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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND GEICO CAN COMMUNICATE THIS. MY VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. IN 2018 I TRIED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE MANUFACTURER CONCERNING THE RECALL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THEY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE V PORT WHERE THE VEHICLE CHARGED FROM. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF ONCE HE NOTICED THE SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL SEATS WERE BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED A SHORT FUSE CAUSED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY WOULD RECEIVE A CALLBACK. A CASE WAS OPENED WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,483

NHTSA ODI 11302615

AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES, A LOUD TICKING NOISE BECOMES EVIDENT. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING AND IN DRIVE, IT DOES NOT MAKE A NOISE WHEN GIVEN GAS IN PARK. AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2014 FORTE GDI ENGINES AND THE FACT THAT THE 2014 FORTES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT FOR FEAR THAT MY ENGINE WILL SOON SEIZE LIKE THE MANY THAT I'VE READ ONLINE. MY CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT AND IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY.

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I PURCHASED MY 2014 KIA FORTE EX USED WITH 96,000 MILES. IT HAD A CLEAN CARFAX REPORT AND RAN GREAT FOR THE FIRST 4.000 MILES. THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING WITH ABOUT 100,000 MILES. THE CAR CONTINUED TO KNOCK SO I TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE STATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE SUGGESTED TO TAKE TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE. I CONTACTED KIA AND THEY SAID BRING IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS. IT WAS DETERMINED BY KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING KIA WOULD DO SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 100,000 MILES. ONE OF THE SERVICE REPS TRIED TO FIND A WAY TO HELP ME BUT INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING SHE COULD DO.

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AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON AND RANDOMLY COMES ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN I JUST START IT IT WILL COME ON AND THEN GO OFF. CALLED DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF ANY RECALLS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID NONE. SCARED THAT AIRBAG MIGHT GO OFF RANDOMLY OR NOT WORK AT ALL. READ THAT OTHER YEARS HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE AND THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED. NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT SECOND OWNER OF VEHICLE. HAD VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND GET IT SERVICED REGULARLY.

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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.

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IN OCTOBER 2019 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING ENGINE ISSUES AND ON 11/16/19 I HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE OF MY 5 DOOR 2014 KIA FORTE AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD FM528 IN FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS. I HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES AT THE COST OF APPROX. $80 PER TOW AND SPENT AN ADDITIONAL $186 TO HAVE IT EVALUATED BY A MECHANIC. WE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND DISCOVERED A NUMBER OF VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING "PISTON FLAP" WHICH IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE CYLINDERS. EVEN THOUGH MY ENGINE IS WARRANTED FOR 100K MILES AND THE MILEAGE WAS AT 88K, KIA MOTORS REFUSED TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL TOWING EXPENSE TO GET IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (GAY FAMILY KIA IN DICKINSON, TX) FOR INSPECTION. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION SINCE THAT TIME. TODAY, 1/7/2020 THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE ENGINE WOULD BE "REPAIRED" NOT COMPLETELY REPLACED. DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME KIA DENIED ME A LOANER CAR. AS A SINGLE MOM, (WHICH DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE) WE HAD TO TAKE MY COLLEGE STUDENT SON'S 1999 TRUCK TO VISIT MY FAMILY 2 HOURS AWAY AND IT HAD AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE AND HAD AN ADDITIONAL TOW BECAUSE OF NO LOANER CAR. ON 12/27 I HAD KNEE SURGERY AND THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAD TO DRIVE WAS A 1997 MIATA THAT WAS A STANDARD. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE STANDARD DUE TO MY SURGERY AND MISSED AN ADDITIONAL 2 DAYS OF WORK. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AND PUTS CONSUMERS AT GREAT RISK OF INJURY AND CRASH ON PUBLIC ROADS. KIA HAS DONE EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO CIRCUMVENT AN ACCEPTABLE REMEDY TO THE SITUATION SO I AM NOW TURNING TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. PLEASE HELP! WILL PROVIDE WRITTEN REPORTS WHEN KIA DECIDES TO GIVE THEM TO ME. I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY FAIL ONCE THE VEHICLE PASSES 100K IN MILEAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11297880

ON JULY 17,2019 MY KIA FORTE 2014 STOP ON I-75 NORTHBOUND IN PERRY, GA WITH A 18 WHEELER ON MY TAIL @80MPH. I HAD NO POWER IT JUST CUT OFF. THIS WAS AFTER A OIL CHANGE @ WALMART IN CORDELE, GA 13 DAYS EARLIER THERE WAS NO OIL AND IT HAD RUN OUT FROM THE FILTER. BOTH ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC @ HUTCHINSON KIA AND AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC. DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE LEAKAGE,SECOND SOUND THE ENGINE WAS CRACKED CAUSED PROBLEM. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MY DAUGHTER HER LIFE WAS IN DANGER IN FAST HIGH VOLUME INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE HAS A DEFICIENCY IN THESE GDI ENGINES,SHOULD RECALLED. I WAS TOLD BY A RELIABLE SOUCE THAT BOTH THE KIA'S AND THEIR SISTER COMPANY SHARE THE SAME ENGINE AND THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH BOTH ENGINE TYPE GDI 2014 MODEL KIA FORTE AND OTHER MODELS WITH THIS KIND OF ENGINE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING, A TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ALMOST STALLED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALM KIA SOUTH (4310 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (678) 827-8900) FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED BECAUSE OIL WAS BURNING IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURNING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

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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.

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