Home · 2015 Kia Forte Koup · Complaints

What 258 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 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 (258)Crash / fire / injury (38)Engine (156)Electrical system (29)Airbags (23)Transmission & drivetrain (17)Brakes (16)Lights (13)Fuel system (10)Speed control (5)Body & structure (4)Engine & cooling (4)

Newest first · 258 complaints · page 10 of 11

Aug 28, 2018Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DETECTED A BURNING ODOR FROM THE BACK SEAT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. BOTH POLICE AND FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11123029

Aug 6, 2018Electrical system

ENGINE IS BLOWN. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. IT HAPPENED AT A TRAFFIC LIGH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON PRIOR TO ENGINE BLOWING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT REGISTER HOT PRIOR TO ENGINE BLOWING. CHECK OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND STAY ON PRIOR TO ENGINE BLOWING.

NHTSA ODI 11115880

Jul 29, 2018Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 8 IN SAN DIEGO,CA AND I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP AND THE ENGINE DIED AND I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP IN EL CAJON, CA. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME MY ENGINE SEIZED AND THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I BOUGHT THIS CAR 11 MONTHS AGO AS A CPO AND IT IS WITHIN THE WARRANTY OF 10 YRS/100,000 MILES. I'VE ONLY PUT 21,000 MILES ON IT. THEY ARE ASKING FOR MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND ARE HAVING A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR TO COME OUT ON 7/31/2018 TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. I HAVE HAD ONE OIL CHANGE DONE AT THE DEALER IN JANUARY OF 2018, THE REST OF THE OIL CHANGES I DID ON MY OWN. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS JUST 2 WEEKS AGO. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW TELLING ME THAT IT'S UP TO THE INVESTIGATOR TO DECIDE IF THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND IF THEY'LL COVER MY ENGINE UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER IN JANUARY 2018, I INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A KNOCKING/PINGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THEY NEVER DOCUMENTED MY COMPLAINT. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND HOW KIA IS HANDLING THESE PROBLEMS, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY'LL HONOR THE WARRANTY. I AM MAKING CAR LOAN PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE WHILE THE BATTLE OVER THESE ENGINES PLAY OUT IN THE COURTS, YOUR INVESTIGATIONS AND THE RECENT FBI INVOLVEMENT. THE DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME OF POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES. I NEVER WOULD'VE PURCHASED THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE INVESTIGATOR WILL FALSIFY WHAT IS FOUND IN THE ENGINE UPON INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI 11114380

Jul 19, 2018Airbags

MY AIRBAG INDICATOR CAME ON SO I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO TAYLOR KIA IN TOLEDO. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LET ME KNOW THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE HAS FAILED AND MY AIRBAGS ARE NON-FUNCTIONING. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE ERROR FOR $875.00. I DIDN'T DO IT AT THE TIME AS I WAS GETTING OTHER WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE. I THEN LEARNED THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER KIA VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME TYPE OF FAILURE. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE (I ALSO OWN A 2012 THAT WILL BE UNDER THE RECALL). THE REP TOLD ME THAT MINE MAY SHOW UP, BUT I JUST NEEDED TO WAIT. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT I REPORT MINE BECAUSE THE ISSUE PROBABLY GOES BEYOND THE 2012.

NHTSA ODI 11112472

Jul 17, 2018Fuel system

ENGINE LIGHT ON WHEN DRIVING - JUST HAD FILLED WITH GAS THAT DAY - CAR HAS 38,000 MILES. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAD TO HAVE EVAPORATION CONTROL CANISTER REPLACED AS IT HAD A CRACK. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED IMMEDIATELY TO GET MY STATE INSPECTION STICKER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS. THE TOTAL COST WAS $458.73.

NHTSA ODI 11111966

Jun 11, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE CONTACT UNLATCHED THE HOOD AND FOUND FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMEONE STOPPED AND ASSISTED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL POLICE ARRIVED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION AND WAS AWAITING TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI 11101058

Mar 23, 2018AirbagsCrash

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A SINGLE-CAR FRONT END COLLISION. THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL ON INTERSTATE 195 IN SWANSEA MA. THE CAR LEFT THE ROADWAY TO THE LEFT AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH) AND CRASHED INTO THE WOODED MEDIAN. THE CAR FRONT END WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CRUMPLED, BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS

NHTSA ODI 11081133

Mar 17, 2018AirbagsCrash

OUR CAR WAS ROLLED END OVER END AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. MY SON WAS DRIVING SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND GOT INTO A GRAVEL AREA AND WENT DOWN A RAVINE AS THE CAR ENDED UP ROLLING END OVER END (NOSE DOWN REER END UP SO ON AND SO FORTH) THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. I CALLED KIA AND THEY WILL NOT EXPLAIN TO ME HOW IT WAS POSSIBLE AIRBAGS DIDNT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11079941

Mar 17, 2018Airbags

AIR BAG LIGHT OR INDICATOR CAME ON SOLID. NO OTHER ISSUES. TOOK INTO KIA ROCHESTER, MN AND THEY INDICATE A NEW PRIMARY AIRBAG MODULE IS REQUIRED. PART ON ORDER. VEHICLE HAS 30,500 MILES ON ODOMETER.

NHTSA ODI 11079987

Jan 24, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO HER BEING UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO STEVE LANDERS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (401 COLONEL GLENN PLAZA LOOP, LITTLE ROCK, AR), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ODI 11064560

Oct 27, 2017

THE 2 SETS OF KEYS ISSUED AT PURCHASING ARE SEPARATING FROM THE REMOTE.

NHTSA ODI 11040461

Sep 13, 2017Engine

BEARINGS IN THE ENGINE WENT BAD AND ENGINE LOCKED UP WITH LESS THAN 45000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS TWO YEARS OLD. IT WAS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ONE MONTH AGO AND THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEMS AT THE TIME. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE ENGINE LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11023328

Aug 24, 2017Body & structure

THIN PAINT OR DEFECTIVE PAINT. PAINT CHIPS EASILY.

NHTSA ODI 11019264

Aug 22, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

ITS HARD GOING UP A HILL AND AS I'M DRIVING FEELS LIKE CAR IS PULLING BACK WHILE GOING FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI 11018860

Jun 13, 2017Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT SUDDENLY PROGRESSED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY TO BE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (WORLD KIA JOLIET, 2525 W JEFFERSON ST, JOLIET, IL 60435, (815) 725-2575). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS A GDI MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT DEVELOPED A REPAIR SOLUTION AND THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE GDS MODEL TYPES. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHY THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. THE REPAIR CONCERNS WERE TO BE ESCALATED BUT, WHEN THE CONTACT FOLLOWED UP, THEY HAD NOT BEEN ESCALATED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 08/03/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER CLAIMED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO POOR MAINTENENCE. THE CONSUMER LOCATED OIL CHANGE RECIEPTS. THE DEALER THE REPLACED THE ENGINE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10994965

May 10, 2017Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILED AND EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SUFFERED ANOTHER BLOWOUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME AND THE CONTACT NOTED BLISTERING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES. THE TIRES EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BLOWOUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FOURTH TIME, AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE ALSO HAD A BLOWOUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAND OF THE TIRES VARIED, INCLUDING FIRESTONE, UHP, AND HANKOOK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO A TIRE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S RIMS WERE TOO LARGE AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN THE RIM AND THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND SOLD THE CONTACT THE FIRST NEW TIRE. A DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE. FIRESTONE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE TIRES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.

NHTSA ODI 10984716

Apr 12, 2017Steering

CAR WILL NOT STEER STRAIGHT,PULLS TO THE LEFT AND WHEN YOU CORRECT IT OVERSTEERS TO THE RIGHT HAVE HAD IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE,FIRST TIME THEY MADE A SLIGHT TOE-IN ADJUSTMENT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS IN SPEC.SECOND TIME,HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER DRIVE THE CAR AND TESTED IT AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC.HE SAID IT HAS ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO IT. WAS AT THE DEALER ON MONDAY AND TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT SOLD ME THE CAR THAT IT HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY BETTER BUT SEEMS TO BE WORSE. HE HAD NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN HAVE ME DRIVE A 2017 FORTE EX AND IF I LIKED IT MAYBE HE COULD MAKE ME A DEAL TO TRADE UP. DROVE THE 2017 FORTE AND IT WAS NOT MUCH BETTER THAN MINE,DRIFTED TO THE LEFT ,SO I REFUSED HIS DEAL I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 57 YEARS AND OWNED OR LEASED 20 CARS AND DRIVEN THEM OVER 3 MILLION MILES.IN ADDITION I HAVE RENTED CARS 300+ TIMES,THE LAST 4 OF WHICH HAD ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF STEERING PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS ONLY 7600 MILES ON IT BUT I CONSIDER IT A HAZARD TO DRIVE. IS THERE AN INDEPENDENT TESTING FACILITY WHICH CHARGES A NOMINAL FEE IN MY AREA (PUTNAM COUNTY NY)THAT I CAN GO TO AND TRY TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 10972130

Nov 10, 2016Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN CP671 TIRES, SIZE: P195/65R15 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE AND BEADS SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,500.

NHTSA ODI 10925374

Oct 16, 2016Engine

MY CAR LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING I NEED OIL IN MY 2015 KIA FORTE. AFTER PUTTING ON IN MY CAR IT BEGAN TO STALL. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING IT HOME AND THE CAR COMES TO A SCREECHING STOP ON BRECKENRIDGE LN, IN LOUISVILLE KY. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND BEGAN TO DRIVE SOME MORE THE CAR DID IT AGAIN. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE RAN INTO THE BACK OF ME AS THE CAR STOPPED ALL OF THE SUDDEN AS IF SOMEONE HAD PUSHED ON THE BRAKES. AS I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND BEGAN TO DRIVE A FEW YARDS DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR CUT OFF AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I DRIFTED INTO A ABANDONED GAS STATION ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR NO START BACK UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10916358

Jun 9, 2016Crash1 injury

I WAS DRIVING 45 ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED DEAD IN MY LANE I HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE TO STOP BUT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES I FELT THE ANTILOCK BRAES VIBRATE TWICE AND THEN IT FELT LIKE I WAS STILL GOING THE SAME SPEED NOT SLOWING ME DOWN (I HAD BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED).RESULTING IN ME STRIKING THE CAR AND TOTALING MINE AND HIS. WITNESSES SAID IT LOOKED LIKE I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES IN PLENTY OF TIME BUT DIDN'T STOP. I DID NOT KNOW HE HAD STOPPED BECAUSE HE HAD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM WHICH HAD PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD . THIS WAS A 4 CAR ACCIDENT CAR 2 HIT CAR 1 AND THEN CAR 3 HIT CAR 2 LEAVING CAR 3 SITTING IN ROAD WHICH I HIT CAR 3. ALL BECAUSE CAR 2 WAS LOOKING AT A ACCIDENT IN MEDIAN. I ASKED TO HAVE CAR BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST TO MUCH TO HIRE ENGINEERS TO CHECK OVER.

NHTSA ODI 10873377

May 1, 2016

I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST NALLEY KIA, LITHONIA, GA, AND THE EFFECTIVE TIRES THEY ARE PUTTING O THE KIA FORTE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER CHAD DALTON, THAT THE TIRE WITH THE BUBBLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. HE TRIED TO SAY I HAD HIT A POTHOLE AND THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE TIRE. I HAVEN'T HIT A POTHOLE. I HAVE LOOKED ON YOUR SITE AND I SEE OTHER ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THIS TIRE REPLACED, I HAVE ONLY 34,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL 50,000 MILES TIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10862416

Apr 1, 2016Speed controlBrakesCrash

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE IN MARCH OF 2016. I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND BEGAN TO PUSH THE GAS TO BACK OUT. THE CAR ENGINE REVVED LOUDLY AND THE CAR SHOT OUT OF THE GARAGE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THINKING I POSSIBLY HAD MY FOOT ON THE WRONG PEDAL (EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE), I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FEET AND VERIFIED THAT MY FOOT WAS INDEED ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE GAS PEDAL. I THEN PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT SLOW DOWN; IT CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED. AT THIS POINT, I HAD GONE DOWN MY DRIVEWAY ACROSS THE STREET AND WAS IN MY NEIGHBORS' DRIVEWAY HEADED TOWARD THEIR HOUSE. THEN, I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND THAT STILL DID NOT STOP OR EVEN SLOW DOWN THE CAR. IT JUST MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE. MY NEXT STEP WOULD HAVE BEEN TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT I HAD ALREADY HIT THE OUTSIDE WALL OF MY NEIGHBORS' GARAGE AND THAT IS WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AND BEGAN IDLING NORMALLY. I TOWED IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THEY RAN TESTS ON THE BRAKES, THROTTLE, ETC. AND FOUND NO ABNORMALITIES. WHEN I ASKED WHAT INFORMATION WAS GATHERED FROM THE CONTROL MODULE, I WAS TOLD THAT NO HISTORY CODES WERE SHOWN. SO, ACCORDING TO THEM THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ME BRAKING OR THE CAR ACCELERATING. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IS POSSIBLE. I ASKED TWICE FOR COPIES OF THE ACTUAL TESTS AND DATA THAT WAS DOWNLOADED FROM THE CONTROL MODULE, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE THEM. I WAS TOLD THE INFORMATION WAS TYPED WORD FOR WORD IN THE SUMMARY SECTION OF THE RECEIPT. I AM NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR, SINCE I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS ONE AND EXPRESSED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. HOW CAN THEY ALLOW A CAR BACK ON THE ROAD WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR WHY IT ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY? I'M BAFFLED BY THIS. UNFORTUNATELY, MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE.

NHTSA ODI 10852998

Mar 28, 2016Seat belts

I PURCHASED THIS USED VEHICLE TWO WEEKS AGO. I NOTICED THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT HAS ABOUT A 1-INCH FRAY ON IT. I ASKED MY SALESPERSON TO CHECK IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER KIA'S "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY. HE CHECKED WITH HIS MISHAWAKA INDIANA KIA DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK A PICTURE AND TOLD ME HE WOULD SUBMIT IT TO HIS BOSS. TWO DAYS LATER, HE LEFT ME A MESSAGE SAYING HIS BOSS WAS "DECLINING" TO REPLACE THE BELT BECAUSE IT WAS FRAYED. THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I WAS ASKING IT BE FIXED. I'VE OWNED HONDAS FOR 25+ YEARS AND NEVER HAD A SEATBELT FRAY. PLUS, IT DISTURBS ME THAT KIA IS IMMEDIATELY DECLINING TO HONOR THEIR "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY, ESPECIALLY ON WHAT SHOULD BE A RELATIVELY CHEAP FIX. SHOULDN'T THIS BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY ON SUCH A NEW VEHICLE?

NHTSA ODI 10851931

Mar 4, 2016Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN N5000 TIRES, SIZE: 215/45ZR/17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THE BLOWOUT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS AND THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES HAD BUBBLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100.

NHTSA ODI 10839863

Jan 28, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA FORTE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO A CRASH, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS DAMAGED AND STARTED TO CORRODE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE DAMAGE AND CORROSION WAS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. UPDATED 04/04/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10822754

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Working with the data? Download all 258 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 2015 Kia Forte Koup verdict →