What 258 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Forte Koup

The engine in my 2015 Kia Forte (VIN: [XXX] ) experienced failure tied to recall code P1326, which is associated with bearing wear and potential engine seizure. The vehicle entered limp mode around [XXX] at 152,170 miles, despite early signs of failure starting at 131,000 miles. These included loss of power, rough idle, and a check engine light (CEL) which triggered the P1326 code confirmed by both a pre-scan and Kia dealership. System that failed: The engine and powertrain system. Issue stems from rod bearing wear as identified in Kia’s engine class-action settlement. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: Limp mode drastically reduced engine power on a main road. I could not safely accelerate, which created a hazard in traffic. Additionally, oil loss was confirmed on multiple occasions, and misfire codes were detected. This could have led to engine stall or seizure if I continued driving. Was issue confirmed by a dealer or service center? Yes. Lupient Kia confirmed P1326 at 133,703 miles. Luther Kia later confirmed limp mode and conducted a diagnostic at 152,170 miles. Was vehicle/component inspected by others? Yes. Jiffy Lube documented "no oil on stick" at 130,367 miles. O’Reilly Auto and Economy Muffler later confirmed related secondary issues. Were there symptoms or warnings prior to failure? Yes. CEL appeared at 131,000 miles. Knock sensor was replaced at 131,165 miles. P1326 and oil loss symptoms were consistently documented between April 2024 and April 2025. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11660151

My car stopped while I was driving and I had a catastrophic engine failure. I had to use my engine warranty and also out of pocket pay. I want to issue a warning to the dealer who sold me this vehicle. And I want a reimbursement because I recently purchased the vehicle/

NHTSA ODI 11633215

VECHILE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH OUT WARNING

NHTSA ODI 11397756

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

DRIVER WAS IN MIDDLE LANE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAR BEGAN FLIPPING WHILE STILL IN THE ROADWAY, EVENTUALLY HIT A GUARD RAIL AND CONTINUED FLIPPING. DRIVER WAS EJECTED AND KILLED. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF .....UPDATED 12/23/15 *BF UPDATED 1/11/2015*JS UPDATED 9/17/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10679343