Home · 2017 Kia Forte Koup · Complaints

What 300 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 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 (300)Crash / fire / injury (32)Engine (144)Electrical system (46)Lights (43)Fuel system (30)Airbags (18)Speed control (17)Engine & cooling (13)Transmission & drivetrain (12)Body & structure (9)Steering (9)

Newest first · 300 complaints · page 10 of 12

Mar 6, 2020EngineFuel system

I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A MAIN ROAD. MY CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND ALMOST STALLED. THE CAR BARELY MOVED FORWARD AND TBE RPMS WERE ERRATIC. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. WHEN I FINALLY SPUTTERED INTO WORK, THE RPMS IN PARK WERE JUMPING BETWEEN 1000 AND 2000 RPMS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR.. IT ONLY HAS 8,700 MILES...

NHTSA ODI 11316614

Mar 5, 2020EngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD.... I STOPPED AND HAD A PERSON STOP AND HE LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO SEE A GAS LINE BROKE AND WAS MAKING ITS WAY ON THE MOTOR

NHTSA ODI 11316407

Mar 4, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

HAD THIS CAR FROM THE END OF 2017. AFTER ONE YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL DONE ON IT FOR THE SPARK PLUGS AND COIL. NOT EVEN 7 MONTHS AFTER GET IT DONE THE NEXT SET THEY ADD IN THE CAR ALMOST BOTTOM OUT ON ME WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND SOMEONE ALMOST RAN IN THE BACK OF ME. THEY FIX IT TOOK A WEEK TO GET MY CAR BACK. AND NOW I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION I ASK THE DEALERSHIP IS IT TIME FOR SERVICE AND THEY SAID NO. I AM A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THAT. I SAY ON TOP OF ALL MY SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11315991

Feb 20, 2020Electrical systemLightsBrakes

WHEN I BRAKE, THE BRAKING LIGHTS DON'T TURN ON. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND THE LIGHTS BULBS AND THEY ARE FINE. YET WHEN I BRAKE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T TURN ON.

NHTSA ODI 11310359

Jan 28, 2020Speed control

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL INCIDENCE OF BEING "LOCKED" AT ONE SPEED. WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS THE CAR WILL SPEED UP UNTIL REACHING 30-35MPH AND WILL NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE GAS PEDAL COULD BE TOUCHING THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST 35MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED AT OUR LOCAL KIA DEALER IN THE EARLY FALL OF 2019. IT WAS SAID TO BE REPAIRED NOW LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS SOMETIMES ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11302455

Jan 13, 2020Electrical system

THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND IT WOULD START INTERMITTENLY. SOMETIMES IT WOULD START WITH NO PROBLEM BUT SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I TURN THE IGNITION KEY AND I COULD BARELY HEAR CLICKING SOUND AND NOTHING. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN AND WHERE I WILL BE STRANDED IF THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE LITTLE OVER 80000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT COVER UNDER 100000 MILE WARRANTY. I THINK MANY OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11298907

Jan 3, 2020Electrical system

3 WEEKS AGO MY VEHICLE WENT THROUGH ITS ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND IT FAILED. THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WHICH WERE NOT WORKING. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS BURNED OUT DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO THE LINES. HE INDICATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD PROBABLY BE COVERED UNDER KIA'S 10 YEAR WARRANTY. I PLAN TO REACH OUT TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM INVESTIGATE, AND HOPEFULLY REPAIR THIS DEFECT ON THEIR DIME. ANY INPUT OR RELATED ISSUES BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS WELL AS IF YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS ISSUED A RECALL ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11296793

Dec 16, 2019Wheels

ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD THE TIRES BLOWOUT ON MY VEHICLE. ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND THE OTHER OCCASION WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND HAD NOT BEEN MOVED FOR THREE DAYS. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 27,000 MILES AND HARDLY ANY THREAD WEAR. THE TIRES ARE KUMHO 205/R16 55

NHTSA ODI 11289366

Dec 13, 2019Electrical systemEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN INCREASED VIBRATION. THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHEN COASTING AND TURN BACK ON WHEN ACCELERATING. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE VIBRATIONS CONTINUED EVEN WHEN IN PARK AS WELL AS NOT ACCELERAING. ENGINE CODE P0303 WAS READ FROM THE ENGINE LIGHT. I HAVE NOW REPLACED THE SECOND COIL PACK ON A CYLINDER IN THE PAST 5 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11288880

Dec 11, 2019Engine

I WAS DRIVING MY KIA FORTE 2016 IN A REGULAR STREET WHEN IT STARTED JERKING BEFORE IT STALLED. LUCKILY I PULLED UP QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAITED FEW MINUTES THEN I STARTED IT AGAIN AND I DROVE OFF. I DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT I STARTED LOOKING INTO IT ONLINE WHEN I REALIZED OTHER KIA MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11288309

Nov 30, 2019AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD AND CAUSED THE IMPACT ON 3 LANE ROAD GOING AT ABOUT 40MPH. AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, I WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEATBELT LOCK TO KEEP ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. MINOR INJURIES SUSTAINED BECAUSE OF LACK OF PROTECTION. THE POLICE OFFICER ON SCENE NOTED THAT NEITHER SAFETY DEVICE WORKED IN MY VEHICLE. THE OFFICER EXAMINED THE BELT. BASED ON THE FACT MY CHEST WAS HIT BY THE STEERING WHEEL THE OFFICER IMMEDIATELY ASSUMED I WAS NOT WEARING A BELT AND ASKED ABOUT IT, BUT I HAD TO CORRECT THE OFFICER'S ASSUMPTION, INDICATING THAT I WAS WEARING MY BELT AND REPORTED TO THE OFFICER THAT THE BELT DID NOT LOCK. THE OFFICER ASKED ABOUT MY SPEED AND I REPORTED THAT MY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE OFFICER OBSERVED THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND NOTED THIS AS WELL. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AT TIME OF REPAIR BUT NO INDICATION OF A FAULTY AIRBAG OR SEATBELT OTHER THAN NOTING PRODUCT LIABILITY AND TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ODI 11282974

Nov 26, 2019Speed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER. I TRIED GIVING IT GAS AND IT JUST WOULD SPUTTER, STILL BARELY MOVING. I HAD PEOPLE ALMOST HITTING ME. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES AND I JUST HAD BOUGHT IT 60 SOMETHING DAYS AGO. THE CAR WILL JUST LOOSE POWER NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU GOING. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11282532

Nov 18, 2019Crash

HAD A SMALL SCRATCH TO FRONT OF VEHICLE STOPPED AEB SYSTEM FROM WORKING. HUTCHINSON KIA, ALBANY, GA CAN'T REPAIR IT BACK TO ORIGINAL AND WON'T REPLACE CAR OR REFUND MY INSURANCE MONEY, GOT TO CLOSE TO A STATIONARY OBJECT AT NIGHT HITTING IT WITH A SCRATCH ON FRONT GRILL

NHTSA ODI 11280894

Nov 10, 2019

ON 11/10/2019 IN N.C. THE TEMP DROPPED DOWN TO 29 DEGREES THE NEXT MORNING I GET UP TO START MY CAR AND THE BATTERY DRAGGED SO I HAD TO GET A BOOST. IT RAN ALL THAT DAY, THEN SUNDAY THE SAME THING APPENED AGAIN I HAD TO GET A BOOST. I WENT TO BUY A BATTERY AND ONCE THE BATTERY WAS TAKEN OUT WE NOTICED THE POSITIVE SIDE BOX (BOTTOM) HAD MELTED ONTO THE TOP OF THE BATTERY, SO MY BATTERY WAS DAMAGED BY THE BATTERY CABLE BOX.

NHTSA ODI 11279272

Oct 16, 2019Lights

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS 2 TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THE KEEP GOING OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11268840

Oct 6, 2019Lights

GOT IN MY CAR TONIGHT TO GO TO THE STORE AND MY HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON. CHECL HIGH BEAM IT WORKED. I WAS IN MY DRIVE WAY AND JUST STARTED MY CAR TURNED ON LIGHTS AND NOTHING HAPPEN PARKING LIGHTS AND HIGHBEAM WPRKED.

NHTSA ODI 11266663

Oct 3, 2019SteeringSuspensionEngine

2017 KIA FORTE [XXX], WHEN I HIT A BUMP, THE REAR END GOES TO THE RIGHT OF LEFT OUT OF CONTROL, ALSO I LOOSE POWER BETWEEN 40- 50 MPH. AT TIMES THE CAR WOULD SHAKE. AFTER ABOUT 60, 000 MILES THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER MISFIRED. I REPLACED THE COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUG, HOWEVER I'M STILL LOOSING POWER, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11265806

Oct 2, 2019Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURES STARTING ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE VEHICLE COULD TAKE UP TO THIRTY MINUTES TO FINALLY CRANK UP AND START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR. WEST BROAD KIA (9001 W BROAD ST, RICHMOND, VA 23294, 804-270-9000) WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE IF THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11265571

Sep 25, 2019Body & structure

THE TRUNK LOCK LATCH BROKE, WHEN I WENT TO KIA ABOUT THE PART THEY KNEW THE MAKE MAKE AND MODEL SAYING IT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO A LOT OF THOSE CARS .

NHTSA ODI 11257989

Sep 21, 2019Lights

IT STARTED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT REGULARLY AND THEN I NOTICED WATER STARTED ACCUMULATING IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS AND I CANNOT KEEP MY LIGHTS WORKING I HAVE RECEIVED TICKETS FOR LIGHTNING ISSUES AND I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE ON BULBS ALREADY AND IT STARTED WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS OF BUYING THIS CAR BRAND NEW

NHTSA ODI 11257126

Sep 17, 2019Engine

EVERY TIME I HOT A BUMP THE REAR END GOES ALL OVER THE PLACE. ALSO AT A SPEED OF 40 TO 50 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATE, FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS FOR NO APARENT REASON. WHILE I'M DRIVING, ESPECIALLY GOING UP A HILL.

NHTSA ODI 11256154

Sep 12, 2019Electrical system

IN THE LAST 1 1/2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH LIGHTS GOING OUT. FIRST BOTH BREAK LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I REPLACED THEM. THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT KEPT GOING IN AND OUT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE BREAK LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN SO I REPLACED IT AGAIN. NEXT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND I REPLACED IT. AFTER THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE FINE. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED GOING IN AND OUT AGAIN. I REPLACED IT AND IT WAS FINE. THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE BREAK LIGHT WENT OUT. 7 WEEKS AFTER I HAD BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. 4 DAYS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11254883

Aug 30, 2019Lights

MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THEM AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

NHTSA ODI 11252377

Aug 14, 2019Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 13, 2019 BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AT LEAST FIFTEEN TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 18, 2017. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,729.

NHTSA ODI 11243932

Aug 2, 2019Electrical systemLights

HAS GONE THROUGH 5 SETS OF HEADLAMPS IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF CARS LIFE. USUALLY A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL OCCURS WHEN BULBS BURN OUT. HAVE ASKED DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE ONLY TO GET CONFUSED LOOKS OR INSURED EXCUSES. ONLY SEEMS TO EFFECT THE FRONT HEADLAMPS AND LED LIGHTS STILL ON ORIGINAL FACTORY REAR LAMPS. HAVE LEFT 6 MESSAGES WITH DEALERSHIP AFTER LAST INCIDENT WITH NO CALL BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11241402

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Working with the data? Download all 300 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 2017 Kia Forte Koup verdict →