Home · 2019 Kia Forte Koup · Complaints

What 146 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 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 (146)Crash / fire / injury (15)Transmission & drivetrain (47)Engine (35)Electrical system (22)Driver assistance (17)Lights (15)Steering (8)Speed control (7)Airbags (6)Lane Departure (5)Body & structure (4)

3 of 146 complaints match · Engine · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Apr 7, 2026EngineFuel systemCrash

As I was driving on the turnpike the car engine literally just shut down on me! It could have caused a serious accident. This is the 3rd time when driving the car just stopped on its own on me! Gas tank full, oil good and battery good, but the engine is not! It gave me NO WARNING either. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I could have been hit all 3 times! Family came to help and tried to jump it and it wouldn't start so I had to get it towed. Dates happened March 28, 31st and April 6, all 2026. Also the key fog lock is defective! It works when it wants too.

NHTSA ODI 11729604

Apr 6, 2026EngineFire

Car caught on fire while driving down the highway. Had engine replaced with a remanufactured engine in January of 2026 and car engine seized again 30 days later.

NHTSA ODI 11729517

Nov 16, 2025EngineFire

October 2, 2025 @ approximately 7:30a. I was heading east on I-10 on my way to work when I seen white smoke coming from under my car. I pulled over, noticed it was on fire. There was a man passing by who seen me & was nice enough to stop & put the fire out. The firefighter then stated my oil pan came a loose and caught fire when it hit the ground. Which caused a lot of damage including me need a new engine. The firefighter stated the pan is useless & is a safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11699674

Working with the data? Download all 146 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 2019 Kia Forte Koup verdict →