Home · 2019 Kia Forte · Complaints

What 145 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Kia Forte

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 (145)Crash / fire / injury (15)Transmission & drivetrain (47)Engine (34)Electrical system (21)Driver assistance (17)Lights (14)Steering (8)Speed control (7)Airbags (6)Lane Departure (5)Body & structure (4)

8 of 145 complaints match · Steering · clear filters

Oct 20, 2023SteeringElectrical systemEngine

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the instrument panel, radio, and A/C were inoperable. The contact also stated that the steering wheel had become firm. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was a faulty wiring harness, steering, instrument cluster, and additionally the oil drain plug was leaking. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 1,100.

NHTSA ODI 11550969

Jul 26, 2021Steering

On June 18, 2021 our vehicle was taken to the West Hills Kia located in Bremerton, WA for routine maintenance. During this visit, we reported a sound coming from the steering wheel and indicated that the sound was loud and wanted it inspected. The technician reported this as follows: MR 10DIAG: Diagnose Customer Concern Customer states when turning the steering wheel, it sounds like something is being wound up. The Technician, Michael Moore (102) verified the noise confirming that it was coming from the Output Shaft Bearing area of the Steering Column Housing. The Technician also indicated that this issue required a tech line case with Kia for approval. I have called West Hills Kia's Service Department on: June 25th, 2021, June 30th, 2021, July 7th, 2021, July 22nd, 2021 and again today, July 26th, 2021 to check on the status of this approval to no avail. On June 30th, 2021 and July 22nd, 2021, I left 2 voice messages for their Service Department Manager, Jay also without a return call. I have called Kia Consumer directly on July 5th, 2021, July 6th, 2021 and July 7th, 2021. Each time, the wait times have been greater than 30 minutes and after holding, I have been hung up on. Today, on my drive home, the steering wheel locked up and would not let me turn the steering wheel. Considering that the vehicle is still under warranty and an issue like this could cause an accident or even irreparable damage, we do not feel safe driving this vehicle. We would like this matter resolved ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11426467

Jan 21, 2021Steering

ON 8/26/20 IN THE DEALERSHIP WITH STEERING ISSUES. ADVISED FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. 9/3/20 REPLACED CLOCKSPRING. HOWEVER, ADVISED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE. 10/19/20 BACK TO DEALER. ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, HOWEVER, STUDS OR BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON 1/21/21 CAR BACK IN THE SHOP WITH SAME STEERING ISSUE. LOCAL DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPAIR AND THEY HAVE CONTACTED KIA. KIA STATES THIS IS A PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL AND THEY ARE WORKING ON A "REMEDY". I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A 2019 KIA FORTE AND I SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING A NEW VEHICLE. NO RESOLUTION AS OF TODAY!!!

NHTSA ODI 11389231

Sep 18, 2020Steering

HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 1 YEAR AND I HAVE TO HAVE A NEW STEERING SHAFT PUT IN. I WAS HEARING A GRINDING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD IT CHECKED AND THAT IS WHAT THEY FOUND. THANK GOD IT WAS COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTEE.

NHTSA ODI 11355709

Sep 14, 2020Steering

ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO MY STEERING WHEEL STARTING MAKE A GRINDING NOISE I TOOK IT TO MY KIA DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. AFTER THAT WAS REPLACE MY STEERING WHEEL IS STILL MAKING THE NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 11354836

Aug 4, 2020Steering

WHEN DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL "GROWLS" WHEN MAKING TURNS WHILE IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP PUT ME IN A LOANER DUE TO ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS REPLACING AND CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 13 MONTHS WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11343338

Jan 28, 2020SteeringSuspensionDriver assistance

WHILE DRIVING THE CRASH RESPONSE SYSTEMS TURNS ON & SHOWS ERROR CODES WHICH HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP BY IT SELF. ALSO THE DRIVER ASSIST HAS PULLED MY WHEEL OUT OF MY HAND & JERKED HAD TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES.... THE LEFT STRUT MOUNT BEARING IS ALSO DEFECTIVE ON THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11302528

Apr 13, 2019SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

CAR WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED. THIS WAS AROUND 3000 MILES. TOOK IT IN CONFIRMED THE GRINDING NOISE BUT DID NOT NOTE DOWN WHAT IT WAS ON RECEIPT. A MONTH LATER DEALERSHIP TOOK CAR BACK AND GAVE ME A RENTAL AND HAD SPECIALIST LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT STILL HAS SOME LOST OF POWER FROM TIME TO TIME AND GRINDING NOISES..

NHTSA ODI 11195988

Working with the data? Download all 145 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 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 verdict →