What 71 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Forte

2020 Kia Forte, 2.0L 14F engine, 109,000 miles: On July 3.2026 "check engine" light came on. Drove to local auto parts store to have code downloaded, P0017 cam position sensor. Car was performing fine, except for engine light. Drove car to Kia dealership. While driving, warning light for "front collision system came on and car began performing erratically. Left car at dealership for diagnostics. Yesterday received call from dealer, stating that engine needed total replacement due to "lack of oil". Quoted repair cost estimated at approximately $8,000. Car has been regularly serviced, including oil and filter changes per handbook. I have all records for the services. The were no indications of low oil pressure or engine overheating, no warning lights, all gauge readings displayed normal ranges. This same car had a failed transmission replaced approximately 2 years ago, which was covered by an extended warranty related to a recall. There have been 2 engine failure recalls as a result of 2 class action lawsuits for Kia cars with this same engine failure up through the 2019 model years, providing new engines and/or extended warrantees, however, this does not applicable to 2020 and newer models, even though it's the same exact same engine model with the exact issue causing the failure. Engine failure in traffic condions can obviously lead to immediate safety issues. I currently have a call into the Kia customer service/complaint department, but no resolution offerred to date.

NHTSA ODI 11749072

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure had occurred while the contact was driving on a major highway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that there was no oil in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the failure was not covered under an unknown recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

NHTSA ODI 11746397

Steering wheel is turning completely around and made a noise. I noticed my steering wheel is loose it has been like that for time. But yesterday was the first time it turned completely around were I could not control it.

NHTSA ODI 11743305

Why is KIA still legally allowed to sell defective, death traps? Why is it ok for the service department and KIA themselves to tell me….its ok to drive unless the engine light is blinking, smoking in a car know to catch fire…..ok? Why is it ok to let them continue to sell cars under active engine fire campaigns, only to “replace it with the same junk engine” an ok remedy. Quit letting these companies take advantage of people because they created a multi billion dollar defective product, they should bite the cost and be bankrupt, I mean it’s 2025 and they are still making combustible cars, the right thing to do? 2020 Kia forte gt t1.6

NHTSA ODI 11741218

Bought the car 8 months ago from a Kia dealer. It is now pulling the same engine codes, of the infamous recalled Kia engines. After having diagnostics done at a different Kia then I had bought and had oil changed. They told me the engine and turbo was full of metal shavings and the rods were bad. I pad $10,900 for the car $15,000 to fix, they knowingly sold me a totaled car. I’m sure records reflect they took that car as a trade I knowing the engine was bad (they never checked the oil?). There were 90,000 forte sold in the US, best estimate I could find on the gt line was 4-5 thousand. All GT models do not have the turbo engine. So safe to assume that number is way lower. They know this is a manufacturing defect, and this model engine wasn’t recalled because the numbers aren’t not there. I’m sure these 2,500 or less turbo engines were manufactured in the same facility, same workers and process as the other 2020 forte recalls. The car is smoking and I’m being told “it’s ok to drive unless the engine light is flashing” which I’ll assume is before it catches fire, so I have to worry about that while not being under recall? This is a kid, who could catch on fire, would like to not go there

NHTSA ODI 11739299

The contact leased a 2014 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle began to chug. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed as needing a transmission replacement. The vehicle was repaired. The contact eventually purchased the vehicle. After the purchase, the failure recurred. While driving, the vehicle began to chug without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was called, but there was no response. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11738152

While driving, the vehicle suddenly began knocking severely, smoking, leaking oil, and then shut off unexpectedly without adequate warning. This created a serious safety hazard and near fire risk. The engine assembly failed catastrophically. Dealership inspection documented: connecting rod punctured engine block bearing material found in oil pan broken piston components in oil pan oil leakage underneath engine complete engine seizure/failure The dealership confirmed and documented the failure and replaced the engine assembly. Repair records and failed components should still be available for inspection through the dealership. My safety and the safety of others were placed at risk because the vehicle suddenly lost power while driving. Oil leaked from the damaged engine and the engine compartment began smoking. The engine could have caught fire or caused an accident due to sudden loss of power. There were no adequate warning indicators before failure. No meaningful oil-pressure or low-oil warning appeared until the vehicle was already smoking and severely damaged. This failure closely mirrors known Kia engine defect investigations and Recall Campaign SC209 / NHTSA Recall 21V259000 involving: connecting rod bearing damage piston oil ring defects excessive oil consumption engine seizure engine stall fire risk Although my VIN is not currently included in the recall population, the documented failure symptoms are substantially similar. I also report that another Kia vehicle in my household, a 2017 Kia Sorento, experienced a separate rod-bearing-related engine seizure despite proper maintenance and documented oil changes. The connecting rod blew a hole through the engine block, causing oil leakage and heavy smoke while driving. The vehicle could have caught fire or exploded, placing my life and others at serious risk due to sudden engine failure without adequate warning. Engine replaced under warranty; concerned for safety after 2 similar Kia failures.

NHTSA ODI 11736680

I am reporting a transmission failure in my 2020 Kia Forte with approximately 54,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete transmission failure on March 19, 2026, on the highway from Cleveland to Cincinnati. after being owned for less than seven months. The vehicle is now at a dealership 2.5 hours away, requiring a full transmission replacement. This appears to be a premature failure and not consistent with normal wear and tear for a vehicle with this mileage. I am aware of a Technical Service Bulletin issued by Kia regarding IVT transmission issues in 2019–2021 Kia Forte models, which may be related to this failure. As well as legal investigations and lawsuits regarding said transmission models. Given the safety implications and potential for loss of power while driving, I am submitting this complaint for review.

NHTSA ODI 11732868

While driving a 2020 Kia Forte on the expressway at normal speed, the vehicle was operating normally with no prior warning lights or known issues. Suddenly, the brakes began to feel weak, as if they were failing. Immediately after, a popping sound was heard from the vehicle, followed by smoke coming from the side/underneath area. Within moments, the smoke intensified and the vehicle caught fire. The driver pulled over to the side of the road as quickly as possible. The fire spread rapidly, and within approximately 1–2 minutes the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. There were no prior warning indicators, messages, or symptoms before the incident. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. The vehicle is available for inspection by insurance or manufacturer if needed. The incident created an immediate safety hazard due to loss of braking performance and rapid fire spread while driving at highway speed.

NHTSA ODI 11726147

Two sets of Kumho Solus TA 31's (195/65 R15 91T) experienced rapid tread wear issues. The problem and safety issue has been confirmed by Fred Beans Kia of Mechanicsburg, PA, but with hassles to do so. I believe this matter actually effects consumers nationwide, which leads to additional high replacement costs as a result of product quality. Consumers are effected by not just the manufacturer, but by those who knowingly sell & promote the products, such as dealerships like Fred Beans, while aware of the defects or who should know about the defects yet fail to take adequate measures to properly rectify the situation or warn consumers. Kumho Tire has been involved in many lawsuits, primarily related to tire defects which caused serious injuries & multi-million jury award and even trademark infringement where tires are allegedly being falsely marketed & sold as new. I believe Kumho is engaging in breach of warranty where the product they sell fails to meet promised quality or performance standards, while engaging in false advertising that misleads the consumer. They engage in lies in their marketing. In addition, there is negligence with Kumho where the manufacturer fails to exercise reasonable care during production. In addition, there is strict liability where the manufacturer should be held accountable for producing an inherently dangerous product. This has also been outlined in lawsuits & ongoing legal challenges faced by Kumho Tire over product quality. Dealership service managers even deny there is a problem, claim it's normal, and say they can't do anything, unless pressed or are caught in a lie. It appears dealerships, sellers of tires & Kumho are all involved in a scheme that creates additional high costs for consumers to properly resolve the problems. Especially since it's a hassle for people to file complaints or time consuming & monetarily challenging for most to fight the battle with dealerships like Fred Beans, or tire manufacturers, like Kumho.

NHTSA ODI 11725711

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on a bend in the highway, a deer jumped over the barrier and landed on the top of the contact's front windshield. The contact stated that she was knocked unconscious due to the impact. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags did not deploy. The contact was strapped in the driver's seat when she regained consciousness. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The state police were called to the scene of the accident. Days later, after the accident, the contact went to Urgent Care. However, when the contact explained that she was unconscious, the contact was referred to the hospital. The contact went to the hospital, was informed that there were no bone fractures, and was referred to her personal medical provider. The contact sustained a bruise from the seat belt on her left shoulder; glass shards were embedded in the right forearm. The contact stated that from the impact, the torso slammed into the front windshield. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard, and then the insurance company towed the vehicle to a collision center. The insurance company was pending an investigation. The contact had not released the vehicle. The contact was unaware of all the facts of the accident. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11717259

I was driving a vehicle two cars ahead did and illegal turn the car behind it stopped the truck behind them stopped I stopped behind the truck the car behind me did not stop and slammed me into the back of the truck in my airbags did not deploy

NHTSA ODI 11717285

The crankshaft position sensor keeps going bad and it make the forward collision trigger and it loses power and the dash stops working and causes the car to shut off

NHTSA ODI 11699296

Trunk open alone. Also trunk open when driver door open.

NHTSA ODI 11690225

Equipment premature failure. Dashboard screen bubbling and separation. Beyond 36 months warranty but early failure 2020 vehicle with 28,000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11688057

The lane assist malfunction and periodically jerks. Very unsafe I no longer use this feature . To keep control of the vehicle. I never got it inspected. As the lane assist was in use and it would jerk it would alert me of a lane departure . I mention this to include every known problem I have experienced with the vehicle. The problem That brought me here. Is my engine light came on today. Leading up to this. I have had oil leaks since I've owned the car. Im adding oil in between oil changes due to it being low. In the beginning it was a hint of smell of gas in the oil. I was informed to do more frequent oil changes. Over time the smell of gas grew stronger . No Indication to a problem then. Now the smell of gas is prominent in the oil. When the dip stick is checked its always needing more oil and smells of gas and has blackness like burning in the oil. Now there's a check engine light on. And everything I looked up says to discontinue driving the car. I am having a mechanic look at it with a code reader.

NHTSA ODI 11687003

I own a 2020 Kia Forte LXS with approximately 136,000 miles. The check engine light came on with code P0420 (“catalyst system efficiency below threshold”), and an Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers location confirmed the catalytic converter is failing. The back pressure was measured and is within spec but slightly elevated, showing the part is deteriorating. I was also told my O2 sensors are burned due to the failing catalytic converter. This failure affects drivability and safety: the vehicle sometimes struggles on acceleration and hills, and I feel vibrations through the gas pedal. Because I commute 50 miles each way to work on the interstate, sudden loss of power would put me at risk in high-speed traffic. I have learned Kia and Hyundai vehicles from other years/models (including the Forte) have had recalls and extended warranties for premature catalytic converter failure and excessive oil consumption, but Kia has not yet extended coverage to the 2020 Forte. This appears to be the same issue. The vehicle has been inspected by Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, and the quoted cost for replacement is $3,000–$3,600. This should be investigated for potential recall or warranty extension to include the 2020 model year.

NHTSA ODI 11682254

Kia is lying to a judge in Lancaster county PA and federal court by stating I did not opt out of class action when they know I opted out end of 2023. Kia also knows these cars are still being stolen and have taken no action to prevent thefts or damage to vehicles. The "upgrade" does not work. My car sustained 7000.00 of damage in May 2025 and had the "upgrade" installed. On the same night, the same people stole multiple other kias and caused severe damage to numerous other vehicles within a 20 mile radius. My report was made to pa state police. The only reason why they didnt actually steal my car was because on same night they tried to also steal my neighbors sorrento at same time. When they attacked her car, her alarm went off and the group fled in 2 sedan type vehicles. Kia has done absolutely nothing to prevent thefts or damage to these vehicles and now have lied to judges in my case. They are trying to force me back into the class action as they dont want to pay me for damages they caused and the class action settlement is a joke. That is why I opted out almost 2 years ago now. Kia are liars.

NHTSA ODI 11679654

The engine light went on and engine is burning oil mechanic said it needs to be rebuilt it’s currently under financing from kia and not sure if they cover this

NHTSA ODI 11670479

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance camera activated, causing the brakes to stop the vehicle unintendedly. The Forward Collision Avoidance system activated without a vehicle or person nearby. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and waited before restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was started with the check engine warning light illuminated with abnormal gurgling sounds coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the cam shaft position sensor and the ABS system had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The Forward Collision Avoidance camera failure was not diagnosed or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,069.

NHTSA ODI 11670245

We were driving on vacation in the Nevada desert on a Sunday when the RPMs began to bounce between 2,000 and 4,000 RPMs causing the carto jerk back and forth when we were going up hill. This continued until it got to the point where the engine was going 8,000 RPMs but we were not moving forward. It felt like when driving a stick shift and you are out of gear. We pulled off and were towed to St. George, UT. The tow truck said it was the transmission and that we should go to a Kia dealer because it would be covered by warranty. No warning lights came on. Our mileage was 70,000 miles. The dealer said they could not find anything wrong and suggested it was bad gas. After paying $150 we were sent on our way back home through the mountains. We got about 20 minutes on the road when the car starting doing the same thing again as we went up hill. We immediately turned around and made it to the dealer in St. George. They checked the car again and found the transmission fluid was black instead of red. They eventually got approval from Kia for a new transmission. It ended up taking 5 days to finally get our car working. while the transmission installation was covered, we ended having to pay $2,000 in out of pocket expenses. Kia claims to have a Trip Interruption Policy to cover expenses when they have a failure covered by warranty when you are on vacation. At best, it only covers $100 per day for a maximum of 3 days ($300). But you have to have pre-approval before they will even pay that little amount. We made a mistake buying a Kia but it is one we will never make again. It was interesting to see how many similar transmission incidents with the 2020 Forte have happened when they hit 70,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11668890

The multimedia screen is delaminating. The screen ends not working making all functions in it inaccesible. Dealer only provides solution if the vehicle has less than 3 years or 36000 miles. The manufacturer only claims to its warranty terms. The screen starts delamination and evolves day by day.

NHTSA ODI 11668037

The latch for the drivers seatbelt is no longer functioning properly, dealer stated that the hook that holds the buckle in was worn down. Car has 50k miles and is slightly over 5 years old, seems unreasonable that a seatbelt latch would fail that early. In the past, when inserting the buckle into the latch it would not properly latch and immediately fall out, and then once latched again it stayed. Recently it came unbuckled during a drive which caused concern to bring to dealer for inspection. Seatbelt latch issue was missed in PA state safety inspection a few weeks prior to the diagnosis of broken hook in latch.

NHTSA ODI 11664710

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,892.

NHTSA ODI 11660909

My vehicle lost 3 quarts of oil between oil changes somehow. The engine is bad now and has to be replaced. Never did a check engine light or oil pressure light come on to alert me that my car was burning oil somehow and the oil was low. At the oil change a few weeks ago the techs underneath my car called out that everything was normal under the car. No leaks, no oil spots anywhere. My safety was put at risk because I drive a very busy highway to work every day. If I had been in heavy traffic at the time of engine failure I could have gotten into a wreck or caused a wreck. If a check engine light or low oil pressure light had come on, this whole situation could have been completely prevented. The issue has been confirmed by the dealership on 5/7/25.

NHTSA ODI 11659646