IllustrationAIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF FOR FEW WEEKS FINALLY RESTING TO STEADY ON. THERE IS NO CRASH CASE AT ALL. STEERING WHEEL MAKES KNOCKING SOUND WHEN ROTATED WHILE THE CAR IS NOT MOVING.
2014 Kia Forte
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Forte years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Kia Forte are substantially higher than the model-year median of 141.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forte years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
420–25K
2325–50K
5350–75K
5475–100K
64100–150K
26150K+
262 reports with mileage · 178 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports36 fire reports23 injury reports
What owners actually said
440 reportsI WOKE UP ONE DAY AND WENT TO HEAD OVER TO MY BUDDIES HOUSE. IT WAS A FIFTEEN MINUTE DRIVE AND WHEN I GOT THERE I TOLD HIM MY CAR STARTED SOUNDING FUNNY ON THE WAY OVER. THE OIL WAS GOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO WE TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE DOWN THE STREET SO HE COULD LISTEN TO IT. WE GOT TO THE LIGHT A HALF MILE DOWN THE HOUSE AND THE …
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I WOKE UP ONE DAY AND WENT TO HEAD OVER TO MY BUDDIES HOUSE. IT WAS A FIFTEEN MINUTE DRIVE AND WHEN I GOT THERE I TOLD HIM MY CAR STARTED SOUNDING FUNNY ON THE WAY OVER. THE OIL WAS GOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO WE TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE DOWN THE STREET SO HE COULD LISTEN TO IT. WE GOT TO THE LIGHT A HALF MILE DOWN THE HOUSE AND THE ENGINE MADE A SCRATCHING NOISE AND I STARTED TO LOSE POWER I ALSO FELT MY STEERING WHEEL LOSE POWER STEERING AND THEN I WAS AT THE FRONT OF THE ROW IN THE TURN LANE. MY CAR CRAWLED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BUT I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND MY PARENTS TOWED IT HOME ON THEIR TRAILER. WE TOOK IT TO AN AUTO SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO CHEAP STOCK BEARINGS AROUND THE CAM. THE BEARINGS GAVE OUT AND THE METAL SHREDDED INSIDE AND WAS SENT THROUGH THE ENGINE. SINCE IT'S PRE OWNED I CAN'T GET A NEW ENGINE AND THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL HASN'T BEEN RECALLED YET.
THE RADIO TURNS IT'S SELF ON AND OFF. ONE MINUTE THE HORN IS WORKING THE NEXT MINUTE THE HORN IS NOT WORKING. THE HORN WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO WORK. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR WAS NOT IN A WRECK OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. SAME WITH THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IF YOU USE THE BUTTONS TO CHANGE THE SONG …
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THE RADIO TURNS IT'S SELF ON AND OFF. ONE MINUTE THE HORN IS WORKING THE NEXT MINUTE THE HORN IS NOT WORKING. THE HORN WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO WORK. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR WAS NOT IN A WRECK OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. SAME WITH THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IF YOU USE THE BUTTONS TO CHANGE THE SONG ON THE STEERING WHEEL IT ACTUALLY TURNS RADIO COMPLETELY OFF INSTEAD OF CHANGING THE SONG. AND THAT HAPPENS WITH THE VOLUME BUTTON AS WELL. I'VE ALREADY BEEN TO A MECHANIC AND TOLD THEM THAT I THINK THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT I JUST GET LOOKED AT LIKE I'M CRAZY.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I'VE CHECKED AND THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES. CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO DO NOT WORK AND ARE UNRESPONSIVE. THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTINGS ARE UNRELIABLE AND CAN LEAD TO POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. KIA SHOULD COVER THE REPLACEMENT UNDER …
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THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I'VE CHECKED AND THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES. CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO DO NOT WORK AND ARE UNRESPONSIVE. THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTINGS ARE UNRELIABLE AND CAN LEAD TO POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. KIA SHOULD COVER THE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY.
THERE IS A NOTICEABLE NOISE EACH TIME WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH AT REST AND IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THERE IS ALSO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SUSPECTED PROBLEM IS A FAILURE OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. KIA HAS ADDRESSED THIS IS…
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THERE IS A NOTICEABLE NOISE EACH TIME WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH AT REST AND IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THERE IS ALSO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SUSPECTED PROBLEM IS A FAILURE OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. KIA HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE IN OTHER MODEL CARS SUCH AS THE OPTIMA OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR BUT NOT FOR THE FORTE.
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SOMETIMES GOES OFF, BUT THEN COMES ON AGAIN. NOW IT IS MOSTLY ON.
MY 2014 KIA FORTE HAS STARTED MAKING A CLICKING/POPPING NOISE WHEN I AM TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS GONNA COME OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE IT LOCKS, AND I AM AFRAID IT IS GONNA LOCK UP ON ME DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT CLICKS/POPS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IF YOU ARE DRIVING, AND IS …
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MY 2014 KIA FORTE HAS STARTED MAKING A CLICKING/POPPING NOISE WHEN I AM TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS GONNA COME OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE IT LOCKS, AND I AM AFRAID IT IS GONNA LOCK UP ON ME DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT CLICKS/POPS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IF YOU ARE DRIVING, AND IS GETTING WORSE.
MY ANTENNA SHARK FIN FELL OFF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY IT DID NOT HIT A VEHICLE BEHIND ME; HOWEVER, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO SOMEONE ELSE HAD IT HIT THEM OR THEIR WINDSHIELD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY THEN HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN LOSS THE ABILI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY THEN HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN LOSS THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, THEREFORE, THE CONTACT THEN DECIDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE/FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DEEMED TOTALED AS OF YET. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS OF YET. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 55,000.
PURCHASED A 2014 KIA FORTE FROM A NEW/USED AUTO DEALERSHIP IN LATE JUNE 2020. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECENTLY SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF SALE.ON AUGUST 2ND, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND THE CHECK OIL LIGHT TURNED ON SPORADICALLY A TWO OR THREE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A TEN MINUTE DRIVE. THE LIGHT NEVER STAYE…
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PURCHASED A 2014 KIA FORTE FROM A NEW/USED AUTO DEALERSHIP IN LATE JUNE 2020. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECENTLY SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF SALE.ON AUGUST 2ND, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND THE CHECK OIL LIGHT TURNED ON SPORADICALLY A TWO OR THREE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A TEN MINUTE DRIVE. THE LIGHT NEVER STAYED ON FOR MORE THAN 1 SECOND EACH TIME. BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT, WE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC ABOUT TWO MILES AWAY. THE ENGINE FAILED AS THE MECHANIC STARTED TO LOOK AT IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKED OIL PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. DEALER REPORTED SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN. THERE WAS NO ADEQUATE VEHICLE SYSTEM WARNING, FOR ANY REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME, TO INDICATE THERE WAS AN OIL ISSUE
Official recalls
320V750000 · Engine
Dec 2, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
17V773000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Dec 1, 2017
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
15V015000 · Electrical System
Jan 16, 2015
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and for vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014, dealers will replace the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit. For vehicles produced from January 28, 2014 to April 17, 2014, dealers will replace the multi-fuse unit only. Owners of vehicles with a 1.8L engine will also have the engine control unit software updated. The recall began on February 20, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC113.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA21003 · Engine Fires
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.