IllustrationENGINE FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS AND HAD A STRONG BURNING ODOR,AFTER RESEARCHING GDI ENGINE IN THIS MODEL AND OTHER KIA MODELS THE PROBLEMS WERE SIMULAR EXCEPT FOR RECALL ON THE FORTE MODEL
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, MY CAR SHUT OFF AND ALL THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WENT OUT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I TRY TO RESTART MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AS I GOT IT OFF THE ROAD, I TRY TO RESTART THE CAR WITH NO LUCK AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO…
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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, MY CAR SHUT OFF AND ALL THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WENT OUT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I TRY TO RESTART MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AS I GOT IT OFF THE ROAD, I TRY TO RESTART THE CAR WITH NO LUCK AND WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THE SMOKE SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, ENGINE DIED AND THEN RESTARTED. THE CAR ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND IT WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT, SO MANUALLY SHIFTED AND THE ENGINE TEMP GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE SO, PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND CALLED AAA TO TOW THE CAR TO A DEALER. KIA DEALER ADVISED THAT CYLINDER 3 ROD BEARING FAI…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, ENGINE DIED AND THEN RESTARTED. THE CAR ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND IT WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT, SO MANUALLY SHIFTED AND THE ENGINE TEMP GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE SO, PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND CALLED AAA TO TOW THE CAR TO A DEALER. KIA DEALER ADVISED THAT CYLINDER 3 ROD BEARING FAILURE OCCURRED WHICH SUCKED ALL THE OIL INTO THE ENGINE (THEY SAID THAT IS HOW THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS). WE JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR 6 WEEKS EARLIER, BUT I COULD NOT AFFORD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WEI HAD A TUNE UP AND OIL CHANGE 2 WEEKS EARLIER AND WE FAITHFULLY CHECK THE OIL TO ENSURE IT IS AS EXPECTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ENGINE FAILURE, AND WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE COSTS WAS $5,111.96 TO REPLACE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE AND I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. NOW WE HAVING OVER $12,000 BETWEEN BUYING IT AND FIXING IT. FAILURE ON A FREEWAY IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY DURING RUSH HOUR. KIA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ENGINES AS THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. MAYBE IF ENOUGH PEOPLE REPORT THESE ISSUES, THEY WILL BE FORCED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE PEOPLE LIKE US THAT CANNOT AFFORD THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS.
AFTER REPAIRING MY CAR THE FIRST TIME 3 MONTHS AGO FOR SOME MAJOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO RUN, MY CAR HAS NOW COMPLETELY SEIZED UP. SINCE MY CAR HAS HIT 120K MILES IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF OIL. THERE WERE NO LEAKS THAT COULD BE IDENTIFIED AND NO MAJOR ISSUES AT THE TIME EXPLAINING THE…
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AFTER REPAIRING MY CAR THE FIRST TIME 3 MONTHS AGO FOR SOME MAJOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO RUN, MY CAR HAS NOW COMPLETELY SEIZED UP. SINCE MY CAR HAS HIT 120K MILES IT HAS BEEN CONSUMING AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF OIL. THERE WERE NO LEAKS THAT COULD BE IDENTIFIED AND NO MAJOR ISSUES AT THE TIME EXPLAINING THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. I HAVE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PUT QUARTS AND QUARTS OF OIL IN THIS VEHICLE AND HAD REPAIRED THE CAT CONVERTER ISSUE ALONG WITH REPLACING THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE WIRING AND THE NORMAL TUNEUPS. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YESTERDAY I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING AS IT NORMALLY DOES SO I PULLED OVER AND TO MY SURPRISE THE OIL I HAD JUST PUT IN IT WAS COMPLETELY GONE, NO LEAKS, NO LIGHTS, NO WARNINGS, NO INDICATION AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON. I THEN PUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN THE CAR AND DROVE HOME AND REALIZED THE CAR WAS RATTLING A LITTLE BIT, I LET IT SIT IN PARK WHILE ON AND THEN HEADED OUT DOWN THE ROAD WHERE THE CAR MADE A LOUD HISS NOISE AND JERKED ACROSS THE ROAD. MY ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP WITH NO EXPLANATION AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. I NOW HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A SEIZED ENGINE AND STILL OWE 7K ON IT. I REALLY HOPE THAT THESE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL IS LOOKED INTO BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY ON A BRAND NEW CAR.
CAR HAD BEGAN BURNING THROUGH OIL RAPIDLY BUT UPON INSPECTION AT OIL CHANGES, NO LEAK OR CAUSE COULD BE DETECTED. THE OIL LIGHT INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON EITHER. THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TICKING WHILE DRIVING, AND NOTICEABLY DROVE DIFFERENTLY BUT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON. ON A CLEAR DAY WHILE…
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CAR HAD BEGAN BURNING THROUGH OIL RAPIDLY BUT UPON INSPECTION AT OIL CHANGES, NO LEAK OR CAUSE COULD BE DETECTED. THE OIL LIGHT INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON EITHER. THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TICKING WHILE DRIVING, AND NOTICEABLY DROVE DIFFERENTLY BUT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON. ON A CLEAR DAY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE GAVE A LOUD AND FORCEFUL JERK AND POPPING SOUND, AND PROMPTLY LOST POWER AND SPEED, AND THE BRAKES QUIT WORKING. I WAS FORTUNATE TO PULL OFF AND USE EBRAKE TO STOP CAR ONCE COASTED TO A SAFER SPOT. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. THE CAR HAD ONCE AGAIN BURNED THROUGH ALL OIL WITH NO INDICATION FROM THE PANEL, AND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, THIS MAKE AND MODEL, WITH NO RECALL BEING DONE; HOWEVER, THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE OF SAME ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE IN OTHER KIA MODELS.
DROVE OVER TRAIN TRACKS AT 15 MPH AND FELT IT BREAK. AT STOP, STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY WHEN TURNED LIGHTLY. KNOCKS LOUDLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING. PART CAN CAUSE STEERING TO LOCK UP AT ANY MOMENT WHILE TURNING AND VERY UNSAFE. $13 PART, $200 LABOR
WE BUY THIS CAR IN 2 MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE ENGINE IS IN BAD CONDITION
HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING/GOING OUT WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T COME BACK ON UNLESS I TINKER WITH THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN SEEING AS HOW I DRIVE DAILY IN THE DARK TO WORK
TWICE WHILE DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY AT NIGHT ON A 2-LANE FM ROAD, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHEN CHANGING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM, AND ONCE,THEY WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL. THEY CAME BACK ON IN A FEW SECONDS EACH TIME BUT THOSE FEW SECONDS WERE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO WAGNER KIA OF SHREWSBURY (730 BOSTON TURNPIKE, SHREWSBURY, MA 01545…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO WAGNER KIA OF SHREWSBURY (730 BOSTON TURNPIKE, SHREWSBURY, MA 01545, (508) 581-5700) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED UNLESS IT OCCURRED WHILE IT WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE AN UNKNOWN PART WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
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.