2014 Kia Forte

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO AT SAM'S CLUB IN FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA. I WENT TO 3 KIA DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY $150 JUST TO TEST IT. I DIDNT HAVE THE MONEY, BUT NOW THE LIGHT JUST STAYS LIT. ALL OF THESE DEALERSHIPS ARE HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I HAD MY BRAKES REPAIRED ON FEBRUARY 21, AND THE AUTO SHOP TRIED TO ATTACH A DIAGNOSTICS MACHINE TO IT, BUT THIS SYSTEM IS SET SO THAT ONLY KIA CAN DIAGNOSE IT.

THE CAR MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO HONOR THE ADVERTISED WARRANTY FOR VEHICLE [XXX]. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE 5 SOUTHBOUND. IT EXPERIENCED A KIND OF ROAD HAZARD LIKE A SMALL ROCK SOMEWHERE BETWEEN EXITS 210 AND 205. THE IMPACT WAS MINIMAL AND MADE ONLY A SMALL NOISE AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SO THERE WAS NO REASON TO THINK THE VEHICLE SUFFERED DAMAGE OR NEEDED TO STOP. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 3 OR 4 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP IMMEDIATELY ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE BEFORE EXIT 205. THE VEHICLE'S OIL PAN WAS PUNCTURED, AND THE ENGINE OIL WAS DRAINED OUT. THE ENGINE HAD SUFFERED CRITICAL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN GLENDALE, CA. REPAIR COSTS WERE QUOTED TO BE $7,332.63. KIA DEEMED THE REPAIRS NON-WARRANTABLE DUE TO THE DAMAGE BEING EXTERNAL. KIA OFFERED GOODWILL ASSISTANCE AT A REDUCED PRICE OF $4532.00. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE COMPLETELY COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE COMPLAINT IS FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE REPAIR DESCRIBED ABOVE ($4532.00). THE COMPLAINT IS AGAINST THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE OIL PAN AND THE ENGINE WHICH BECAME CRITICALLY DAMAGED FROM SUCH A MINIMAL IMPACT. THE COMPLAINT IS ALSO AGAINST THE WARNING SYSTEM OF THE CAR WHICH FAILED TO NOTIFY THE ENGINE OIL LEAKING AT SUCH A HIGH RATE IN A TIMELY MANNER BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUFFERED CRITICAL DAMAGE AND PUT THE PASSEN GEARS AT RISK. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *PM *TR

THE COVER OF THE ANTENNA ("SHARK FIN") HAS FELL OFF POSSIBLY DUE TO A CARWASH. THE COVER PROTECTS THE ANTENNA AND POTENTIALLY SOME OTHER WIRING IN THE CAR AND ITS RADIO. THE MANUFACTURER (KIA) DOES NOT REPLACE THE (PLASTIC) COVER, BUT RATHER CHANGES THE WHOLE ANTENNA WIRING TO THE RADIO. THIS COSTS (IN THE DC AREA) ABOUT $650. I DO NOT SEE THE REASON WHY THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE A MORE INEXPENSIVE SOLUTION FOR THIS RATHER POTENTIALLY FREQUENT PROBLEM. IS IT REASONABLE TO ASK FOR THAT MUCH MONEY IN ORDER TO SOLVE AN EASY TO FIX PROBLEM THAT IF NOT FIXED MIGHT MESS WITH THE ELECTRONICS OF YOUR CAR? I THINK NOT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE BEING DRIVEN LOW SPEEDS. VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL OPERABLE AFTER A MANUAL RESTART. FREDY KIA (11711 GULF FWY, HOUSTON, TX) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.

TOOK MY KIA FORTE 2014 IN FOR AN INSPECTION, AND INSTEAD RECEIVED AN ECU UPGRADE DUE TO SOME KIA CAMPAIGN SC150. AFTER THE UPGRADE, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES. THE VERY SAME DAY AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP, MY CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND BLOW A LOT OF WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST. I WAS PULLED OVER BY A STRANGER WHO INFORMED ME OF THAT THE WHITE SMOKE EXHAUSTING BLINDED HIS VIEW. KIA HAS BEEN DISREGARDING THIS SAFETY CONCERN.

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE 5 SOUTHBOUND. IT EXPERIENCED A KIND OF ROAD HAZARD LIKE A SMALL ROCK SOMEWHERE BETWEEN EXITS 210 AND 205. THE IMPACT WAS MINIMAL AND MADE ONLY A SMALL NOISE AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SO THERE WAS NO REASON TO THINK THE VEHICLE SUFFERED DAMAGE OR NEEDED TO STOP. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 3 OR 4 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP IMMEDIATELY ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE BEFORE EXIT 205. THE VEHICLE'S OIL PAN WAS PUNCTURED, AND THE ENGINE OIL WAS DRAINED OUT. THE ENGINE HAD SUFFERED CRITICAL DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN GLENDALE, CA. REPAIR COSTS WERE QUOTED TO BE $7,332.63. KIA DEEMED THE REPAIRS NON-WARRANTABLE DUE TO THE DAMAGE BEING EXTERNAL. GOODWILL ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED BY KIA AT A PRICE OF $4532.66. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE COMPLETELY COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE COMPLAINT IS AGAINST THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE OIL PAN AND THE ENGINE WHICH BECAME CRITICALLY DAMAGED FROM SUCH A MINIMAL IMPACT. THE COMPLAINT IS ALSO AGAINST THE WARNING SYSTEM OF THE CAR WHICH FAILED TO NOTIFY THE ENGINE OIL LEAKING AT SUCH A HIGH RATE IN A TIMELY MANNER BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUFFERED CRITICAL DAMAGE AND PUT THE PASSENGERS AT RISK.

WE ARE A DRIVING SCHOOL WITH ABOUT 100 DIFFERENT CARS FROM KIA, WE HAVE ABOUT 95 VEHICLES RIGHT NOW IN USE THAT ARE FORTE MODELS BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2010-2017. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND VEHICLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OF OURS OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE LAST TIME WAS THE KIA FORTE 2015, AND NOW THIS TIME IT IS THE KIA FORTE 2014. THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES MISALIGNED WITH THE WHEELS AND EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY OF WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN IS FALLS DOWN COMPLETELY INTO YOUR LAP AND YOU LOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE 2015 VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT, NOW THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN WITH THE 2014. THE SPECIFIC PART WHICH FAILED IS CALLED THE "REINFORCED BEAM"- KIA. IT IS THE BAR ASSEMBLY WHICH CONNECTS THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE METAL FROM THE BEAM WHICH SECURES THE STEERING COLUMN TEARS, AND CAUSES THE STEERING COLUMN TO BECOME UNSECURED AND IT FALLS, LEAVING NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE WHETHER IT IS IN MOTION OR AT A STANDSTILL. ALSO, IT BLOCKS THE BRAKE WHILE DRIVING. THE PREVIOUS 2015 FORTE LUCKILY FELL APART IN A PARKING LOT WHILE AN INSTRUCTOR WAS TEACHING PARKING AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THIS WEEK THE 2014 DRIVER (ONE OF OUR INSTRUCTORS) WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A STUDENT WHEN SHE STARTED NOTICING THE DISCONNECT. SINCE IT SOUNDED FAMILIAR WE TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SAME FAILED PART AGAIN. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. RETAIL IT IS ABOUT $2,000 TO FIX. IT'S ABOUT $500 FOR THE PART, AND $1,500 FOR THE LABOR. THANK YOU.

2014 KIA FORTE EXPERIENCED AN UNEXPLAINED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT A STEADY 40MPH IN 40 DEG. F. WEATHER. ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS SHOWED NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE, AND THE OWNER DID NOT PERFORM ANY RECENT SERVICE WORK. NO SYMPTOMS SUCH AS ENGINE LIGHTS OR SOUNDS WERE OBSERVED UNTIL THE CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER AND CAUGHT FIRE ABOUT 60 SECONDS LATER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER SMOKE WAS OBSERVED BY THE DRIVER WHO WAS STOPPING THE CAR.