Unknown it makes a ticking noise check engine light came on and oil isn't low. Recently bought it.
2016 Kia Forte
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Forte do not stand out strongly from 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
60 reports with mileage · 75 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 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
15 reportsThis is a paint issue.
While driving on I-95 at 60mph the car began to jump as it attempted to shift gears and the speed stalled to where it slowed down to 20mph and would not go any faster. The car slowed while I was in the fast lanes of the highway and I had to work my way to the right to the slower lanes to avoid abusing traffic congestion or any a…
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While driving on I-95 at 60mph the car began to jump as it attempted to shift gears and the speed stalled to where it slowed down to 20mph and would not go any faster. The car slowed while I was in the fast lanes of the highway and I had to work my way to the right to the slower lanes to avoid abusing traffic congestion or any accidents. It was scary. Separately, my engine light has been on for the last year. I recently had the MAPs replaced and the light went off for two days and came back. It’s a steady continuous light, no flashing. The analysis check gives some other reason for the light but when checked it doesn’t fix the issue.
I was two states away at conference for my side job. My car turned off without warning. No lights no nothing. I couldn't use my hazards or anything. It was dark outside already. I called AAA and the person with me called 911. Someone stopped and jumped me off. We got back to the hotel. The next day another consultants husband lo…
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I was two states away at conference for my side job. My car turned off without warning. No lights no nothing. I couldn't use my hazards or anything. It was dark outside already. I called AAA and the person with me called 911. Someone stopped and jumped me off. We got back to the hotel. The next day another consultants husband looked at my car and we discovered there was no oil in the engine. I had driven more than 450 miles to get to conference the day before by myself. The oil light had never came on during my trip. It only came on when my entire instrument panel lit up when the car cutoff. I am a female and was traveling by myself and put over 1100 miles on my car that trip. If it had turned off at any point on my trip before I had gotten to my destination I would have been alone and not known what to do. If I had not had AAA I would have possible had to pay a tow truck that night. I am disappointed that the light didn't give me a warning something was wrong or going wrong. Luckily, I didn't blow my engine
I have been on the freeway multiple times and tried to brake and I feel a fluttering from the brake pedal. The car won't brake, it feels like I'm sliding. I have to press the brake a few more times for it to actually brake. I had my brakes replaced and that didn't work. I took it to the Kia dealer and they said the problem was t…
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I have been on the freeway multiple times and tried to brake and I feel a fluttering from the brake pedal. The car won't brake, it feels like I'm sliding. I have to press the brake a few more times for it to actually brake. I had my brakes replaced and that didn't work. I took it to the Kia dealer and they said the problem was that I had after market brakes. I had them change them out and that wouldn't work either. They say nothing is wrong with my caliper.
THE HEATER CORE LEAKED AND COOLANT WAS SLOWLY LOST AND CAR OVERHEATED
While driving my vehicle - My 2016 Kia Forte LX all of sudden had my dashboard light up with check engine light oil etc. before the engine turned off My vehicle gave me no warning signs up until the engine shut off The oil change and service is up-to-date After I had my vehicle towed to a garage— it was determined that my car …
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While driving my vehicle - My 2016 Kia Forte LX all of sudden had my dashboard light up with check engine light oil etc. before the engine turned off My vehicle gave me no warning signs up until the engine shut off The oil change and service is up-to-date After I had my vehicle towed to a garage— it was determined that my car barely had any oil left in it with my engine being ruined as a result of the defect. I’ve contacted Kia every single day since this occurred but I’ve not gotten any assistance whatsoever Meanwhile I have no vehicle and I’ve had to pay for a rental car daily while I wait for a response to rectify this travesty
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY ROUTE 50 WHEN SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE AC VENTS. I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED. THEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE FRONT AND BACK, THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO FAIL, I JUMPED FROM THE VEHICLE ON GOING 40MPH, THEN THE CAR EXPLODED.*DT*DT*JB*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT*JB*JB*DT*DT*DT…
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THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY ROUTE 50 WHEN SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE AC VENTS. I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKES BUT THEY FAILED. THEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE FRONT AND BACK, THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO FAIL, I JUMPED FROM THE VEHICLE ON GOING 40MPH, THEN THE CAR EXPLODED.*DT*DT*JB*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT*JB*JB*DT*DT*DT*DT*DT Consumer contacted the dealer and has obtained a case # [XXX] and paid invoice # [xxx]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”
I WAS SOLD A 2016 KIA FORTE WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALERSHIP CANCELLED MY WARRANTY THE YEAR THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THEY CANCELLED IT UNTIL I FOUND OUT MY TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO HAVE THEM FIX IT AND THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY WAS CANCELED. I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC AND T…
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I WAS SOLD A 2016 KIA FORTE WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALERSHIP CANCELLED MY WARRANTY THE YEAR THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THEY CANCELLED IT UNTIL I FOUND OUT MY TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO HAVE THEM FIX IT AND THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY WAS CANCELED. I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2016 KIA FORTE'S. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN ORDER TO GET MY SON TO HIS SPECIALISTS HE HAS SPINA BIFIDA HE NEEDS TO SEE A NEUROLOGIST, ORTHOPEDICS, UROLOGIST, ETC OVER AN HOUR AWAY NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY GONE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THEIR KIA'S MY MOTHER FOR EXAMPLE BACK IN 2010 SHE PURCHASED THE KIA RIO IT WAS BRAND NEW AT THE TIME AND A YEAR LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD ON IT EVERY KIA TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE A HUNK OF CRAP I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE REPAIRS
THE HORN WORKS THEN IT DON'T WORK THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT LOOSES PRESSURE AS DRIVING CAR JUST GOT 5/19/20. *TR
Official recalls
121V622000 · Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch
Aug 9, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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