Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
1325–50K
1550–75K
475–100K
9100–150K
1150K+
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.
16 crash reports6 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
135 reports
19,000 miles · Mar 15, 2017
SuspensionVehicle Speed Control
AFTER MY 5K MILE OIL CHANGE, THIS WAS THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE OF A LOUD TICKING SOUND. I OVERHEARD THE SERVICE SUPRV SAY THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT ON FORTES. BUT, HE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I TOLD HIM WHAT I HEARD HIM SAY OVER THE WALKIE. THEN, THEY KEPT THE CAR AND CHANGED THE P…
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AFTER MY 5K MILE OIL CHANGE, THIS WAS THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE OF A LOUD TICKING SOUND. I OVERHEARD THE SERVICE SUPRV SAY THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT ON FORTES. BUT, HE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I TOLD HIM WHAT I HEARD HIM SAY OVER THE WALKIE. THEN, THEY KEPT THE CAR AND CHANGED THE PULLEY SYSTEM. NOW, HERE'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED TO THE PULLEY ISSUE. 1ST TIME, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY GOING ABOUT 70MPH IN 6THGEAR AND IT POPPED OUT OF 6TH TO NEUTRAL. I LOOKED DOWN BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I QUICKLY PUT IT BACK INTO 6TH. 2ND TIME. FEBRUARY 23RD 2017 I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH ON I-20 PASSING REDOAK, TX AND THE GEAR POPPED OUT OF 6TH INTO NEUTRAL. SCARED ME, I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED IT BACK TO 6TH. I MADE AN APPT THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT AND WAD TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IF IT GETS WORSE TO BRING IT BACK. IT DID IT AGAIN ON THAT SUNDAY, MARCH 5TH 2017 WHILE I WAS DRIVING 75 - 80 MPH TO LOUISIANA. NOW, I HAVE A LOG AND WILL LOG EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS AND IM GOING TO TAKE THE LOG WITH ME WHEN I GO BACK TO KIA SERVICE DEPT.
NHTSA ODI #10966009
4,974 miles · Mar 13, 2017
Unknown Or Other
DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AND ALL OF SUDDEN CAR LOST POWER AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP. WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION!!!
NHTSA ODI #10965755
11,300 miles · Feb 15, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 40 MPH. THE DEALER ADDED A FUEL ADDITIVE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,300. ...UPDATED 05/19/17 *BF *CN
NHTSA ODI #10954860
5,000 miles · Jan 26, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineSteering
MOST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING ON A RURAL HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED FOR NO REASON...I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER, ALL ELECTRICAL DASH LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING, I TURNED THE KEY TO AN OFF POSITION AND WAITED...AFTER A MINUTE I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10947874
19,044 miles · Nov 21, 2016
Unknown Or Other
MY CAR JUST CUT OFF WHEN I GOT TO THE LIGHT AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP.
NHTSA ODI #10927327
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes
BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE BRAKE SWITCH BUT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BULBS AND THE RELAY AND ALSO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TUESDAY FOR THE RELAY. WHAT'S THE POINT OF PAYING FOR A WARRANTY
NHTSA ODI #10924524
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2016
Wheels
PURCHASE KIA FORTE 2016 EX ON 11/2016....ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES FORM BULGES ON EACH TIRE...WHICH THE TIRES TO BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. MY FIRST PAIR OF TIRES LOCATED AT THE REAR BLEW OUT IN 03/2016 WHICH CAUSE ME TO PURCHASE BRAND NEW TIRES.....MY MOST RECENT TIRES WAS THE FRONT TIRES...WHICH I A BLOWOUT IN OCCURRED ON THE HIGHW…
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PURCHASE KIA FORTE 2016 EX ON 11/2016....ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES FORM BULGES ON EACH TIRE...WHICH THE TIRES TO BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. MY FIRST PAIR OF TIRES LOCATED AT THE REAR BLEW OUT IN 03/2016 WHICH CAUSE ME TO PURCHASE BRAND NEW TIRES.....MY MOST RECENT TIRES WAS THE FRONT TIRES...WHICH I A BLOWOUT IN OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY IN 09/2016
NHTSA ODI #10918920
1,000 miles · Sep 14, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN YOU PUSH GAS FEED IT HESITATES THEN YOU PUSH A LITTLE MORE IT GOES TO FAST. DRIVING IN TOWN TRAFFIC IS A PROBLEM YOU PUSH GAS FEED A LITTLE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO GIVE A LITTLE MORE GAS AND IT GOES TO FAST. WENT BACK TO DEALER SHIP ONLY HAD THE CAR AROUND 2 MONTHS THEY PUT NEW THROTTLE BODY ON, STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM. WE TR…
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WHEN YOU PUSH GAS FEED IT HESITATES THEN YOU PUSH A LITTLE MORE IT GOES TO FAST. DRIVING IN TOWN TRAFFIC IS A PROBLEM YOU PUSH GAS FEED A LITTLE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO GIVE A LITTLE MORE GAS AND IT GOES TO FAST. WENT BACK TO DEALER SHIP ONLY HAD THE CAR AROUND 2 MONTHS THEY PUT NEW THROTTLE BODY ON, STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM. WE TRADED THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER KIA FORTE WHICH COST US ANOTHER 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS BECAUSE CAR WAS NOT SAFE . NOW THE NEW KIA FORTE IS DOING THE SAME THING
NHTSA ODI #10906732
150 miles · Sep 9, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AT TIMES AND WHEN IT DOES IT LURCHES AND HESITATES AS I AM DRIVING AND AIR CONDITIONER FAN GOES UP AND DOWN
NHTSA ODI #10905091
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2016
Unknown Or Other
FROM DAY ONE THAT I GOT MY CAR I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU ADVANCE THE PEDAL FURTHER AND THEN IT WANTS TO TAKE OFF LIKE YOU PUSHED IT TO THE FLOOR. IT WILL LOOSE POWER DURING DRIVING IF UNDER 45 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN IN TRAFFIC, IT IS VER…
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FROM DAY ONE THAT I GOT MY CAR I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU ADVANCE THE PEDAL FURTHER AND THEN IT WANTS TO TAKE OFF LIKE YOU PUSHED IT TO THE FLOOR. IT WILL LOOSE POWER DURING DRIVING IF UNDER 45 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN IN TRAFFIC, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE TRYING TO CREEP WITH THE CAR IT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WHEN YOU SOFTLY PUSH THE PEDAL, AND WILL TRY AND TAKE OFF WHEN YOU ADVANCE IT. ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CARE IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS A VERY PROBLEMATIC SITUATION AS WELL AS DANGEROUS. STANDING STILL OR IN MOTION THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN CITY AND HIGHWAY
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2016 Kia Forte Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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