NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
301 reports72,000 miles · Jan 27, 2021
Engine
2.0 HAS 73K MILES ON IT. ENGINE NOISY WHEN COLD START, LIKE A RATTLE AND KNOCK FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. OIL IS GOOD AND NO CODES. EVEN WHEN WARMED UP, THE ENGINE ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE THE MULTI PORT ENGINES MADE IN THE 80'S AND 90S WHEN ACCELERATING. KIND OF A 'WA WA WA WA WA' SOUND. TO ME, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS READY TO 'CHECK OUT'. SO…
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2.0 HAS 73K MILES ON IT. ENGINE NOISY WHEN COLD START, LIKE A RATTLE AND KNOCK FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS. OIL IS GOOD AND NO CODES. EVEN WHEN WARMED UP, THE ENGINE ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE THE MULTI PORT ENGINES MADE IN THE 80'S AND 90S WHEN ACCELERATING. KIND OF A 'WA WA WA WA WA' SOUND. TO ME, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS READY TO 'CHECK OUT'. SOMEONE TOLD ME IT COULD BE ROD BEARINGS.
NHTSA ODI #11390416
Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2021
Engine
MY CAR ENGINE STARTS TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY FOR NO REASON AND IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE AND DRIVING ON STREETS AND/OR HIGHWAYS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO SEE IF IT STOPPED TO HEAD BACK HOME OR IT DOES…
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MY CAR ENGINE STARTS TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY FOR NO REASON AND IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE AND DRIVING ON STREETS AND/OR HIGHWAYS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES TO SEE IF IT STOPPED TO HEAD BACK HOME OR IT DOESN'T STOP AND I HAVE TO GET HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND I WAS ADVISED THAT MY COIL PACK WAS BAD.I ASKED WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT THIS AND THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME 'THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH CARS'. I'VE GOTTEN MY CAR FIXED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK LESS THAN A WEEK LATER EACH TIME. IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND I HAVE TO GO GET IT REPAIRED AGAIN. THIS BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR INTO HAVING THE CAR. EACH TIME I GET THIS REPAIR IT'S ABOUT $600. I ALWAYS GET ALL MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR, IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, I AM THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR AND THE EXPLANATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP OF 'THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS' IS UNACCEPTABLE WHEN I TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE. THANK YOU. I TRIED TO TAKE A VIDEO BUT IT DOESN'T SHOW THE SHAKING WELL, I CAN DEFINITELY FEEL IT THOUGH.
NHTSA ODI #11388776
48,000 miles · Dec 29, 2020
Exterior Lighting
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HID HAVE GONE IN AND OUT WHILE DIVING AT NIGHT..THEN THEY HAVE NOW BLOWN OUT TWICE.AT $100 DOLLARS A PIECE..THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE..!! THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHOT CIRCUIT IN THE LIGHT SWITCH ITSELF..IT HAS BLINKED OFF WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL AS WELL WHICH LEADS ME TO COME TO THIS CONCLUSION..
NHTSA ODI #11385418
59,000 miles · Dec 21, 2020
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, THE HEADLIGHT WORKED AS DESIGNED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD LIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS N…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, THE HEADLIGHT WORKED AS DESIGNED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD LIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
NHTSA ODI #11384457
39,400 miles · Dec 16, 2020
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRUNK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KARP BUICK (400 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TW…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRUNK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KARP BUICK (400 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 39,400.
NHTSA ODI #11383680
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2020
Electrical System
THE AUTOMATIC TRUNK LATCH WILL NO LONGER WORKS , SO THE TRUNK OF MY CAR IS OPENED. THE BUTTON ON THE KEY PAD WORKS FINE BUT THE LATCH WILL NOT LOCK . MY CAR WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX.
NHTSA ODI #11377386
40,000 miles · Oct 30, 2020
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT MULTIPLE TIMES EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT WITH NEW HEADLIGHT BULBS. THERE HAS BEEN ONE OCCASION WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A BUSY ROAD. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST EVERY 6 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN* DATE IS THE MOST RECENT OF ALL OC…
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HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT MULTIPLE TIMES EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT WITH NEW HEADLIGHT BULBS. THERE HAS BEEN ONE OCCASION WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A BUSY ROAD. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST EVERY 6 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN* DATE IS THE MOST RECENT OF ALL OCCURRENCES. HEADLIGHTS ARE ALSO ALWAYS VERY DIM EVEN WITH NEW BULBS.
NHTSA ODI #11372353
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2020
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper
FRONT WINDSHIELD SMEARS EVERYTIME I USE WINDSHIELD WIPER. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, AND IT WOULD GO AWAY EVENTUALLY. NOW, I TRY TO AVOID DRIVING WHEN IT RAINS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THE WIPERS JUST MAKES IT WORSE. ALSO, MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT DO ANY JUSTICE. SOMETIMES I THINK I DO NOT HAVE THEM O…
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FRONT WINDSHIELD SMEARS EVERYTIME I USE WINDSHIELD WIPER. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, AND IT WOULD GO AWAY EVENTUALLY. NOW, I TRY TO AVOID DRIVING WHEN IT RAINS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THE WIPERS JUST MAKES IT WORSE. ALSO, MY HEADLIGHTS DO NOT DO ANY JUSTICE. SOMETIMES I THINK I DO NOT HAVE THEM ON BECAUSE OF HOW DIM THEY ARE. AT NIGHT, I WOULD HAVE TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS ON THE HIGHWAY OR REGULAR ROADS SOMETIMES TO AVOID SHARP TURNS OR JUST TO SEE THE STREET LINES.
NHTSA ODI #11365642
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2020
Exterior Lighting
MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE BARELY ON. I CAN NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING MY HIGH BEAMS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A VEY COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY SERIOUS HARM TO PEOPLE. KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11363120
35,000 miles · Aug 21, 2020
Engine
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE THAT NEEDED A RESET OR UPDATE. THEY FIXED IT WITH NO CHARGE AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK IF IT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD ONE OF MY CYLINDERS WAS MISFIRING SO THEY FI…
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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE THAT NEEDED A RESET OR UPDATE. THEY FIXED IT WITH NO CHARGE AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK IF IT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD ONE OF MY CYLINDERS WAS MISFIRING SO THEY FIXED IT AND I WAS CHARGED. 3-4 MONTHS LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN OLD CODE STORED IN THE CAR. THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND TOLD ME IF THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER. THIS IS FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2020, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON AUGUST 29TH TO CHECK MY CAR. WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON MY CAR HESITATES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. THE CHECK COMES ON AND GOES OFF. WHEN THE LIGHT IS OFF I DON'T EXPERIENCE THE HESITATION IN THE ACCELERATION. IT MAY COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO OFF AND REMAIN OFF FOR 1 TO 2 DAYS. THIS WILL BE MY 4TH TIME TAKING MY CAR IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11350709
Official recalls
3Jan 25, 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Sedona, Soul, Soul EV, 2017-2018 Forte, and 2017 Forte Koup vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) cover may contact a memory chip on the printed circuit board and damage the electrical circuit. Circuit damage may result in deactivated air bags that will not deploy in a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the ACU, and either update the software or replace the unit, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 21, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC226.
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.
Apr 13, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Forte vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine. Foreign particles may stick inside the oil pump, which may cause an oil pump failure and engine damage.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pan, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC210.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗