NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
301 reports41,000 miles · Aug 18, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control
I TOOKEN MY 2017 KIA FORTE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP COUNTLESS OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND STILL WITH NO AVAIL. AS I'M DRIVING THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTS SHAKING THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON THEN THE CAR EITHER SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN THEN GOT TO WAIT IT OUT FOR IT TO START. IF I GO TO TURN ON THE AC THE CAR ALSO SHUTS OFF.…
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I TOOKEN MY 2017 KIA FORTE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP COUNTLESS OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND STILL WITH NO AVAIL. AS I'M DRIVING THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTS SHAKING THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON THEN THE CAR EITHER SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN THEN GOT TO WAIT IT OUT FOR IT TO START. IF I GO TO TURN ON THE AC THE CAR ALSO SHUTS OFF. I'VE ALMOST GOTTEN HIT DUE TO THE CAR UN RELIABILITY.
NHTSA ODI #11350053
30 miles · Aug 17, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
ROUGH IDLING. ROUGH GEAR SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND SRUTTER ON 3RD. LOSS OF POWER DURING TAKE OFFS. CAR IS ONLY 20,800 MILES. CHECKED TWICE ON DEALER. ONLY WIPED CODE AND RESET COMPUTER. CLAIM NOT TO BE ABLE TO REPLICATE. ISSUE COMES BACK WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 30 MINS AFTER DRIVING AWAY.
NHTSA ODI #11349949
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO WHILE GOING UP A HILL I NOTICED THE CAR TRYING TO STALL OUT. IT HAS BEGUN TO DO MORE FREQUENTLY NOW WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE IN IDLE AND/OR PARK ALSO. YOU CANNOT HEAR THE CAR 'KNOCK' BUT IT'S AS IF YOU CAN FEEL IT TRYING TOO. ONE INSTANCE I WAS IN A TURNING LANE AND THE CAR LITERARILY TRIED TO CUT OFF IN …
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ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO WHILE GOING UP A HILL I NOTICED THE CAR TRYING TO STALL OUT. IT HAS BEGUN TO DO MORE FREQUENTLY NOW WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE IN IDLE AND/OR PARK ALSO. YOU CANNOT HEAR THE CAR 'KNOCK' BUT IT'S AS IF YOU CAN FEEL IT TRYING TOO. ONE INSTANCE I WAS IN A TURNING LANE AND THE CAR LITERARILY TRIED TO CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE RPM'S DROPPED AND CAR JUST FELT REAL SHAKY AND JUMPY. TOTAL EPISODES APPROXIMATELY IN ABOUT 2 WEEEKS I WOULD SAY ARE CLOSE TO MAYBE 10? THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME IN AT FIRST INSTANCE WHEN I WAS GOING UP A HILL AND HAS NEVER GONE OFF. BUT THE PROBLE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED BUT SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE.
NHTSA ODI #11349731
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2020
Exterior Lighting
MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SOME TIME NOW I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 3 YEARS AND AT FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT AFTER REPLACING THE BULBS I NO LONGER HAVE ENOUGH POWER SOURCE GOING TO THE HEADLIGHTS TO USE MY LOW BEAMS ANYMORE. I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY TOLD ME JUST THE LIGHT BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACE…
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MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SOME TIME NOW I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 3 YEARS AND AT FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT AFTER REPLACING THE BULBS I NO LONGER HAVE ENOUGH POWER SOURCE GOING TO THE HEADLIGHTS TO USE MY LOW BEAMS ANYMORE. I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY TOLD ME JUST THE LIGHT BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND MY WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SOUNDS SO WRONG BECAUSE BOTH THE LIGHTS WORK BUT THEY ARE SO DIM THEY ARE NOT USEABLE. THE DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT FIRST THE CAR WAS STATIONARY THEN A MONTH LATER THE PASSENGER.
NHTSA ODI #11339905
12,000 miles · Jul 17, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND GO OUT COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO FLIP THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH OR TAP THE COLUMN TO GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON . IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES ON MY 32 MILE TRIP HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT . IT HAPPENS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. MAINLY WHEN I USE A TURN SIGNAL OR HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD .
NHTSA ODI #11339856
27,000 miles · Jul 13, 2020
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH DARK GREY SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST TIPS. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARMAX LOCATED AT 1975 BEAVER RUIN RD, NORCROSS, GA 30071, WHO DETERMINED THAT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH DARK GREY SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST TIPS. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARMAX LOCATED AT 1975 BEAVER RUIN RD, NORCROSS, GA 30071, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
NHTSA ODI #11339054
70,000 miles · Jul 12, 2020
Exterior Lighting
I HAVEN'T EVEN OWNED THIS CAR FOR 7 MONTHS YET AND I HAVE CHANGED THE LIGHTS 20 TIMES! AS SOON AS I CHANGE ONE THE NEXT ONE BLOWS AND THE PREVIOUS ONE WILL BLOW THE FOLLOWING THE WEEK. I'M TIRED OF MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT KEEPS ACTING CRAZY WITH THE LIGHTS.
NHTSA ODI #11338867
35,000 miles · Jun 14, 2020
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or OtherFire
MY CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE LIKE IT ALWAYS IS. WENT FOR A WALK AND WHEN I CAME BACK, MY CAR HAD BEEN ON FIRE. AFTER FIRE DEPARTMENT DID THEIR INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DEEMED ELECTRICAL. THE LIGHT IN MY VISOR OR THE WIRING TO IT HAD GONE WRONG. MY WHOLE FRONT OF THE SEATS IS TOTALED.
NHTSA ODI #11328786
97,000 miles · Jun 8, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion System
WHEN COMING TO A STOP, OR SLOWING DOWN, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE CAR WILL DIE SUDDENLY. AT FIRST IT WOULD CRANK RIGHT BACK UP, BUT NOW IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GET STARTED AGAIN. VEHICLE ALSO TAKES AWHILE TO GET GOING, EVEN PUSHING ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS, AFTER GETTING IT RESTARTED. *…
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WHEN COMING TO A STOP, OR SLOWING DOWN, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE CAR WILL DIE SUDDENLY. AT FIRST IT WOULD CRANK RIGHT BACK UP, BUT NOW IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GET STARTED AGAIN. VEHICLE ALSO TAKES AWHILE TO GET GOING, EVEN PUSHING ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS, AFTER GETTING IT RESTARTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11327830
35,000 miles · Jun 8, 2020
Air BagsEngineStructureCrash
THE 2017 KIA FORTE MY CLIENT WAS DRIVING WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN MODERATE TO HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE, APPROXIMATE SPEED OF IMPACT WAS 20-25MPH, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11327763
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 ↗
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