NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
136 reportsMileage unknown · Aug 16, 2022
Engine
last fall my car would turn off while i was parked or driving at low speeds, i brought it to my Kia dealership and they could not find an issue, it happed a few more time in the winter, then in this summer it started happing more and more, including when i was driving at low speeds, my car would turn off, the battery and check …
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last fall my car would turn off while i was parked or driving at low speeds, i brought it to my Kia dealership and they could not find an issue, it happed a few more time in the winter, then in this summer it started happing more and more, including when i was driving at low speeds, my car would turn off, the battery and check engine light would come on, i would have to put the car in park in the middle of the road, then turn it back on and all the lights would go off and it would drive perfect again. I brought it to my Kia dealer again, they kept it all day and again found noting wrong. Now this care is Turing off while I'm driving 2-3 times a day including while i'm on the highway in bumper to bumper traffic. again when this happens i put the car in park take out the key, turn it back on and its fine. I have taken a few videos of this issue, and my dealer refuses to help anymore. This is an extremely dangerous situation that is putting my life in jeopardy because of a defect with this car
NHTSA ODI #11479502
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2022
Air BagsCrashInjury
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the contact rear-ended the vehicle in front of her however the air bags failed to deploy. The air bag warning light was illuminated. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained injuries to her back but did not receive medical attention. A dea…
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The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the contact rear-ended the vehicle in front of her however the air bags failed to deploy. The air bag warning light was illuminated. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained injuries to her back but did not receive medical attention. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
NHTSA ODI #11478137
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2022
Engine
I took my 2018 Kia Forte LX to get an oil change on June 28, 2022 at Jiffy Lube. A week after my oil change, I noticed that oil was leaking from my car. I went back to Jiffy Lube to have them inspect for a leak. I was informed that there was a puncture on the top of my oil pan and it would need to be replaced. I bought a new oil…
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I took my 2018 Kia Forte LX to get an oil change on June 28, 2022 at Jiffy Lube. A week after my oil change, I noticed that oil was leaking from my car. I went back to Jiffy Lube to have them inspect for a leak. I was informed that there was a puncture on the top of my oil pan and it would need to be replaced. I bought a new oil pan from advanced auto parts and had my mechanic change it. He informed me that it looked to be a manufacture defect. I googled recalls for 2018 Kia Forte's and saw there has been a recall for some models. Recall number SC210. I would like to know if I could be reimbursed for the oil pan. I have my receipt from Advanced Auto parts and I have pictures of the puncture. Also my mechanic put my old oil pan in a box, if that is needed as well.
NHTSA ODI #11474580
Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2022
Exterior LightingStructure
Water in the rear tail light. Dealer is trying to collect money from me, even though the other service tech said if it was not moisture but water retention that is would be under warranty. It is evident in the internet car forums that this has been happening to many current and previous Forte models and a factory know defect. …
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Water in the rear tail light. Dealer is trying to collect money from me, even though the other service tech said if it was not moisture but water retention that is would be under warranty. It is evident in the internet car forums that this has been happening to many current and previous Forte models and a factory know defect. The other issue is the gas tank lid won't opened. I had it in to be checked 7 times. They've replaced the spring, the replaced the lid. The Tech claimed yesterday that he couldn't replicate and when I picked up the car I couldn't open the gas tank lid.
NHTSA ODI #11473893
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V260000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer ha…
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The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V260000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA ODI #11471665
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 21V260000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had …
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The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 21V260000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA ODI #11471135
Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2022
Unknown Or Other
I was driving on the parkway when I heard a rattling sound from the engine and white smoke started coming out of the back or the car. Car stopped accelerating and we pulled over (we didn't drive it for more than a minute once it started making that sound) all of the oil dumped out of the car on the side of the road and the engin…
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I was driving on the parkway when I heard a rattling sound from the engine and white smoke started coming out of the back or the car. Car stopped accelerating and we pulled over (we didn't drive it for more than a minute once it started making that sound) all of the oil dumped out of the car on the side of the road and the engine seized and would not restart.
NHTSA ODI #11469851
46,000 miles · Jun 13, 2022
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, an unknown strong fume odor would emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact took the vehicle to Kia at Huffines McKinney (1201 N Central Expy, McKinney, TX 75069) where she was informed that oil in the engine had become sludge due to …
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The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, an unknown strong fume odor would emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact took the vehicle to Kia at Huffines McKinney (1201 N Central Expy, McKinney, TX 75069) where she was informed that oil in the engine had become sludge due to a lack of oil changes. The contact was informed that the repair for the vehicle would not be covered under the warranty. Months later, the contact stated that the check engine warning light had illuminated the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to another dealer where two unknown recalls were serviced; the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated. Months later, the check engine warning light returned and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed a combustion chamber soak or an engine replacement. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 46,000.
NHTSA ODI #11468991
17,000 miles · May 3, 2022
Air BagsCrashInjury
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated she was at standstill at a parking space when another vehicle backed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a bulging disc on the neck, vertigo, and a concussion from the whiplash. The contact did not seek medical atte…
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The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated she was at standstill at a parking space when another vehicle backed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a bulging disc on the neck, vertigo, and a concussion from the whiplash. The contact did not seek medical attention at the moment but did go to the hospital 8 days later. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to the collision shop and had the bumper, the front passenger side headlight, and the steering column repair. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
NHTSA ODI #11463202
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2022
Air BagsExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System
I was told to come to service department on 2/22/2022 to change my indicator light because it was not working and had to be ordered in advance and for RECALL on TRUNK LATCH. The invoice said bulb was replaced and trunk lock and did Multi Point Inspection. I asked her if everything was Ok with my car she said yes but the next day…
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I was told to come to service department on 2/22/2022 to change my indicator light because it was not working and had to be ordered in advance and for RECALL on TRUNK LATCH. The invoice said bulb was replaced and trunk lock and did Multi Point Inspection. I asked her if everything was Ok with my car she said yes but the next day I realized it indicator light was still not working. I got another RECALL TO REPLACE AIR BAG. I called in and got a service appointment for 4/2/2022. I told them the indicator was still not working and I was having an oil leak. They said $155.00 for inspection for leak, confirmed that one of the OIL PAN was leaking and would cost $200.00 to replace but it was cover under warranty. I said OK. When I turned on car and try to drive out there was a funny scraping sound, one of the Managers came out when he saw me stop and getting out of car and said it was because of the painted surface of the service entrance. The next day I looked at the invoice and saw that they did not replace the OIL PAN but had "scraped off factory rtv and replace it with fresh rtv and reinstalled oil pan." My indicator light still does not work. I am still having leak, pool is on my garage floor and also drips. I am worried now because I am not sure AIR BAG was changed even when they said they had and have done another "multi-point vehicle inspection.
NHTSA ODI #11460932
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 ↗