NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
147 reportsMileage unknown · Mar 22, 2022
Engine
The transmission has had multiple catastrophic transmissions failures while driving. The transmission does not engage and the car cannot accelerate, which has created severe safety issues, especially on the freeway. We were almost hit by two semi-trucks this last time because the transmission would not engage and would only rev …
Read full complaint
The transmission has had multiple catastrophic transmissions failures while driving. The transmission does not engage and the car cannot accelerate, which has created severe safety issues, especially on the freeway. We were almost hit by two semi-trucks this last time because the transmission would not engage and would only rev high while traveling on the turnpike in an 80 MPH zone and the car decelerated quickly due to lack of engagement and the RPM gauge just would redline with no movement to the wheels. This has happened several time before but this was the one that scared us the most...each event was scary. The first transmission failure happened at around 20K miles and if the transmission is replaced this time it would be the third replacement transmission within only 10K miles since the care only has 30K miles on it. I have talked with the dealership and Kia Consumer assistance multiple time with no resolutions. They are obviously aware of the issues with this transmission and just keep making promises that never happen and just keep us in a consistent state of a "runaround."
NHTSA ODI #11457847
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2022
Forward Collision Avoidance
The collision light comes on and a drop down on the dash says the collision is not working. Upon occasion the breaks with go off randomly. When the breaks all of a sudden slam it makes a horrible noise that scares me and I automatically want to slam on my breaks when that happens. I have a fear of someone rear ending me. I don't…
Read full complaint
The collision light comes on and a drop down on the dash says the collision is not working. Upon occasion the breaks with go off randomly. When the breaks all of a sudden slam it makes a horrible noise that scares me and I automatically want to slam on my breaks when that happens. I have a fear of someone rear ending me. I don't know if the break lights come on when that happens. Smith Kia in Bellingham WA. has looked at the car numerous times. They could never duplicate the problem so nothing ever got fixed for a long time. Then one day it was reproduced by them and they said they got a reading on it and fixed the problem. But it didn't fix the problem it still is doing it. They kept my car again a few times but this time cannot duplicate it so they gave me my car back. I even sent them lots of pictures every time it happened with the mileage in the picture. The manufacturer has never looked at my car. No insurance, police or other has looked at my car. The warning lights would just come on randomly at any given time. The same with my breaks randomly going off. There was a drop down stating a lot of words but I could never read it because it popped back up so fast but when the breaks went off there was no dash lights saying anything only the drop down. There was never any warning ahead of time. It just happened with both occasions, NO WARNINGS!!
NHTSA ODI #11454447
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2022
Power Train
Driving along the highway and transmission failure occurred, causing engine RPM to jump sky high and rapid deceleration without warning or brake lights. Luckily we were not hit by any other cars and were able to pull get off the highway onto the service road. Check engine light came on and the car wouldn't move. Turned the car o…
Read full complaint
Driving along the highway and transmission failure occurred, causing engine RPM to jump sky high and rapid deceleration without warning or brake lights. Luckily we were not hit by any other cars and were able to pull get off the highway onto the service road. Check engine light came on and the car wouldn't move. Turned the car off and back on after a few minutes and the transmission wouldn't move forward without massive RPM and no faster than 12mph or so. This is the SECOND time this has happened. I didn't report the first time because figured it was a one-off occurrence. The first time we had 26,000 miles on the car, this time, the new transmission went out after only 8,000 miles. All services have been performed by the Kia dealer directly. Car is back at Kia dealer for the transmission replacement again. No confidence in keeping the car given they replaced it with the same transmission that had problems twice!
NHTSA ODI #11453371
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2022
Unknown Or Other
#1 I ASSUME THE FUEL SYSTEM OR ELECTRIC SYSTEM ARE WHAT FAILED #2THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING,WHEN TRYING TO RESTART{IF IT RESTARTS} NO POWER & SHUTS OFF AGAIN #3 I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER& KIA MAIN BRANCH IN CALIFORNIA 3 TIMES BY PHONE & EMAIL BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL BUT…
Read full complaint
#1 I ASSUME THE FUEL SYSTEM OR ELECTRIC SYSTEM ARE WHAT FAILED #2THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING,WHEN TRYING TO RESTART{IF IT RESTARTS} NO POWER & SHUTS OFF AGAIN #3 I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER& KIA MAIN BRANCH IN CALIFORNIA 3 TIMES BY PHONE & EMAIL BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID HAVE IT TOWED HERE & IT WILL COST 100$ TO SEE IF ITS BEEN RECALLED{ MY ANSWER WAS YOU COULD TELL ME BY THE V I N # I CANT AFFORED A TOW THE 100$ TO TELL ME IF THERE IS A RECALL{THERE ANSWER WAS THATS NOT MY PROBLEM}#4 THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS KEPT BLOWING OUT{I REPLACED THEM2X OUT OF POCKET#5 THE ONLY WARNING I HAD WAS LOSS OF POWER BEFORE DYING.
NHTSA ODI #11449114
Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2022
Structure
I Bought a white 2019 KIA forte almost brand new around July of 2019 my bumpers paint began peeling in a tiny spot I thought was a chip from a rock but rapidly began peeling all over. February of 2020 was when I thought it started getting pretty bad chips and chunks were missing all over the bumper and it wasn’t even a year yet …
Read full complaint
I Bought a white 2019 KIA forte almost brand new around July of 2019 my bumpers paint began peeling in a tiny spot I thought was a chip from a rock but rapidly began peeling all over. February of 2020 was when I thought it started getting pretty bad chips and chunks were missing all over the bumper and it wasn’t even a year yet maybe 10,000 miles by then. I took it to Kia they said I had to take it to Buick GMC dealership l where I bought it yet they told me I had to take it to KIA it was a lot of back and forth and I was busy with school and work it just wasn’t a priority at the time. It is now Jan 2022 a little over 45,000 miles it is still under bumper to bumper warranty. I took it into KIA on Jan 18 2022 for other recalls and sensor problems but when bringing up the paint problem nothing they said nothing can be done and it was not covered. The paint has looked as it has been delaminating and paint chipping has drastically spread. Please look at the photos attached for reference. After looking into it I have found out it is a common problem with white paint and would appreciate it if I hear back so KIA can fix this issue.
NHTSA ODI #11448995
Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2021
Power Train
My car was vehicle was driving on the highway over 200 miles away from home when I was driving about 65 mph the speed limit. When trying to accelerate on the Highway my vehicle would jump from 2,000 RPMs - 4,000 RPM not going faster. As I hit the gas my speed decreased and I pulled over the side of the road. When I tried to turn…
Read full complaint
My car was vehicle was driving on the highway over 200 miles away from home when I was driving about 65 mph the speed limit. When trying to accelerate on the Highway my vehicle would jump from 2,000 RPMs - 4,000 RPM not going faster. As I hit the gas my speed decreased and I pulled over the side of the road. When I tried to turn on/off my car the check engine light randomly appeared and I was stuck on the side of the road unable to accelerate. My car could have been rear ended on the Highway with Speed Limit of 65 MPH and I could have died if I didn't think quickly and pull to the side of the road. The dealer that the car towed to confirmed my car's transmission needed to be replaced. The only prior warning was my car's acceleration was decreased after Recall SC199 was completed by the dealership.
NHTSA ODI #11444762
70,000 miles · Nov 19, 2021
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at night in foggy weather conditions at 55 mph, the contact rear-ended a parked vehicle while trying to avoid hitting a deer. The gear shift was still in DRIVE but the vehicle was completely stopped from the impact. The driver air bag deployed upon impact …
Read full complaint
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at night in foggy weather conditions at 55 mph, the contact rear-ended a parked vehicle while trying to avoid hitting a deer. The gear shift was still in DRIVE but the vehicle was completely stopped from the impact. The driver air bag deployed upon impact and the seat belt did not restrain the contact in her seat during impact. The contact was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained to her head from hitting the windshield and her hips from hitting the steering wheel, which prevented her from flying out of the windshield when the seat belt failed. The contact also sustained additional injuries to her shoulder, neck, and back. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was involved in another collision in September 2019, when another vehicle crashed into the contact's rear driver's side door. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The manufacturer referred the contact to filing a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #11441000
42,000 miles · Oct 19, 2021
Engine
The contact leased a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights were illuminated during the failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on multiple occasions and was initially informed that repairs were needed to t…
Read full complaint
The contact leased a 2019 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall. The contact was uncertain if any warning lights were illuminated during the failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on multiple occasions and was initially informed that repairs were needed to the transmission. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under warranty. Despite the repair, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that sludge was found in the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000. Consumer stated transmission problem affected the engine.*JB
NHTSA ODI #11437382
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2021
Tires
I rented a Kia Forte from Avis. I got a flat tire that was not repairable. I called AAA. There was no spare tire. I learned that Kia and many other manufacturers now do not provide a spare tire. This is exceptionally dangerous because you could get trapped in a remote location, in a desert, wilderness or very cold area and …
Read full complaint
I rented a Kia Forte from Avis. I got a flat tire that was not repairable. I called AAA. There was no spare tire. I learned that Kia and many other manufacturers now do not provide a spare tire. This is exceptionally dangerous because you could get trapped in a remote location, in a desert, wilderness or very cold area and die. I propose that NHTSA require all rental cars to have spare tires (The Kia had a space for one), and further that new cars disclose prominently that there is no spare tire.
NHTSA ODI #11434979
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2021
Power Train
I got this car from the dealer at auction , so I am the second owner , power train warranty voided for 2nd owner , at my 90k miles , my transmission shaft has been broken due problem with the same year 2019 recall , dealer refused to fix it because I am out of warranty . I bought another transmission and still have the same prob…
Read full complaint
I got this car from the dealer at auction , so I am the second owner , power train warranty voided for 2nd owner , at my 90k miles , my transmission shaft has been broken due problem with the same year 2019 recall , dealer refused to fix it because I am out of warranty . I bought another transmission and still have the same problem , the car is unuseable at all .
NHTSA ODI #11433431