2012 Kia FORTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
291 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
81,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 180 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 160 of 291 complaints (55.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 67 | 23.0% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 160 |
| Air Bags | 37 |
| Electrical System | 32 |
| Service Brakes | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
Engine: 160; Air Bags: 37; Electrical System: 32; Service Brakes: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 21; Unknown Or Other: 20; Exterior Lighting: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 58 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 58; 150,000 and above: 16
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 111 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 26 |
| 2019 | 35 |
| 2020 | 31 |
| 2021 | 44 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2012: 3; 2013: 9; 2014: 11; 2015: 11; 2016: 9; 2017: 16; 2018: 26; 2019: 35; 2020: 31; 2021: 44; 2022: 17; 2023: 34; 2024: 23; 2025: 15; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10512771 · 2013-05-20 (May 20, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, IT WOULD NOT RELEASE TO THE FLOORBOARD UNTIL REPEATED FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900. UPDATED 07/16/13*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10531617 · 2013-07-24 (July 24, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND PARKED, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING. THE VEHICLE STOPPING AFTER RUNNING FOR ONE FULL HOUR. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAGS INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865412 · 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)
BACK IN APRIL 2016 THE HOSE THAT TRANSFERS TRANSMISSION FLUILD WAS RECALLED I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT FIXED. ON 05/16/2017 MY CAR STARTED SHIFTING WEIRD AND THEN (WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WITH MY TWO MONTH OLD DAUGHTER) IS NOW LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE HOSE IS BROKE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FLUID AND BROKEN HOSE IT SHIFTS OUT OF CONTROL AND STALLS.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10972281 · 2017-04-13 (April 13, 2017)
MY WIFE AND I WERE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 75MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN SOUTHEAST KANSASWHEN MY CAR ESSENTIALLY TURNED OFF. LUCKILY THERE WAS A SHOULDER TO PULL ONTO. TRIED JUMPING IT WITH NO LUCK. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY TOWN TO A BODY SHOP WHO KEPT IT OVER THE WEEKEND TO TRY AND REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THIS WAS A FRIDAY AND WE RETURNED THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY TO PICK UP THE CAR. BODYSHOP STATED THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO REPICATE WHAT HAD HAPPEND AND NOTHING FLASHED ON THE COMPUTER. WE DROVE IT IN THE TOWN A LITTLE BIT WITH NO ISSUES A…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10972281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10734904 · 2015-07-18 (July 18, 2015)
ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, JUNE 5-JULY 17, 2015 OUR KIA FORTE 5 DOOR HATCHBACK FAILED TO START. TOW COMPANY PERSONNEL ATTEMPTED TO JUMP START THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. REPAIRS WILL NOT BE MADE UNTIL THE CONDITION CAN BE REPLICATED. AFTER SITTING FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD (1-3 DAYS) THE CAR WILL START. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY ON JUNE 23RD AT THE SUGGESTION OF A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO REFUSED TO TOW US. HE RELATED THAT IN HOT WEATHER KIA CARS OFTEN WILL NOT START IF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669052 · 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)
THE CAR GOT A FLAT TIRE WHILE TAKING A CURVE AND HIT A CONCRETE POLE. THE CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS AND ALL THE FRONT PART WAS SMASHED. THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY TO DEPLOY BUT DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THE WAY, SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOYED. DRIVER GOT A CLAVICLE FRACTURE. ....UPDATED 01/23/15 *BF UPDATED 2/11/16 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10669052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10845985 · 2016-03-10 (March 10, 2016)
I REAR-END A SUV AT 50 MILES PER HOUR, HIT MY NOSE AND MOUTH ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FRONT END IS SEVERELY DAMAGE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, FLUIDS WERE LEAKING BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.
Owner-reported narrative. 770,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10845985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10631521 · 2014-09-08 (September 8, 2014)
A HUMMING SOUND / AND VIBRATION IS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT & DOES NOT COINCIDE WITH ENGINE RPM. FASTER THE SPEED THE LOUDER IT GETS THE LOUDEST @ 45MPH. SOUND IS LIKE A SMALL MOTORCYCLE IT'S NEXT TO YOU. HAVE ALREADY ROTATED/BALANCED TIRES & DIDN'T HELP. IT IS ALMOST A TRANSMISSION WHINE BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE W/ SHIFTING OR WHEN IN NEUTRAL
Owner-reported narrative. 34,436 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10733474 · 2015-07-12 (July 12, 2015)
MY 2012 KIA FORTE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACING, AND ACTING LIKE IT IS OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I ALSO GET PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS: I GET TOLD THAT THEY'RE OUT WHEN THEY AREN'T. I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES ON MY VEHICLE. IT STARTED IN APRIL, 2014, AT FIRST OCCASIONALLY, BUT NOW IT IS ALMOST CONSTANT. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FOUND AND FIXED, I AM IN DANGER OF LOSING MY TRANSMISSION AND WORSE....UPDATED 12/10/15 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10733474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10489463 · 2012-12-21 (December 21, 2012)
I BOUGHT MY 2012 KIA FORTE EX ON 11/12/2011. RIGHT AFTER MY FIRST OIL CHANGE FROM THE KIA DEALER. I TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FRIDAY JAN. 21 2011. WE WERE GOING TO DINNER ON SATURDAY 01/22/2012. AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK 10 MINUTES. WITH GASOLINE SMELL IN CAR. WE LET THE AIR CLEAR OUT. WELL TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR INTO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM DUE TO NO LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT GOING OFF. IT IS NOW 12/21/2012. A…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490832 · 2013-01-02 (January 2, 2013)
BOUGHT MY 2012 KIA FORTE EX ON 11/12/2011. RIGHT AFTER MY FIRST OIL CHANGE FROM THE KIA DEALER. I TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FRIDAY 1/21/2012 . WE WERE GOING TO DINNER ON SATURDAY 01/22/2012. AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK 10 MINUTES. WITH GASOLINE SMELL IN CAR. WE LET THE AIR CLEAR OUT. WELL TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR INTO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM DUE TO NO LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT GOING OFF. IT IS NOW 12/21/2012. AND ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490832 at NHTSA ↗