2016 Kia FORTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
135 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
44,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 135 complaints (48.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 19 | 14.1% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 12.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 8.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.2% |
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 | 66 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 |
Engine: 66; Electrical System: 20; Power Train: 16; Unknown Or Other: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Air Bags: 13; Service Brakes: 10; Exterior Lighting: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 75 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2016: 11; 2017: 7; 2018: 14; 2019: 20; 2020: 8; 2021: 14; 2022: 13; 2023: 14; 2024: 10; 2025: 12; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 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 10884639 · 2016-07-13 (July 13, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD A DENT WHERE THE SENSOR WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE HAD A MOLD ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,674.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,674 miles reported. Look up ODI 10884639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11058265 · 2018-01-03 (January 3, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE MATS ON THE FLOOR BEGAN TO SMOKE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SUN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED FREQUENTLY REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED SHE WAS TRAVELING. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD CONCERNS WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE TRANSFERRED GEARS ON ITS OWN. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. KIA OF GREENVILLE (2424 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS U…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,865 miles reported. Look up ODI 11058265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10924524 · 2016-11-06 (November 6, 2016)
BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE BRAKE SWITCH BUT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BULBS AND THE RELAY AND ALSO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TUESDAY FOR THE RELAY. WHAT'S THE POINT OF PAYING FOR A WARRANTY
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10924524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11006028 · 2017-07-17 (July 17, 2017)
WHILE SETTING IN PARKING LOT WITH CAR IN PARK AND ENGINE RUNNING, MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTATION FAILURE, ANTI SLIP, TIRE PRESSURE, A.B.S. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, REGULAR BRAKING LIGHT, ENGINE MISS FIRING... ROUGH SHIFTING, WAS ABLE TO LIMP CAR TO CLOSED KIA DEALER.. ON A SUNDAY NIGHT.. THEY KEPT CAR 3 DAYS.. COULD NOT FIND WHY CAR HAS MULTIPLE FAILURES..THEY CALLED KIA ENGINEER .. STILL HAD NO CLUE AS TO PROBLEM.. FINALLY..SAID THEY CLEARED 2 CODES FROM COMPUTER.. CAR RAN GOOD .. FOR 2 DAYS..THEN WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN LUTHERVILLE MD. AGAIN M…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,901 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10872288 · 2016-06-03 (June 3, 2016)
NOTICE MY LIGHTS WOULD GO ON & OFF ON DASH BOARD DURING G DAY TIMES THINKING CAR HAD DIMMING EFFECTS, THEN NOTICE WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF & LIGHTS SHOULD BE OFF THEY WOULD STAY ON. THEN I WOULD BE SITTING OUTSIDE LOOK AT CAR & LIGHTS WOULD JUST COME ON BY THEMSELVES. THE WORST I WAS TRYING & HEADLIGHTS & INSIDES LIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. I'M SCARED FOR ME AND MY FAMILY SAFETY. I DONT EVEN WANT THE CAR ANYMORE AND SOMETIMES SMELLS LIKE THERE'S ELECTRICAL BURNING OR SOMETHING DONT KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10872288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947874 · 2017-01-26 (January 26, 2017)
MOST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING ON A RURAL HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED FOR NO REASON...I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER, ALL ELECTRICAL DASH LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING, I TURNED THE KEY TO AN OFF POSITION AND WAITED...AFTER A MINUTE I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221479 · 2019-06-20 (June 20, 2019)
KIA FORTE 2016 - WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND IT LOSES POWER STEERING BREAKS, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, STARTING THE CAR, DRIVING 10 MPH, 50MPH, 35 MPH. I HAVE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP. THE CAR IS STILL IN DRIVE, THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE DASHBOARD GOES OUT, BUT THE RADIO AND CLOCK STAY ON. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 KIA DEALERSHIPS 4 TIMES TOTAL AND THE ISSUES CONTINUE. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221479 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11299954 · 2020-01-16 (January 16, 2020)
WHEN DRIVING IN MOTION MY 2016 FORTE THE CAR STALLS OUT. THE POWER STEERING, BREAKS AND DASHBOARD DO NOT WORK. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WENT INTO A POND. THIS CAR STALLING OUT BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 5 TIMES; I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERSHIPS AREN'T ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR DETECT IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079434 · 2018-03-14 (March 14, 2018)
TAKATA RECALL, DOOR COVER TO THE GAS CAP SNAPPED OFF, COVER BROKE AT THE HINGE (INSIDE THE COMPARTMENT) , NOW, IN ORDER TO RELEASE IT YOU MUST USE THE RELEASE LEVER, PLUS PARTIAL PRYING OF THE COVER ITSELF. CAR WAS STATIONARY, AT THE FUEL PUMP
Owner-reported narrative. 824 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384216 · 2020-12-19 (December 19, 2020)
DRIVING THE CAR SMELLED A GAS SMELL, THEN LATER A BURNING SMELL, THEN THE CAR STALLED, CRANKED IT AGAIN IT STALLED AGAIN. WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. HAD JUST HAD THIS CAR OIL CHANGE AND MULTIPOINT INSPECTION THEY STATED THE CAR WAS FINE. TODAY THEY TELL ME IT'S ENGINE FAILURE. WE WERE DRIVING WHEN THE CAR STALLED.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384216 at NHTSA ↗