2010 Kia FORTE KOUP: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
125,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 11 complaints (54.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
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 | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Engine: 6; Seat Belts: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Structure:Body: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2017: 2; 2018: 6; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10950294 · 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)
THROTTLE BODY ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT PART DEFECTIVE. INTERMITTENT NO START. VEHICLE STATIONARY. WILL JUST CRANK AND NOT START AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE. ONCE IT STARTS USUALLY GOOD UNTIL VEHICLE SITS FOR AWHILE THEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN.. ORIGINAL ITEM REPLACED MAR 24 2016. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING NOW IN FEB 17 WITH NEW PART. WAS TOLD THAT THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT CARSMART AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN LOGAN UTAH.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,798 miles reported. Look up ODI 10950294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051415 · 2017-11-30 (November 30, 2017)
ENGINE HAS BEEN ACTING UP. KNOCKING. TAPPING. LESS POWER. MPG IN THE 20S. GET GAS 127000 MILES ON IT. HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. OVERALL DEFECTIVE ENGINE. I HOPE THEY RECALL THIS ENGINE SOON BEFORE LOTS OF PEOPLE GET HURT WHEN THEIR ENGINE CRAPS OUT ON THEM DOING 70 ON THE FREEWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11074727 · 2018-02-25 (February 25, 2018)
ENGINE KNOCK POSSIBLY RELATED TO HYUNDAI, KIA THETA II MOTOR RECALL. DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY INFORMATION REGARDING ENGINE SAFETY OR ANY FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. MY CAR IS HAVING ISSUES DRIVING. IT IS CONCERNING ME BECAUSE OF THIS MASSIVE RECALL. THIS CAR USES A VARIANT OF THE 'THETA II' ENGINE THAT IS BEING RECALLED FOR METAL SHAVINGS THAT CAUSE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE MY CAR DEALERSHIP IS HOLDING OUT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11074727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11080384 · 2018-03-20 (March 20, 2018)
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO METAL FLAKES IN ENGINE (SAME AS RECENT RECALL ON OTHER MODELS). NO LIGHTS OR INDICATORS PRESENT, ENGINE WAS MAKING ABNORMAL NOISES AND TOOK CARE IN BEFORE A CATASTROPHIC INDECENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11080384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090426 · 2018-04-27 (April 27, 2018)
MY SEAT BELT DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT CLICK INTO THE BUCKLE WHICH MAKES IT HARD NOT BE PULLED OVER AND VERY UNSAFE. AS WELL AS, MY LIGHTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR DO NOT TURN OFF THEY ARE ALWAYS ILLUMINATED ONCE STARTING THE CAR. MY BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT EVERY SO OFTEN, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO MY BRAKES SOMETIMES WON'T COME UP OFF THE FLOOR OR WILL STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION EVEN WHILE BEING PRESSED. THIS IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11096819 · 2018-05-19 (May 19, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE DOING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A VERY LOUD BOOM. NO OTHER CARS WERE NEAR ME WHEN THE BOOM HAPPENED AND I THOUGHT I JUST RAN OVER SOMETHING. A FEW MINUTES LATER MY WIFE OPENED UP THE SUNROOF SLIDING COVER AND WE SAW THAT THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED. THE WHOLE SUNROOF GLASS LOOKED LIKE A SPIDERWEB AND THERE WAS NOT ANY IMPACT MARKS WHERE SOMETHING COULD HAVE HIT THE GLASS.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11096819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11105081 · 2018-07-02 (July 2, 2018)
THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY ROLL BACK INTO THE DOOR FRAME OF THE CAR AFTER TAKING THEM OFF. YOU HAVE TO JERK THE BELT UP AND DOWN CLOSE TO TWENTY TIMES TO GET THEM TO RETRACT. ALSO, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T FUNCTION LIKE NORMAL. IT ONLY WORKS ONCE IN A WHILE. I HAVE TO TRY TO SET MY SPEED MANY TIMES IF IT EVER GETS IT TO WORK. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11105081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151192 · 2018-11-13 (November 13, 2018)
I HAD A 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE 5/29/18 WHILE GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES/HR. BEFORE THE FIRE BEGAN, THERE WAS SOME KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER WENT OUT, INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME, AND THE WHOLE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE OIL CHANGES AND HAVING ALL FLUIDS CHECKED AND FILLED AS NEEDED. I HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151192 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V363000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
Reported: 2018-06-01 (June 1, 2018)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Consequence: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V652000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
NHTSA campaign record ↗