2013 Kia FORTE: complaints, problems and recalls

AT VEHICLE START - GAUGES ON DASH DID NOT WORK AND SHIFT LOCK WAS ENGAGED. UNABLE TO SHIFT VIA SHIFT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. *TR *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475215 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT LOOKED THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS PROJECTED AN UNUSUAL IMAGE WHICH DISTORTED HIS VIEW. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495260 at NHTSA ↗

2013 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MAJOR ENGINE DEFECTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THREE WEEKS AFTER HER DAUGHTER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SMOKE AND A VERY STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE RADIATOR WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL, WHICH REQUIRED ADDING OIL TO KEEP IT …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10510076 at NHTSA ↗

HIGHWAY DRIVING @ 65 MPH WITH A CROSSWIND GUSTING TO 25 MPH. ACROSS FRONT RIGHT FENDER. THE REAR OF THE CAR IS FAR TOO LIGHT TO HOLD IT TO THE ROAD STRAIGHT. BROADSIDE WIND IS OF COURSE A LOT WORSE. BEING PASSED BY A TRUCK YOU COULD ALMOST GET JERKED RIGHT UNDER IT. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SMALL FIN ACROSS THE TRUNK TO CATCH AIR AND MAKE SOME DOWN FORCE, BECAUSE THE TRUNK AREA IS SO SHORT IT MAY NOT EVEN CATCH AIR IF WIND TUNNELED. 30 YEARS OF DRIVING AND BEING A RETIRED PROFESSIONAL DRIVER TELLS ME THIS IS THE MOST UNSAFE CAR I HAVE EV…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519537 at NHTSA ↗

KIA FORTE 2013 PURCHASED NEW AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH CAR WHEN DRIVING 55-70 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CAR SHAKES,TIRES MAKE NOISES LIKE THEY'RE FLAT,TROUBLE WITH STEERING,REALLY ROUGH RIDE,SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN A PAIN CONSIDERING IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE NEW. IT ALSO LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T SEE OUT REAR WINDOW. ALL THESE THINGS AND MORE WERE REPORTED TO KIA MOTORS WHO SENT ME TO DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SCOFFED AT THE REFERRAL,STATED KIA MOTORS KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEMS AND ALLEGEDLY CHECKED FORTE REPORTING NOT…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524257 at NHTSA ↗

AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M., TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE, PAVED ROAD, AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HEARD A LOAD "POP." NOTICED REAR WINDOW HAD EXPLODED. PULLED OFF ROAD. ALL GLASS WAS STILL INTACT, BUT, IN A MILLION PIECES. THERE WAS NOT ANY NOTICEABLE HOLES, INDENTATIONS, OR ANY OBVIOUS SIGNS OF WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THERE DID APPEAR TO BE PRIMARY POINT OF WHERE THE DAMAGE WAS COMING FROM, ONE OF THE TOP DEFROSTER LINES. CURRENTLY WORKING WITH LOCAL DEALER, SAME AS WHERE I PURCHASED VEHICLE, TO REPAIR. APPEARS, MANUFACTURER WILL HAND…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,940 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547824 at NHTSA ↗

WAS DRIVING ON THE CAR ON THE TURNPIKE, SET THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR 65 MPH. CRUISE STAYED ON FOR A FEW MINUTES, SHUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE. ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BY DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE, ALTHOUGH RPMS DID INCREASE. HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. DROVE REMAINDER OF DISTANCE W/O CRUISE CONTROL. CAR HAS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE INTERMITTENTLY. HAVE HAD TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. CAR HAS BEEN ANALYZED BY THE COMPUTER WITH NO ISSUE FOUND. BOTH TIMES THEY HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573547 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT THE CAR A YEAR AFTER IT WAS RELEASED AND IT SEEMS TO JERK AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN GOING OVER MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. ALSO SHAKES WHEN RIDING THROUGH HIGH WINDS. IT SEEMS EXTREMELY LIGHT WEIGHT AND IS HARD TO CONTROL IF THERE IS STRONG WINDS(15MPH) PRESENT WHICH EXTREMELY NERVE WRACKING ESPECIALLY TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, OR WITH MY CHILDREN, OR ON THE HIGHWAY. THE JERKING SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING FOR MINOR BUMPS ON THE ROAD, MAKES ME FEEL THE CAR IS UNSAFE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587708 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2013 Forte vehicles manufactured September 10, 2012, to October 31, 2012. The screws that hold the front seatbelt retractor retaining plates may not have been properly tightened, and as a result, the seatbelt retractor retaining plates may break in a crash.

Consequence: If a retaining plate breaks during a crash, pieces of the plate could strike the occupants, increasing risk of injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace both front seatbelt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. The recall began July 1, 2016. Kia's number for this recall is SC132.

Reported: 2017-12-01 (December 1, 2017)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.

Consequence: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.

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.

Reported: 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

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.