2014 Kia FORTE: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS IN A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AS THE THIRD CAR. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND IN TURN CAUSED THAT VEHICLE TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. I HAD THE BRAKES PRESSED DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND STILL COULDN'T STOP IN TIME TO PREVENT IMPACT, THERE WERE NOT EVEN ANY SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT. THE IMPACT WAS SO STRONG THAT MY BACK SEATS FOLDED DOWN AND THE THINGS I HAD IN MY TRUNK FLEW FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT. I HAD GLASS BOTTLES OF DRINKS IN THE TRUNK AND THEY WERE ALL BUSTED IN THE FLOORBOARD FROM BEING THROWN …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10549909 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS OUR 2ND 2014 KIA FORTE EX WITH NAVIGATION EVERYTHING TOP OF THE LINE... WELL THE FIRST ONE HAD A KNOCK IN THE MOTOR SO THE DEALERSHIP "EXCHANGED" IT AND THIS ONE THE SEAT TAKES ABOUT 5 MIN TO LOCK INTO PLACE AFTER YOU ADJUST IT AND YOU HAVE TO BE DRIVING FOR IT TO LOCK IN. THERE IS A KNOCK WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEELS AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS KIA IS WORKING TO FIX IT & TRY NOT TO DRIVE IT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN... THE FUEL TANK KEEPS LEAKING AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED BUT THERE WORKING ON THAT TOO I'M SURE.... HAHA AFTER OUR CAR BEING IN THE SHO…

Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563944 at NHTSA ↗

OUR KIA FORTE WILL NOT DEFOG THE WINDOWS ON THE INSIDE UNTIL IT IS ABOVE 0 WEATHER OR THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHTLY. I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS ON THE SIDES TO BACK OUT OR PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC SO I CAN SEE AND WHEN IT IS 30 BELOW IT ISN'T FUN. THE WINDOW IS CLEAR WHEN I PULL IT OUT OF THE GARAGE IN THE MORNING BUT AS SOON AS I GO DOWN THE ROAD IT STARTS TO FOG UP AND FREEZE ON THE INSIDE. I CAN'T SEE OUT OF MY PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR EITHER. THE WINDSHIELD WILL CLEAR OFF IF I HAVE IT ON FULL DEFROST WITH THE AC BUTTON PRESSED EXCEPT FOR A BIG …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565838 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I INADVERTENTLY HIT A POTHOLE. IT WAS THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR, -20 DEGREES. HITTING THE POTHOLE KNOCKED THE BEAD OF MY TIRE OFF THE RIM. I WENT INTO THE TRUNK TO GET THE SPARE TIRE OUT, AND TO MY SURPRISE. THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE!!!! THERE WAS A "TIRE MOBILITY KIT". I ATTEMPTED TO USE THIS, BUT IT WAS TO ABSOLUTELY NO AVAIL. I CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE NUMBER, AFTER WALKING ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO GET CELL PHONE SERVICE (STILL -20 OUTSIDE), I FOUND OUT THAT THE ESTIMATED TIME FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS AT LEAST 9…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575749 at NHTSA ↗

SCRATCHES UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON CAR PURCHASED AS NEW MAY INDICATE PRIOR USE AND ODOMETER TAMPER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 14 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575916 at NHTSA ↗

ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE SMELLED GAS WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DATE ABOVE IS THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST WAS AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 3-4 DAYS AFTER A SNOW STORM IN LATE 2013. THE BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN STOPPING ON A ROUGH SURFACE. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS ATTRIBUTES THIS TO THE DESIGN OF THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AND APPARENTLY DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION - AGAIN DURING A PERIOD OF COLD WEATHER IN LATE 2013 - THE GEARS GROUND WHEN TURNING AT MAXIMUM ROTATION TO PARALLEL PARK THE CAR IN A TIGHT SPOT, A COMMON OCCURRENCE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576713 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH A MAN RAN A RED LIGHT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. HE HIT MY CAR RIGHT AT THE "HINGE" OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND HIT ME INTO THE CAR NEXT TO ME. MY SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND HE HIT ME GOING 35 MPH. THIS IS NOT COOL, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS? MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS MUCH AS I LOVED MY KIA, WHICH I ONLY HAD FOR 7 MONTHS, NOT SURE I WANT TO BUY ANOTHER. *TR...UPDATED 06-16-15 **BF UPDADTED 9/18/15*JS

Owner-reported narrative. 13,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578310 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE LACKS A SPARE TIRE, AND IT WAS NOT DISCLOSED AT TIME OF PURCHASE, NOR DOES IT STATE THIS FACT IN ANY OF ITS PUBLISHED SALES LITERATURE OR WEB SITE PUBLICATIONS. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED [phone removed]. LONNIE, EXT. 45804, [XXX]) ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND CLAIMED THERE WAS NOT ANY NEED FOR A SPARE. CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATED THAT A 'DONUT SPARE', AS PROVIDED ON THEIR OTHER VEHICLES, IS NOT AVAILABLE, YET, AND HAS NO DELIVERY DATE SCHEDULED. THEIR MOBILITY KIT (TIRE INFLATION) WILL NOT WORK ON TIRE CUTS AND BLOW OUTS. THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 82 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579416 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-01-16 (January 16, 2015)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.

Consequence: If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and for vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014, dealers will replace the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit. For vehicles produced from January 28, 2014 to April 17, 2014, dealers will replace the multi-fuse unit only. Owners of vehicles with a 1.8L engine will also have the engine control unit software updated. The recall began on February 20, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC113.

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: 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.