2018 Kia Forte Complaints

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 06/10/2026

There is an issue with the fuel pump where it would stall or shut off while driving or at a stoplight

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — Filed 08/18/2026

The contact's son owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, with the oil pressure warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but there was white smoke coming from the engine. The contact raised the hood and inspected the engine, and the smoke had ceased. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized due to a lack of engine oil, even though the engine oil had been changed in June. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V260000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,300.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 04/03/2017

Have to replace running lights every 4-6 months on both of my headlights. Happened every 4-6 months since I got the car in 2017

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — Filed 08/15/2025

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was discovered that the engine oil level was extremely low. The dealer kept the vehicle for nine months and performed an oil change. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who replaced the oil gasket cover, but the failure recurred with the engine making knocking sounds. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

ENGINE — Filed 01/04/2026

Recently, while my boyfriend was driving my vehicle, the engine suddenly lost power without warning. He had the accelerator pedal fully depressed, yet the vehicle would barely move. He was fortunate to safely maneuver the vehicle off the road. Upon inspection, he discovered there was no oil present in the engine. Critically, neither the low oil warning light nor the check engine light had illuminated prior to this failure, providing absolutely no warning of a severe mechanical problem. After adding oil and performing a proper oil change, the engine began violently shuddering and shaking upon startup, and only then did the check engine light illuminate. The vehicle was immediately towed to an authorized Kia dealership, where I was informed that the timing chain had failed.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — Filed 03/29/2025

While driving the car with the flow of busy traffic, the engine failed and the car stopped. It eventually turn back on (side of the road) but now drives with hesitation, a strange noise, and with the engine light on. This cycle continued until we arrived at the repair shop. And after much research, it seems that this experience is common for other Kia engines. Why was mine not included? Someone could have been badly injured!

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 02/01/2026

Engine would run fast and then sound like was going to stop and then it would start shaking and rumbling while driving on highway and in town. Car would stall while at a stop. Gas smells inside the car. Did not feel safe driving. Had the car towed to an independent garage on February 7th and They did an oil change, change 2 Sensors, changed all the spark plugs and changed all 4 Cylinders and on the way home from Starks garage the car was doing the same as before going to the garage with gas smells inside the car, shaking, rumbling and stalling of the engine. And the car wanting to stall while on the highway speed limit of going 60 mph. the next morning My mom and stepdad had the car towed again to another mechanic close to them at Hudson Import Automotive -Napa Auto Care and they emailed a list of problems after inspecting the car. Attaching the list of codes from a diagnostic test from Auto Zone Store # 00791 , and the Estimate for Service from Hudson Import Automotive - Napa Auto Care. Have no paperwork from Starks mechanic shop.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 01/27/2026

I went to Kia dealership in Groton CT 06340 for an oil change. They also fixed a recent recall, and after I picked up my car, both of my key fobs weren’t working. I can’t open my car. I can’t lock my car and they are refusing to fix it. I contacted kia corporate. they were not helpful. What can I do here to have this situation resolved? I’m worried that the anti theft system doesn’t work now on my car because my key fobs don’t work at all.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE — Filed 10/01/2025

The car turn off while driving it. This creates a serious safety concern. We took the car to a mechanic and he was not able to identify the problem, he suggested we take it to the dealership. We then took it to the kia dealer ( Covina) and they have had it for months and yet are not able to fix it. Yesterday we received a call telling us, the engine failure is related to the oil pressure and it would need a new engine. This is no longer covered under warranty. This same car has already had the engine replaced once before. When we bought the Kia in 2018 (new) just weeks after we took it home, it required a new engine, which Kia replaced. The current issue appears to be related to oil pressure and is consistent with engine concerns reported on this model year.

ENGINE — Filed 01/24/2026

No warning lights/ indicators at all. Well taken care of vehicle 84,400 miles on the vehicle second owner. Had an oil change and my husband noticed bad blow by, had it diagnosed by a mechanic. They said we need a whole new engine. Dont understand how this would happen unless some manufacturer defect. No recalls apparently for this vehicle. Seems to be a common issue. Really sucks that I dont even have 100000 miles and need a new engine. We got screwed over as first time buyers with a huge loan ended up paying nearly 30000 dollars for this vehicle and the engine is already no good. I hope something comes of this because people are tired of getting screwed around by major corporations. Theres no reason why my engine should be no good with only 84400 miles and well maintained. Luckily my husband noticed when he did because who knows what would have happened if it had gone out while driving with no indicators that anything is wrong whatsoever. Could have been a bad crash for all I know.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 07/07/2025

Unknown. Fire was located under in the engine compartment area and fire was visible from below the engine under the car. When it happened I was driving on the freeway when noticed my car seemed to be struggling stay at the current speend and to loose speed then a it suddenly l no longer would accerlatoed so I pulled over to call 911 a passing vehicle stopped and informed me there was flames under my car. I safetly exited and called for emergency services. The Safety risk of major bodily harm by fire to myself or risk of harm to the environment around me a risk. The check engine light had come on before the fire. Reached out to manufacturer for a fire investigation and was instructed to take car to dealership to for service department to inspect. Was told a ETA of 2 weeks before they will check out my car.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 04/16/2024

I got into a car accident and my air bags never deployed and the seat beat didn’t lock so I cause me to get jerked and my head hit the side door and I messed up my left shoulder and arm in the process of holding myself from hitting the steering wheel and my breaks didn’t stop when I got hit and pressed down my car got stuck on drive accelerating on its own after I had my foot on break to stop the car

AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/11/2024

Brakes completely locked up during my attempt to stop the vehicle does have abs and that is supposed to allow the wheels to keep moving so that you can try to maneuver and when I made contact with the other vehicle the airbag never deployed

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 07/23/2023

The car was stolen

AIR BAGS — Filed 08/15/2022

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the contact stated he rear-ended the vehicle in front of him causing damage to the front end of his vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. The contact had several cuts and bruises, but no medical attention was required and he stated that no one else was injured. It was unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The contact stated he later find out that his VIN was under recall NHTSA Campaign Number:22V031000(Air Bags) The dealer was not contacted, and the manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 64,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 08/02/2022

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the contact rear-ended the vehicle in front of her however the air bags failed to deploy. The air bag warning light was illuminated. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained injuries to her back but did not receive medical attention. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/08/2021

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Forte. The contact stated she was at standstill at a parking space when another vehicle backed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a bulging disc on the neck, vertigo, and a concussion from the whiplash. The contact did not seek medical attention at the moment but did go to the hospital 8 days later. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to the collision shop and had the bumper, the front passenger side headlight, and the steering column repair. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V031000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 12/03/2020

While was driving the car Kia Forte spin out control or someone used an remote and became an hot engine but due to car getting repossession Kia saying can’t do nothing about it , my safety was put as risk due to car spinning out control and yes the car did deployed its airbags only driver side , no inspection due to Kia saying they can’t do nothing . It was 7 warnings lamps afterwards the incident , Made an report on June 3, 2021 14164508 with Kia consumers

ENGINE — Filed 03/25/2021

I GOT MY 18 KIA WAS PURCHASED WITH 25K MILES ON IT AND WHEN IT GOT AROUND 72,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED TO SHUT OFF, MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AT TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA AND GAVE THEM ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. THEY SAID I WAS MISSING 1 MAYBE 2 SO IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED. SO PICKED THE VEHICLE UP TOOK IT BY O RILEY'S WHERE THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS A CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WE REPLACED THAT AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WE'VE BEEN DRIVING IT BECAUSE IT'S OUR ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION SO TODAY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AND THANKFULLY NOT GOING VERY FAST WHEN IT CUT OFF, MY HUSBAND TRIED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART AND ENDED UP GOING DOWN A HILL AND HIT A TREE. KIA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE! MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HURT AND THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN IT I'M PREGNANT NOR MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THIS HAS REALLY MADE ME NOT EVER WANT ANOTHER KIA OR WILL I EVER RECOMMEND ONE TO A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER! WHAT'S KIA WAITING FOR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? SOMEONE TO DIE FIRST BECAUSE THE CAR CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC AND YOU GET SLAMMED!!! WHAT IF THIS WAS A TEENAGE IN THEIR FIRST CAR THEY WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO I BARLEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN IT STALLS I'M TRAFFIC. JUST RIDICULOUS!*DT

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 01/15/2021

NOTE: THE INDIVIDUAL SUBMITTING THIS STATEMENT OF FACTS IS PREPARED AND WILLING TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS OR ANY COURT OF LAW THAT ALL OF WHICH THAT IS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS SUBMISSION IS BASED ON FACTS AND TRUTH . ALSO LET IT BE KNOWN A DEGREE IN "APPLIED SCIENCE IN AUTOMOTIVE & DIESEL TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED DRILL FLUIDS TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING" IS HELD BY THIS INDIVIDUAL AND THE LATER DEGREE DEALS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING OF NEWTONIAN AND NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS (I.E.> WATER BASED AND OIL BASED FLUIDS SUCH AS A ENGINE OIL ) IS WELL WITHIN THE INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOLECULAR CONSTRUCTION AND DECONSTRUCTION OF ELEMENTS . I WAS APPROACHED BY A FRIEND WHO HAD A SITUATION THAT REQUIRED QUICK ACTION IF ANY HOPES OF A REMEDY WERE TO PREVAIL , AND THE END RESULT FOR MYSELF WOULD BE OWNING A 2018 KIA FORTE . THE SAID VEHICLE HAD A TOTAL OF 41,117 MILES CALCULATED AND DISPLAYED ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY ATTACHED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER . THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP AS PROMISED UP TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF 12000 MILES AS PROMISED BY KIA , AT NO EXTRA CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. AFTERWARDS THE 1ST ORIGINAL OWNER WOULD CONTINUE THE SCHEDULES SERVICE AS OUTLINED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL . THIS MAINTENANCE SERVICE WOULD ALWAYS BE PERFORMED AT THE OWNERS USUAL TRUSTED REPAIR SHOP AND IF NOT WITHIN THE AREA AT THE TIME SERVICE WAS NEEDED , A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP WOULD BE THE CHOICE . WITH A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE IN MY POSSESSION I SOON EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS CAUSING POOR OIL CIRCULATION AND PAIRED WITH SEVERAL OTHER FACTORS CAUSING SLUDGE BUILD UP WHICH RENDERED MY VEHICLE GARBAGE . THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO NEGLIGENCE AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE . THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE DURING A THUNDERSTORM WITH FLASH FLOODING . "SATISFACTION GUARANTEE" IS A LIE !

AIR BAGS — Filed 06/17/2020

IN LOVED ACCIDENT JUNE17TH 2019 WAS REAR ENDED AND DRIVEN INTO REAR END OF 129000 LBS TRACTOR TRAILER. CAR WAS DEMOLISHED, FRONT END AND REAR SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. WAS EXTRACTED FROM CAR.AIR BAGS DUD NOT DELPLOY. SUSTAINED FRACTURED SKULL AND CONCUSSION

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 10/31/2018

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY PARENTS DRIVEWAY FOR 24 HOURS WHEN MY HUSBAND HEARD A POP AND IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE FLAMES WERE FORCEFULLY COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT BURNED OUR HOUSE DOWN THE CAR WAS TOO BURNED FOR AN INSPECTION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES OR ANYBODY THE CAR WAS TOTALED IT WAS THE FIRST NEW CAR THAT I HAD EVER HAD THIS HAPPENED ON 10/31 2018 THE CITY OF ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA HAS THE FIRE REPORT WHICH STATES THAT IT WAS MY CAR THAT CAUSED THE WHOLE FIRE ACCORDING TO STATE FARM AND MERCURY CASUALTY IT IS A LARGE LOSS

STEERING,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 04/15/2018

I WAS ENTERING AN ONRAMP AT ABOUT 15MPH; A CAR YIELDED IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY BRAKES AND YET SLID INTO THE REAR OF THE FRONT CAR. I DID NOT STOP, EVEN WITH BRAKES APPLIED, AND SLID IN TO THE FRONT ACRE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY KIA WAS TOTALED AND UNDRIVABLE.

AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE — Filed 06/01/2018

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND CRASH HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

AIR BAGS — Filed 06/05/2018

"TAKATA RECALL " I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE INITIAL IMPACT WAS THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I RAN A STOP SIGN AT APROX 35MPH AND TEE BONED A TRUCK. AFTER THE IMPACT I SPUN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE WHERE THE SIDE CURTAIN DID DEPLOY.