NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia Forte. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEN IT TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND IT NEVER TURNED ON AGAIN. I HAD TO TOW IT.
I WENT HUNTING AND WENT TO GO BACK TO MY CAR AT THE END OF THE EVENING. MY CAR WAS PARKED ON A GRASS LANE BY A WOODS WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE EGNITION. WHEN I GOT TO THE CAR IT WAS DARK SO I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING AT FIRST, BUT WHEN I WENT TO UNLOCK MY DOOR AND MY KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK. BUT MY BUDDY NOTICED THAT MY LIGHTS FLASHED AS IF IT WAS WORKING. I USED MY KEY TO OPEN MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND WAS HIT BY A CLOUD OF SMOKE. MY WHOLE DOOR PANEL WAS MELTED ALONG THE SPEAKER AND HALF OF THE DOOR. THE FIRE WAS OUT BY THE TIME I ARRIVED. KIA IN LIMA WOULDN'T TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VEHICLE AFTER A LONG DRAWN OUT PROCESS AND POOR COMMUNICATION FROM THEM, BUT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DEAMED IT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I DO NOT HAVE THE PAPERWORK AT THE MOMENT BUT CAN HAVE IT AVAILABLE ASAP.
THE KIA FORTE CAUGHT FIRE AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE (THE CAR WAS IN MOTION). WE HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR JUST OVER A YEAR. I AM UNSURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE REVIEWER ADVISE THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND BARLEY MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE THE INSIDE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS IT WAS HARDLY RECOGNIZABLE ONCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET THE FIRE OUT.
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 UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,865.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A FAIRLY SERIOUS FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS AT THE RIGHT FRONT FRAME RAIL AND CORNER. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO PUSH A FULL SIZED CHEVROLET PICK UP SIDEWAYS APPROX. 6 FEET. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 35-40 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THE TRUCK PULLED OUT STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH IT BROADSIDE AT THE TRUCKS LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE FROM THE INITIAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT PROGRESSED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE PREMATURELY FRACTURED. THE DEALER (CLASSIC CHEVROLET, 1-(888) 981-6002) HAD BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. *TT *TR
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
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 MULTIPLE FAILURES.. SHE HAD ALMOST NO BRAKING .. HAD TO DRIFT CAR INTO NATIONWIDE KIA.. PARKING LOT A FEW BLOCKS FROM HER WORK.. THEY HAD CAR FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS.. WITH NO CLUE AS TO WHY FOR SECOND TIME IN A FEW DAYS.SAME FAILURES AGAIN.. TRANSMISSION FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING OUT OF CAR...THEY SAID LATER THEY STARTED IT.. AND ONLY A.B.S. WAS LIT.. AND WHEN THEY RESTARTED CAR A.B.S. LIGHT WAS OFF.. WITH STILL NO ANSWER WHY IT IS FAILING.. CAR IS VERY VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.. WE HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN VEHICLE, .. IT IS A DANGER TO MY WIFE AND PUBLIC...WE HAVE NOTIFIED.. HAGERSTOWN KIA.. ALSO KIA CORP. HAGERTOWN KIA.. SAID IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM.. WITH NO REGARD FOR THE SAFTY OF MY WIFE.. OR THE PUBLIC..
MY KIA FORTE HAS A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION FROM ANY SPEED BELOW 50MPH. IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD BETWEEN 10MPH AND 35MPH. IT TAKES THE CAR BETWEEN .5 AND 1.5 SECONDS TO RESPOND TO A PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAS COME CLOSE TO CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT GO WHEN COMMANDED TO DO SO. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT THREE TIMES BY TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS AND ONE TIME WITH A KIA FIELD SERVICE REP. KIA TOOK OVER SIX MONTHS TO RESPOND TO ME WITH THERE RIDICULOUS ANSWER WHICH WAS "YOUR CAR OPERATES AS IT SHOULD". I HAVE OWNED MAY CARS AND HAVE NEVER OWNED ONE THAT HAD ANY NOTICEABLE THROTTLE RESPONSE DELAY. THIS KIA HAS A BIG DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT AND START TO ACCELERATE AFTER PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAY DOWN.
TOO MUCH ACCLERATION ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY. THE SCREWS IN MY VISORS KEEP COMING OUT. I WAS ONLY GIVEN A DONUT TIRE UPON PURCHASE. THE PAINT ON THE CAR IS SO CHEAP I'M SEEING SCRATCHES ALL THRU THE PAINT ON MY CAR.
DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AND ALL OF SUDDEN CAR LOST POWER AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP. WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION!!!
AFTER MY 5K MILE OIL CHANGE, THIS WAS THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE OF A LOUD TICKING SOUND. I OVERHEARD THE SERVICE SUPRV SAY THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT ON FORTES. BUT, HE TRIED TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I TOLD HIM WHAT I HEARD HIM SAY OVER THE WALKIE. THEN, THEY KEPT THE CAR AND CHANGED THE PULLEY SYSTEM. NOW, HERE'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF IT'S RELATED TO THE PULLEY ISSUE. 1ST TIME, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY GOING ABOUT 70MPH IN 6THGEAR AND IT POPPED OUT OF 6TH TO NEUTRAL. I LOOKED DOWN BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I QUICKLY PUT IT BACK INTO 6TH. 2ND TIME. FEBRUARY 23RD 2017 I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH ON I-20 PASSING REDOAK, TX AND THE GEAR POPPED OUT OF 6TH INTO NEUTRAL. SCARED ME, I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED IT BACK TO 6TH. I MADE AN APPT THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT AND WAD TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IF IT GETS WORSE TO BRING IT BACK. IT DID IT AGAIN ON THAT SUNDAY, MARCH 5TH 2017 WHILE I WAS DRIVING 75 - 80 MPH TO LOUISIANA. NOW, I HAVE A LOG AND WILL LOG EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS AND IM GOING TO TAKE THE LOG WITH ME WHEN I GO BACK TO KIA SERVICE DEPT.
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
THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN , IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE AFTER IDLING SUCH AS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.
2016 KIA FORTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING DURING RAINSTORM, DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNABLE TO DUPLICATE SUDDEN MALFUNCTION. *SMD UPDATED 08/21/2017*JS ..UPDATED 09/21/17 *BF *CN
MY CAR JUST CUT OFF WHEN I GOT TO THE LIGHT AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP.
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
PURCHASE KIA FORTE 2016 EX ON 11/2016....ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES FORM BULGES ON EACH TIRE...WHICH THE TIRES TO BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. MY FIRST PAIR OF TIRES LOCATED AT THE REAR BLEW OUT IN 03/2016 WHICH CAUSE ME TO PURCHASE BRAND NEW TIRES.....MY MOST RECENT TIRES WAS THE FRONT TIRES...WHICH I A BLOWOUT IN OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY IN 09/2016
WHEN YOU PUSH GAS FEED IT HESITATES THEN YOU PUSH A LITTLE MORE IT GOES TO FAST. DRIVING IN TOWN TRAFFIC IS A PROBLEM YOU PUSH GAS FEED A LITTLE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO GIVE A LITTLE MORE GAS AND IT GOES TO FAST. WENT BACK TO DEALER SHIP ONLY HAD THE CAR AROUND 2 MONTHS THEY PUT NEW THROTTLE BODY ON, STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM. WE TRADED THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER KIA FORTE WHICH COST US ANOTHER 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS BECAUSE CAR WAS NOT SAFE . NOW THE NEW KIA FORTE IS DOING THE SAME THING
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE DASH BOARD WENT BLACK AND THE CAR POWERED COMPLETELY DOWN.
FROM DAY ONE THAT I GOT MY CAR I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU ADVANCE THE PEDAL FURTHER AND THEN IT WANTS TO TAKE OFF LIKE YOU PUSHED IT TO THE FLOOR. IT WILL LOOSE POWER DURING DRIVING IF UNDER 45 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN IN TRAFFIC, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE TRYING TO CREEP WITH THE CAR IT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WHEN YOU SOFTLY PUSH THE PEDAL, AND WILL TRY AND TAKE OFF WHEN YOU ADVANCE IT. ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CARE IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS A VERY PROBLEMATIC SITUATION AS WELL AS DANGEROUS. STANDING STILL OR IN MOTION THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN CITY AND HIGHWAY
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.
THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AT TIMES AND WHEN IT DOES IT LURCHES AND HESITATES AS I AM DRIVING AND AIR CONDITIONER FAN GOES UP AND DOWN
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW KIA FORTE 2016 ON 5/27/2016. SINCE DAY ONE, I'VE BEEN FACING A PROBLEM THAT I THINK IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT REGULAR SPEEDS, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ACCELERATION AND EVEN IF I HIT THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENS FOR 2-3 SECONDS AND AFTER 2-3 SECONDS, THE GAS PEDAL STARTS TO RESPOND. THIS HAS LANDED ME INTO PROBLEMS AT VARIOUS TIMES AND I ALMOST WENT TO AN ACCIDENT. 1. ONCE I WAS CHANGING LANES WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR DROPPED AND I FELT CERTAIN THAT SOMEBODY WOULD HIT ME FROM THE SIDE BECAUSE MY CAR JUST WON'T ACCELERATE. 2. ONCE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED ACCELERATION AND THE CAR BEHIND ME CAME SO CLOSE THAT I FEARED THAT IT WOULD HIT ME. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER CAR DRIVER REALISED MY DROPPED ACCLERATION AND SLOWED DOWN. INCIDENTS LIKE #2 HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP (GERALD KIA OF NAPERVILLE, IL) BUT THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND I DON'T KNOW OF A SURE FIRE WAY TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO BELIEVE ME THAT IT HAPPENS ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND IT REALLY SCARES THE HECK OUT OF ME. SINCE THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT HELPING ME AT ALL, I WANT TO BRING THIS PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THE US GOVERNMENT. I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. I SPENT MY MONEY ON A BRAND NEW CAR BUT THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE NOT READY TO HELP ME. MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE ALSO DRIVEN THIS CAR AND THEY CAN ALSO TESTIFY. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A REPLACEMENT.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE TISSUE DAMAGE TO THE LEG, BACK, AND THIGHS ON BOTH SIDES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 40 MPH. THE DEALER ADDED A FUEL ADDITIVE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,300. ...UPDATED 05/19/17 *BF *CN
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026