2010 Kia Forte
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 232 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 21 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 14 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 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.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJun 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 18V363000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign 13V114000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jun 9, 2018, crash
WAS IN ABOUT 40MPH FRONT END COLLISON WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET IN 03/2015 AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT WAS WORN. HIT MY HEAD ON STEERWHEEL SO HARD WAS KNOCKED OUT AND GLASSES WHERE HIT OFF MY FACE INTO THE BACKSEAT DUE TO AIRBAG FAILURE TO DEPLOYING. HAD A CONCUSSION, BLACK EYE, WHIPLASH, BRUSES, AND SPRAINS. AMBULANCE ON SCENE, WENT TO HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK CAR. ABOUT 55,000 MILES. POLICE REPORT, INSURANCE CLAIM, EMERGENCY ROOM, AND MORE DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE UP ON REQUEST.
Air bags, Feb 13, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH MEANT THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE DEALER (KIA OF WEST CHESTER, 326 WESTTOWN RD, WEST CHESTER, PA 19382, (610) 429-3500) WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG RECALLS ISSUED, BUT THERE WERE TWO TSBS FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jun 8, 2016
THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH DECENT ROADS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL MALFUNCTION AND DEPLOY WHILE I AM DRIVING AND POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON THIS REPAIR AS THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. AGAIN, THE SYMBOL REMAINS LIT. 6/8/16. SITE WON'T ACCEPT DATE.
Air bags, Jan 21, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE HEAD THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,616.
Air bags, Jul 18, 2015
JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE BACK IN AUG 2009, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. SINCE THAT FIRST VISIT, I CONTINUED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 5 TIMES WITHIN THE YEAR. I WAS TOLD PARTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT RETURNING. WHEN I SENT A LETTER TO THE HEADQUARTERS, I WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD I WOULD JUST HAVE TO KEEP RETURNING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR TESTING AND REPAIRS, BUT I WASN'T GUARANTEED A LOANER DURING THE REPAIR. I FIGURED AT SOME POINT THEY WOULD JUST START CHARGING ME FOR EVERY VISIT, WITHOUT COMPLETELY FIXING THE PROBLEM. UP TO THAT POINT IT WASN'T COSTING ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, BUT IT WAS COSTING ME IN TIME AWAY FROM WORK, AND RENTAL FEES. SINCE I LIVED IN TEXAS AT THE TIME THE SAFETY INSPECTION DID NOT INCLUDE THE AIR BAG LIGHT. HOWEVER, I JUST MOVED TO VIRGINIA AND THEIRS DOES, SO NOW I HAVE A CAR I CAN'T REGISTER, HENCE CAN'T DRIVE. I MADE AN APPT WITH A LOCAL DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN RESOLVE THIS (PENDING). HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS, OR IF THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIX THIS SINCE OTHERS HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST. I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS SITE OR I WOULD HAVE FILED THIS COMPLAINT WAY BACK THEN. BUT FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, I SEE NOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WITH THE RECENT RECALL OF MALFUNCTIONING/DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS BY THOUSANDS OF MANUFACTURERS, I'M SURPRISED THIS MODEL IS NOT ON THE LIST. I THINK A REVIEW IS NECESSARY.
Air bags, Jun 2, 2015
I HAVE A 2010 KIA FORTE EX. I AM THE ONLY OWNER AS I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. ON 5/29/2015 I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY CRASH. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE LIGHT TO BE ON. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING: "YOU NEED TO BRING IT IN AND WE WILL HOOK IT UP TO OUR COMPUTER AND SEE WHAT CODE IT DISPLAYS TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.". THEN HE ASK THE MILEAGE. I TOLD HIM AND HE STATED IT WOULD COST ME "$110.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS.". I ASK WHAT WAS THERE A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OR THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT AND HE STATED #NOT ON THE YEAR YOUR CAR WAS MADE.". I AM NOT GOING TO PAY THEM OVER $100.00 FOR THIS. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURES ON MY CAR. I BELIEVE SHOULD BE FREE FOR THEM TO TEST A SAFETY FEATURE OF SUCH IMPORTANCE. NOT TO MENTION IT WOULD BE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. BUT THEY DO NOT THINK SO. I TOLD HIM I HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL KIA'S THAT HAVE HAD RECALLS FOR AIRBAG ISSUES AND HE SAID YES BUT NOT THE 2010'S. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED . I JUST BELIEVE IT IS ANOTHER WAY TO PUNISH THE WORKING CLASS OF SOCIETY. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NOT BE PAYING THEM TO DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A COURTESY. YOURS TRULY EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMER IN TEXAS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR*JB
Air bags, Feb 26, 2015, crash
I WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN AN SUV HEADING NORTH MADE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO THE STREET I WAS ON IN FRONT OF ANOTHER SUV, THE SUV MAKING THE LEFT TURN WAS BROADSIDED BY THE OTHER SUV AND THEN THROWN INTO THE FRONT OF MY CAR, MY CAR WAS THEN THROWN INTO THE SUV BEHIND ME. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR DEPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I INJURED MY LEFT SHOULDER, MY CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BECAUSE THE FRONT RAILS WHERE NOT REPAIRABLE AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT I TORE THE ROTATOR CUFF IN MY LEFT SHOULDER AND REQUIRED SURGERY TO FIX IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A HIT THIS HARD THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY....UPDATED 03-11-15 *BF....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF UPDATED 9/26/2017*CN
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 6, 2015, crash
2010 KIA FORTE REAR ENDED A 2012 TOYOTA VENZA WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON WET ASPHALT PAVEMENT. UPON COLLISION, THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SEAL BELT RESTRAINT FAILED TO HOLD BACK DRIVER OF THE KIA. DRIVERS FOREHEAD HIT AND BENT STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE KIA AND CONSIDERABLY LESS DAMAGE TO THE TOYOTA VENZA. KIA WAS NOT DRIVABLE, SO IT WAS TAKEN TO A SALVAGE YARD OF A FLAT BED TRUCK. DRIVER OF KIA WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR X-RAYS AND EVALUATION. DRIVER OF KIA SUFFER NECK\BACK PAIN, BRUISED FOREHEAD AND HEAD ACHE AND WAS PRESCRIBED PAIN PILLS & ANTI INFLAMMATORY MEDICATION. MY GREATEST CONCERN IS THAT I OWN TWO KIA'S, ONE FOR EACH OF MY COLLAGE AGE KIDS AND FEAR THAT THE SAME OUTCOME MAY OCCUR AGAIN WITH DIRE CONSEQUENCES. FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND SEAT BELT RESTRAINT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED BY KIA BEFORE MORE INJURIES OCCUR. .. UPDATED 02/19/15 *BF UPDATED 3/30/2016 *JS UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN
Air bags, Jan 13, 2015, crash
THIS IS THE 2ND HEAD ON COLLISION I'VE HAD WITH THE KIA FORTE AND ON BOTH INCIDENTS MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CONCERNS ME. ALSO THE CAR JUMPS INTO SHIFT AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Dec 12, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID CRASHING INTO AN ANIMAL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD TRAUMA AND INJURIES TO THE KNEE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO SECURE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Nov 5, 2013
VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT. IT HAS COME ON REPEATEDLY OVER THE PAST YEAR. NO CODES HAVE EVER BEEN FOUND. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON SOLID AND WILL NOT GO OFF. KIA NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, THERE HAS BEEN COUNTLESS MODELS OF KIA VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD AIRBAG PROBLEMS. MOST ARE LOOSE CONNECTIONS THAT VIBRATE LOOSE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A SAFETY FEATURE. KIA DEALERS ARE CHARGING EXCESSIVE FEES TO CLEAR CODES AND WIGGLE WIRES. $110 DIAGNOSTIC FEES. ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS POP UP AGAIN. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATORY 5 YEAR UNLIMITED MILES WARRANTY ON SAFETY FEATURES ON VEHICLES. I AM NOW DRIVING MY CAR WITHOUT AIRBAGS AND REFUSE TO PAY KIA TO FIX THEM TEMPORARILY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. DO SOME RESEARCH YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD LOOSE CONNECTIONS ON AIR BAG SENSORS IN THE PAST 5 YEARS. *TR
Air bags, Jun 4, 2013, crash
WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT,WHEN I CRASHED INTO A CAR THAT WAS GOING ABOUT 50. MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS SMASHED IN, RADIATOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK,THE FRAME WAS BENT,TORE OFF MY BUMMER, FOLDED MY HOOD AND BROKE MY WINDSHIELD..THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.. *TR
Air bags, Apr 22, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING TO HER LEFT FOOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TR
Air bags, Tires, Apr 10, 2013, crash
I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE PASSING AN 18 WHEELER. MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE CAUSED ME TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT HAND TURN WHICH THREW ME UNDER THE 18 WHEELER. THE TRUCK WENT OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS THEN THROWN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THEN INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED - THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 20, 2013, crash
WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING 60 MPH, PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND PASSENGER SUFFERED WHIPLASH, CONCUSSION AND BACK PAIN FROM IMPACT AND SEATBELT NOT LOCKING TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE. CAR WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
Air bags, Jun 8, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED HE PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS A COSMETIC FAILURE TO REPAIR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER AND HAD BEEN THERE FOR THREE WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE ARRIVING FROM KOREA AND WOULD TAKE SOME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 30, 2011, crash
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN OUR 2010 KIA FORTE KOUP, SHE WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A DOG IN THE ROADWAY WHEN SHE OVER CORRECTED AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A DITCH, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED "TOTALED", DURING THIS ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER, MY WIFE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER FOREHEAD, NOSE, AND UPPER CHEST. *TR